in off-roading driving ability growing by the minute. Corns was quick to keep my ego in check: “You should never get too confident with a vehicle,” he says. That means respecting the terrain, and knowing when something is beyond the vehicle’s capability. You don’t want a trail named after you, Corns notes, rattling off some names that are selfexplanatory: Champion’s Slide, Bee Avenue, etc. Corns says instructors tailor the experience to the driver’s comfort level and their interests. An initial warning about poison oak on the trails led to a discussion on mountain biking, so Corns used that knowledge to give me a reference point for off-roading (You never want to slam your bike’s brakes on a dirt downhill—it’ll skid and slide. Same thing applies to a large vehicle). The Land Rover Experience arrived at The Quail in 2005. It is now one of only two such experiences by the manufacturer in the country, with the other taking place in Vermont. As such, Land Rover owners (and those in the market) from across the world arrive in Carmel Valley to get a taste of what the vehicles are capable of. Corns says he’s given instruction to people from countries such as South Korea, Kenya and the United Kingdom. From the United States, Texas and Florida make up the most common states people come from. Those participating run the gamut: There’ll be the timid first-time offroaders, for which Corns is able to confidently show them how to operate the vehicle to ease their nerves, as well as the experienced mud-runners who will come away learning something new. Some are in the market for a Land Rover, making the experience the ultimate test drive. While participants can bring their own Land Rover, nearly all choose one from the Land Rover Experience’s fleet, according to Corns. That fleet includes three Land Rover Defender 110s, one Defender 130, a Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and a 1997 Defender. (That old Defender shows just how far the auto manufacturer has come in less than 30 years. “You go from the dinosaur to the spaceship,” Corns says.) Through its partnership with The Quail, Land Rover is given exclusive access to 110 acres, amounting to 10 miles of trails. That’s a lot of ground to cover, so participants have their choice of different experiences, from a onehour jaunt to a two-day expedition with 12 hours of coaching. For the more adventurous, the rainy season adds a new layer of challenge. Corns says he gets calls all the time from people asking how muddy the trails are. Sign up for the Land Rover Experience at experience.landroverusa.com. Land Rover Experience continued from pg 16 18 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2026-2027 Estate Winery & Tasting Room 1972 Hobson Ave.,Greenfield (831) 386-0316 Pouring from 11am daily Carmel-By-The-Sea San Carlos & 7th (831) 626-WINE (9463) Tasting from 12 noon daily Scheid_1-2h_VG25_kpr.indd 1 6/6/25 4:05 PM
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