A Trip To Destination Defender

Mud, Fun, and Massive Land Rover Enthusiasm

All photos were taken by my talented brother, Tyler, whose work you can check out here.

Land Rover Newbie

Let’s get something out of the way. I’m a total newbie when it comes to Land Rover and the Defender. My knowledge is limited to a basic understanding that Land Rovers have been around forever, are generally unstoppable off-road, and are very fancy these days.

As for the Defender, I recall occasionally seeing a yellow one during visits to Cape Cod in the late 90s and thinking, “I’d rock that.” So, a weekend-long immersion in the culture of this iconic ride, AKA Destination Defender, was kind of intoxicating. To the point that my 90s-era thinking has been revised to, “I need to have one of these.”

A Muddy Affair

Considering the location of this event was Temecula, California, I was fully anticipating a pleasant weekend of warm sunny days and cool, crisp evenings. However, something called an “atmospheric river” had enveloped California during this November weekend, and the results were as wild as that name implies. Rain, and lots of it. To the point that small river crossings were required to traverse the parking lot, and shoes might disappear in the mud for those not paying attention.

According to Defender Brand Director Sam Allen, literally every Destination Defender - including the one in Malibu - had been on a rainy day. This could be seen as a bummer, but personally, I loved it. My brother Tyler, who brought his professional photography skills to the event, captured some stunning shots as a result. Did it require me to hold an umbrella over his gear while he guided me around by the elbow like a toddler? Yes. Was I bothered? No.

The Defender 130 Off-Road

Upon arrival at the Destination Defender grounds, we immediately got behind the wheel of a new Defender 130. For the uninitiated, like myself, this is a big SUV. Think Chevy Tahoe in length, with room for 8, and a super boxy profile. Very cool and also very nice inside.

I didn’t get a chance to dive deep on the Defender cabin, but suffice it to say, at a glance, the level of fancy translates to an SUV I probably wouldn’t plan to use in heavy off-roading. My passenger and guide, Eric from the Land Rover Experience in Vermont, was there to show me how to use the Defender properly and in the process, prove me very wrong.

All The Off-Road Technology

Over a series of rocky paths, deeply rutted berms, and generally challenging closed-course conditions, he helped me navigate the Defender and take in some of its off-road tech. Like a display showing your roll angle. At 22 degrees, I questioned Eric if we were about to tip over.

He chuckled and shared that we were not even close. “See through” cameras show you the ground right in front and underneath the front bumper, while the hill descent control takes over on steep downhill sections. As in, take your feet off both pedals and let the Defender handle itself.

Defender As Status Symbol

I can say that prior to this experience, I unfairly categorized the Defender as a status symbol, most at home in the endless expanses of parking lots at high-falutin shops so popular in America. And yes, there is no doubt that these big, boxy SUVs are indeed coveted among those more concerned with status conveyed by price tags than, well, anything else at all.

However, I was honestly staggered at how casually the modern Defender cleared all obstacles, while wearing regular street rubber no less. The O.G. Land Rovers, those that fall in the Series category along with the original Defenders, have a well-established history of being mighty off-roaders with barely a hint of creature comfort, let alone the luxury trappings found in today’s models.

A Lack Of Defender Owner Tension

Which got me wondering, do the folks who own these vintage rigs and maximize their inherent rough-road capabilities, like what Land Rover has done with this Defender reinvention? It wouldn’t seem crazy to me to find out that this contingent considers these high-end SUVs to be somehow unworthy of the badge. But that is simply not the case.

As evidence, I present the owner’s showcase lot. Within, there were dozens of Defenders, new and old. Nearly all were heavily modified, and rigs ranged from a resto-modded 6x6 vintage pickup to a serious-looking 110 dressed up in Proton Sports livery. While ogling this 110, the owner - Charles Darling - showed up and happily answered my wonderings.

To him, all Land Rovers are worthy of the infectious enthusiasm I encountered. In fact, he shared a list of vintage models in his possession, to go along with the all-white 110 bearing his company’s branding. (It was pouring rain, which made note-taking challenging, meaning I didn’t gather the full scope of his collection.)

So Much Enthusiasm For Land Rover

The point is, here was a random passerby who showed me there is love across the Defender universe. Which was only furthered upon meeting serious Land Rover people like Jeff Aronson, the longtime editor of Rovers magazine, and another owner of more than one old Rover.

He introduced me to the folks in attendance representing the many Land Rover clubs around the country, including Adam Spiker and his daughter Abby from the SoCal Rover Club, Tom Cryer from the Solihull Society, and Bob Steele with Rover Owners of Virginia. All of whom were overflowing with good things to say about Defenders new and old.

It illustrated, for me, a total lack of tension between the vintage and the modern. Instead, I found a thriving enthusiast community that lives and breathes Land Rover. The truth is, I really do want one of my own. Would it be cool to drive one like American off-road racer Sara Price will do in the 2026 Dakar Rally? Yes. Will that be happening…ever? I don’t think so.

But in a conversation with Sara - the recording of which you can listen to here - I found yet another Land Rover diehard. Sara has been racing since she was 8 years old and is about to embark on a dream race. Not only from the perspective of prestige that comes with running the Dakar, but from doing so in a vehicle that has been in her Dream Car category for as long as she can remember.

The Defender Service Awards…Nothing But Good News

If the Defender fun had me grinning ear-to-ear, the Defender Service Awards had me choking up. Completely new to me, this is a charitable affair that everyone should be aware of. The focus is non-profits in niches that would benefit from the use of a Defender in their operations.

Specifically, to help them do their work in environments that are well-suited to the Land Rover’s skillset. Categories include Search, Rescue and Emergency Support Services, Outdoor Accessibility and Education, and Animal, Wildlife and Marine Welfare.

The public votes to choose the 6 winners and those non-profits receive a Defender 130 customized to their needs, along with $30,000. Not only that, the runner-ups take home $10,000. Sam Allen said that win or lose, the process tends to lift the profile of the involved organizations significantly and shine a light on the work each one does.

In an age of endless bad news, the Defender Service Awards are a rare bright spot and serve as a nice reminder that there is still a whole lot of good happening out there.

I Need An Old Land Rover

I have to hand it to Land Rover for putting together an all-around excellent showcase of the Defender. It left me thirsty to go deeper on the automaker’s work and start the search for a well-loved old Series model. One thing I didn’t touch on is the Defender OCTA, but that big, beautiful 626-horsepower beast is a story for another day.

About the author: Niel Stender is an automotive journalist. More of his work can be found at muckrack.com/niel-stender.