4x4 Mag - Project- Drew Bowler Racer

One Man's "low flying object" -

Project Bowler Racer

There was just a tremendous induction roar as the power unleashed pinned me back into the bucket seat as 3.9 litres of Rover V8 catapulted us across the field. The hedgerow that was in the distance now loomed immediately in front. With little fuss my pilot power slid us around completing an about face and the drama re-began in the opposite direction.

That was my initiation in the passenger seat of a rather special self-build "Project Bowler Racer". Developing an off-roader with loads of grunt and plenty of rough terrain capability was the constant dream of John Deaville. John had owned a variety of 4x4s, most of which had been gently modified by the trial and error improvement method. Back in the early 90's John had hankered after a Land Rover 90 to modify, but cost was prohibitive and after wandering about and viewing various machines he realised that much of what was on offer were candidates for the Stolen Vehicle Squad ! Undeterred he visited that Land Rover Show they have at Billing and saw something which interested him, a Drew Bowler off-roader. The Bowler Racer offers a synthesis of chassis, space frame and roll over protection, giving excellent lateral and fore and aft stability, utilising many components indigenous to the Land Rover / Range Rover product range.

Bitten by the Bowler bug he resolved to have one and set about the task, first sourcing the chassis on which Drew would build his space frame. A 1975 Rangie chassis was the basis of the vehicle. Unfortunately the rear section of this chassis wasn't strong enough due to the ravages of time, so a back section of a 1990 chassis was added and all sent up to Drew who made them into one harmonious unit, shot blasted them and fitted the space frame. Then the body kit was purchased and sent off for painting, white being the chosen colour. During this time John was sourcing the engine and gearbox, and after meeting one chap offering a 100,000 miles Efi unit for £900.00 he realised that some folk weren't in touch with the real world ! Eventually he sourced a unit at a sensible price. Shortly afterwards a gearbox followed. Choice was a four-speed Auto which has its pros and cons. Seamless power with no let up during gearchanges whilst on the go, but not good for fore and aft shuttling whilst semi-bogged down.

A little more waiting later and everything was on the front lawn ready for assembly, chassis, space frame, engine and gearbox. Fortunately John doesn't have any near neighbours, so the afternoon when the Matbro Teleporter was on the lawn lifting the engine and box in didn't cause any undue concern. There the Bowler stayed, sheeted over with tarpaulin in case it rained, and yes you guessed it every time work was in progress it was raining, but we're assured it was "all good fun".

As John's phone bill grew with his questions and concerns to Drew so too the Project Bowler Racer developed. Series One doors were added, a special fuel tank was constructed and the wiring was added by hand, a self build harness one section at a time, getting things to work as you go along. A fuel injection unit had never been fitted to a Bowler and John realised now why ... there was practically no space, and look at all those wires ! Anyway, the project was going great and it came to starting up time. Well, no drive. The autobox was "U S ". Can't try before you buy with second hand parts, only really upon the honesty and integrity of the vendor.

Another search for a gearbox since the front pump was smashed, and what a waste of all that gearbox fluid. About this time John realised why Drew had smiled when John mentioned his initial budget of £3,000, that had gone out the window a long time ago.

More rain, more fiddling, fitting Ironman suspension kit, gas shockers, complete brake system build etc., etc., and then about twelve weeks later PRESTO, time for the MOT. The machine passed first time and shortly afterwards the proud owner trundled off to his first off-road meeting. Well those 110 rims with Avon Rangers and 6mm of tread didn't cut much of a dash in the mud, so a set of 31.10.50 x 15 B F Goodrich Mud terrains on white eight spokes where fitted which also afforded more ground clearance and an even wider track. These provided the Bowler with prodigious amounts of grip and assured good steering and handling responses, and are relatively well behaved on the tarmac.

Well, what a machine, mean and powerful, capable of all the off-road action John had envisaged. This Bowler is a regular site at non-competitive off-road events in the Midlands area and John really does have some fun. Judge for youself, after breaking six differentials it was felt that it was time to invest in a Detroit rear diff and Truetrac for the front. When it comes to power it's the tyre that commits it to the dirt and the diff that takes the punishment. Next time John vows he'll fit the Detroit and Truetrac at the start of the project, not constantly having to fit standard diffs at regular intervals every time he drove it off road ! That was an expensive learning curve, and also a muddy and oily one which often resulted in shorter days off-roading. Well as they say, hindsight is a wonderful thing !

What John has created is a machine which he finds very satisfying to drive with the knowledge that it is totally unique and has developed as a result of his own interests in driving off-road. He's got no doubt that further modifications will occur and his advice to anyone interested in their own Project Bowler Racer is to buy one that is already built and put the finishing touches to it yourself, "that way it's a lot cheaper".