Champ Camp 08

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

March has been a busy, busy month. Not only Corowa, the Landies at Cooma, but the annual Champ Camp as well. This year it ran for eight days up in the "Snowies", with 15 Austin champs covering in the region of 500 kms around the mountains (and through the dust!). A truly international effort with Champ Guru Gus Gowers coming over from the UK, an Hawaiin contingent and not to mention two Champs driven up from Tassie. This was a week to remember, simply fantastic!
Quick pic. to show how dusty it was, more to follow.
Rich.

[Dinty]

G'day All, Wow it has indeed been a busy March 08 in Eastern Oz, I didn't get to Corowa other than by phone talking to Warwick. L., re the parade, I did manage to get to Cooma even though without any Land Rovers. I bet your sinus's are ckocka full of dust, I know mine would have been, anyway thanks for showing that pic and I would like to see more of the event if possible, cheers Dennis

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Just a couple more pics, too busy driving and enjoying the experience to take too many. Of interest to the Landy contingent, the one Land Rover we had was a Forward Control which was apparantly the first one sent over for Aus. Army trials, (I'm searching the memory now and stand to be corrected ) as a rapier missile tractor. Just one of the many things that I failed to take a photo of, another was the massive "Mongrel", 4x4 Bedford bus blasting of at warp speed for the return trip, complete with triaxle trailer and two Champs in tow.
Many of the Champs came via Corowa for the first time, which explains the much higher numbers there than the norm.
As for the dust, I'm sure that at times the only thing visible was the top of the snorkel!
Also had the only bloke in Oz who fully understands the Champ electrical system, how good is that!!
For any Champ lurkers out there, Champ Camp 09 will be in Marysville.
Rich.

[Dinty]

G'day All, Thanks for the pix Richard, I have in the past exchanged emails with a chap from Wagga surname 'Black' I think, he has a Champ, by any chance was he there as well, cheers mate Dennis

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Robert Black (and Reggie) was indeed there,which was fortunate as he was in fact hosting the event this year. That would be his Champ 4th from the right in the main group photo.
Do you have one of these simple little beasties?
Rich.

[Dinty]

G'day All, No Richard I don't own a Champ, but I do have a fleet of Series 2 and 2A ex mil Land Rovers, here is a link to my shed page in REMLR.com (if the link works as I'm not very IT) http://www.remlr.com/dmshed.html Champs have always intrigued me anyway cheers Dennis

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Ahhh yes, Land Rovers. Managed to kick that addiction, ( the TD 300 was a wonderful way of going cold turkey) amazing how much of my shed is still taken up with the left overs though!!
Rich.

[phoenix]

Gor a photo of the 101 Richard? Was it the darker green one that was at corowa?

(I'm researching 101's and 101 prototypes etc at the moment)

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Georges 101 is a battered and very original example, especially the paint work. It was at the other caravan park just out of Corowa, and I did not see it being driven around as he took the oppourtunity to be ferried about in style and comfort (ie By Champ). He did tell me about one modification, the fitting of a Cardan, or double universal joint, to the back of the front tailshaft. Apparently the angle from the transfer case output to the front diff is really too much, and this mod. gives a smoother ride at cruising speed. That is the entire sum of my knowledge, but should see it again next year at Champ Camp 09.
Rich.

[phoenix]

Yup, I had a look over it at the airport after the parade at corowa. I heard him talking about the same mod!

. A very nice vehicle. Not much gives it away as a prototype, but it is indeed an early prototype. No 2 or 4 from memory.