GPA wanted in Australia to build Half-Safe Replica

[Jan Thompson]

Alex recently spoke to Boye De Mente. He is aware of the cost involved and has spoken to a few GPA owners in Australia. I visited the Guildford Grammar School with Bob Dimer a few years after Half-Safe was at Corowa and I had a work colleague whose boyfriend went to the Guildford Grammar School and witnessed the vehicle being pushed into a pool.

When there was a suggestion to have the vehicle over at Corowa for our 20th Annual GPA Swim-In we had to raise funds to cover costs. There were a number of generous military vehicle owners who helped by donating money. Budget also came to the party to help with the transport. Unfortunately Bob Dimer is no longer with us and he did all the mechanical work prior to the trip to make is roadworthy. The vehicle received TV coverage and took part in the parade through Corowa. I feel very honoured to have been given a chance to drive the vehicle and have some appreciation of what some of the journey must have been like. There is no way I would want to go into the water in it.

One thing I would like is to see if we can get it back to Corowa in 2019 for our 40th Year.

In 1999 we received successful confirmation of a new Guinness World Record for 'The largest gathering of Ford GPA amphibious vehicles since the Second world War was 16, at the 20th National GPA Swim-in, organised by Jan Thompson, Maureen Bell, Jennifer Bennie and Roger Ross (all Australia), which took place in Corowa, NSW, Australia on 13th March 1999'.

[lynx42]

In 1999, I had the great experience of being allowed by Bob Dimer to drive Half-Safe around Ball Park Caravan Park. Thank you Bob, not too many people have driven a vehicle which has circumnavigated the world mostly under its own steam.

Here are the photos taken that day 13th March 1999.

The line up with Half-Safe as no.1. Have a look at no.2. That is the Wilsons honey-moon vehicle.

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Left 3/4 photo. .

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Check out the driving position and compare the drivers seat position with the previous photo. That is right, right back at the last of the side windows.

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Taken through the rear hatch. It's a long way to the front.

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16 year old son Michael had a ride as well.

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Regards Rick.

[lynx42]

Here are the covers of the two books by Ben Carlin, 'Half-Safe Across the Atlantic by Jeep" published in 1955, and "The Other Half of Half-Safe" published by the Guildford Grammar School Foundation Inc. in 1989. (ISBN 0 9598731 1 2)

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I have 3 copies of Half-Safe, one for each of my sons and a signed one for me.
Regards Rick

[lynx42]

A couple of stills from the Pathe film clip.

Not much free board.

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With Elinore and Ben in Melbourne at the bow of Half-Safe.

Regards Rick.

[Jan Thompson]

Thanks Rick for sharing the photos.

Alex Cullen and Channel 7 are going to San Francisco on 15th February and he would like to make contact with a GPA owner over there. I have put a post on MLU to see if there is anyone out there who can help.

I will catch up with Alex and the Channel 7 crew prior to this so we can discuss any questions the crew may have.

I would like to get a list of possible GPA's which may come to Corowa. I have a couple of entries and it would be good to entice a few others along.

[Bob Carriere]

..... how did he manage the fuel issues during the long hauls..... even if following a coast line most of the way...... how much could he safely carry or was he refueled???

Just curious

Bob C

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

..... how did he manage the fuel issues during the long hauls..... even if following a coast line most of the way...... how much could he safely carry or was he refueled???

Just curious

Bob C

Hi Bob,
The first part of his round the world trip was across the Atlantic so not much chance of following the coastline. He did tow a fuel reservoir but in the rough seas this caused problems by being turned over. There were extra tanks on board. The book shows a plan of all the extra fitments. Having been all over it, I cannot imagine how awful it would have been He even had to do valve jobs in mid ocean, imagine trying to fit the collets while bobbing about, you would need a few spare ones!!

[Lynn Eades]

Bob, when they left Halifax to go to the Azores, they towed a fuel tank, which at one stage, kept rolling over, twisted up the tow rope and came close to sinking them.
From memory (and this may be wrong) it took 7 weeks to cross the Atlantic.
Between the Azores and the African coast they were hit by a hurricane. Elinore mentions being in 40 and 50 foot high seas. The book is facinating. The stuff they dealt with was amazing. Fumes, Condensation, Fuel blockages, an explosion, everything wet, constantly sea sick, crashing of waves on the hull,being aware Halfesafe could split and sink at any moment, under hull repairs, no where to lay down properly. An endless list of of soul and life destroying things to deal with. They were crazy!

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by lynx42

A couple of stills from the Pathe film clip.

Not much free board.

Attachment 79099

Attachment 79100

Attachment 79101

With Elinore and Ben in Melbourne at the bow of Half-Safe.

Regards Rick.

They are both smiling for the camera so at least they were still on speaking terms , she must have cleared off just after this movie was done. Apparently she never remarried and she never spoke of the trip to anyone Mike

[Jan Thompson]

A GPA has been sourced and the owner is looking for internal photos to complete the interior. If anyone has some please email them to me: kveinc@optusnet.com.au

I have a few and I am sure there must be others out there.

[Jan Thompson]

Half-Safe is ready to sail.

Is there anyone out there who would be able to assist with the following:

Craig Olsen has provided the following update: You may be aware that I have been doing my GPA project as a re-enactment of the Half Safe odyssey. Channel 7 has filmed during 3 days as my GPA has been put together over the last few months. You are probably aware also, that its taken up a most of my spare time. The project is coming to a completion with the final filming in a week or two. This filming will take place off Barrenjoey Heads, possibly on Sunday 14th August, and will go to air soon after the Olympics. I am mechanically challenged, so I am after a co-driver with jeep mechanical wherewith all (preferably GPA experience) to be a back up to get the GPA running if something stalls us. We will have the company of a Ch 7 boat which is doing some filming.

We have built a cabin and an extended bow that fits on to the GPA to replicate Half Safe and of course to help with the GPAs low free board. The cabin has 2 hatches for entry and escape – just like Half Safe. It is planned that the GPA will be launched inside Barrenjoey Heads and then sail through the heads for some breathtaking aerial shots of the vastness of the ocean compared to the tiny GPA.
The trip is for the adventurous and if conditions are adverse, the trip will be postponed as it is safety first of course.