Year of the Tracked Vehicle (Corowa 08)

[Keith Webb]

Here's a pic taken Thursday when we had a run to a beautiful farm on the Murray not far from the airport. A very hot day indeed and many of the vehicles were feeling the heat on the return trip - we may have to subtitle the DVD "Year of the vapour lock".

In front is Tod Vaille's Stuart with Tim Scriven's Stuart behind. Tod's Stuart had a loading mishap and wound up falling off the trailer, doing a 360 rollover, winding up on it's side against a fence.

Tod tells the story in the next DVD of course!

[alexmacca30]

What a few months!! The event is now over and I think all appeared to go pretty well for our first major tracked vehicle event. The parade went off really well and we were able to get quite a pace up on the way to the airport after leaving the main part of town.

The idea of having the arena worked very well. I think more crews would have probably played a bit more if the heat was not so intense.

My thanks to the AFV crews for their co-operation.

[Keith Webb]

This picture was taken by my writer friend Roger Clarke showing how a T34 can have the same effect... as can a hot Stuart as seen by Rusty's pic too.

And STILL grinning I see

[Keith Webb]

It was seriously hot there but this is an excalibur moment from the murky waters of the Murray River - not sure who the hand belonged too but it sort of sums it up. I reckon he had the right idea.

My biggest problem was time, batteries, stock and the heat and dust - there were MANY things I wanted to cover, one of the main ones being the Stuart action on the arena but after doing the segment on the T34 I was out of battery, stock and moisture.

[alexmacca30]

This is definately a member of Section 8 and my guess (well educated) says it would be Bruce McCanns hand. I would have liked to have spent moire time in there myself. The heat was not the most pleasant part of the event this year.

[Rusty]

Well at 0800 every day this devel turned up in a spitfire replica and buzed the camp for 5 minutes. Sure beat old Allan blowing his horn while wearing a smudged pair of Y fronts first thing in the morning.

[Rusty]

How about a jet powered Blitz, at 1/2 throttle this guy gets to 200km.
Tell you what I reckon no one is posting many images because they are completly shagged from the heat that we all endured for 5 days. This is my second night home and I am still recovering from the drive home which took 100 litres of fuel in the truck and 15 litres of water that I needed to drink just to stay hydrated.

[alexmacca30]

I have to agree, the replica Spitfire made an excellent alarm clock. Far better than the usual bugle call, the Spitfires engine is actually in tune.

[Ian Pullen]

Well, it's over for another year. On behalf of the organising committee I would like to thank everyone who attended and participated.

We had over 175 vehicles entered this year which is a record. At the rate it is growing we should break the 200 mark next year. although the theme is the Year of the Blitz and Amphibian, please do not feel locked in to bringing these vehicles only. This is merely a theme. We welcome any and ALL ex military vehicles. With the success of the past weekend still ringing in our ears, we have been promised some armour again for next year.

The main feed back from this year was that it was more of an actual event, with virtually ALL the vehicles remaining in location for many hours.

The swap meet seemed a huge success with everyone as well. Although there was not as much shade as Bangarang Park, this was more than offset by the additional room for stall holders an addition to the ability to get vehicles in and around plus the multitudes of extra people that were at the venue.

Our thanks to the staff at the Corowa Jump Shak who had people jumping from aircraft at regular intervals, the Warbirds who did numerous fly bys and the AFVs who took turns in the arena. There was something happening at all times.

I think that the T34 was a highlight for many. It is the only one in the country and it would be the only chance for many people to see one let alone hear it running.

I have to say that I have a huge sense of pride that I was lucky enough to be part of the crew that brought that very vehicle to the event. I do not want to take anything from the others who brought vehicles. I thank Tim Scriven for letting me drive his M3 Stuart. This was a first for me and a memory I will cherish. There certainly was a huge scope in the variety of vehicles that came.

Again I cannot thank the committee and entrants enough for their efforts. Here's looking forward to next year......