What was your first CMP experience?

[RHClarke]

My introduction to the world of CMPs was at the hands of the Canadian Army. The Gregg Collection was sent out to the Home Station, Canadian Forces Base Shilo to be added to the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum. My regiment (in the Royal sense) asked all members to donate money towards the cost of the project. A special team was dispatched to remind all members that this was a Regimental project and that we were somewhat obliged to contribute. In my haste and youth, I declined to donate funds to the cause - despite the arm twisting and cajoling about Regimental pride.

Upon (early) retirement, my wife and I settled in the Ottawa region where I once again made contact with an old army chum, Mike Calnan. As most should know by this point, Mike, or Gunner, is the driving force behind the Swords and Ploughshares Museum. I volunteered at the museum and slowly but surely became smitten with the CMP trucks in general and with the HUP in particular.

In the Fall of 2002, Mike agreed to sell his HUP to me and the love affair has continued ever since. My 1945 HUP is named "Metal Mistress" and like a mistress (as I am told) she takes up a good portion of my time and treasure (one of which happens to be short supply at any given time). What else can I say except, love is blind.

[hrpearce]

My first experience with Blitz's was watching them snigging logs into a saw mill near Batlow that my Farther supplied logs to ocasionally. I was around 10 at the time. My first drive was in the Blitz I now own, it was about a 100 metre drive when I was 37. 1966 first experience, 1993 first drive.

[chris vickery]

1941 F15A Ford 12 cab GS.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi All

Well it has been 33 years an a couple of months since I first saw a CMP drove it an acquired it. Here is link to the rest of the story http://canadianmilitarypattern.com/BEASTHISTORY.html

BeastLS78.jpg

Now I'm overhauling it, http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=15965

But one CMP is never enough.



Cheers Phil

[Mike K]

I think Phils dedication and enthusiasm put most of us MLU'rs and our feeble efforts in perspective.

My C8 hasn't seen the light of day for 8 years , gathering dust .

Phil has three restored