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#92
03-03-09, 11:08
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So far so good for the old ford
Max 
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#94
06-04-09, 12:56
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Vimy Anniversary....
The anniversary of Vimy Ridge battle marks the day that Canada stood alone against the world and won the Battle that the then Super powers..France and England could not win..and they paid dearly for those efforts..
Canada paid dearly also but soldiered on under General Currie using ,for the first time..Canadian command control..Canadian soldiers fighting as a unit and set an example of what Canadian soldiers were...Which carries on to this day in our young men and women soldiers ..sailors and Airmen..the best fighting troops in the world.. Soldier on... Quote:
  
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Alex Blair :remember :support :drunk:
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#97
11-04-09, 00:30
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Lang and Bev,
We will be staying at the same camp in Normandy as you, do you mind if we tag along for the next few days through to Ypres? We will be in a motor-home. Regards Rick and Jill.
__________________
1916 Albion A10 1942 White Scoutcar 1940 Chev Staff Car 1940 F30S Cab11 1940 Chev WA LRDG "Te Hai" 1941 F60L Cab12 1943 Ford Lynx 1942 Bren Gun Carrier VR no.2250 Humber FV1601A Saracen Mk1(?) 25pdr. 1940 Weir No.266 25pdr. Australian Short No.185 (?) KVE Member.
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#98
11-04-09, 00:44
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Quote:
I see you will stay at Bagnoles de l'Orne. We were there for a week on the 1989 MVT Normandy Tour. A lovely area known as "Swiss Normandy", the townspeople looked after us well...........even the Gendarmes asked us to stop by at the police station before moving on to Bayeaux.....to give us some Calvados that they had made on the premises ( apparantly! ).
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Richard 1943 Bedford QLD lorry - 1941 BSA WM20 m/cycle - 1943 Daimler Scout Car Mk2 Member of MVT, IMPS, MVG of NSW, KVE and AMVCS KVE President & KVE News Editor
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#99
11-04-09, 04:49
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Richard,
Bev and I were there in 1989 also that's why I chose it as a stop - you are right about it being a pretty place. We had a GMC Workshop body. We did a fair bit of travelling in company with Herman Pfauter in his Ward Lafrance wrecker. (Herman is meeting us in Ancona, Italy to tag along to Normandy in his US Navy painted Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton 4X4). Rick, It is a free country you can drive anywhere you want. If you want to go in our direction that is alright by me. We might need you as a new referee by then! Lang Last edited by Lang; 11-04-09 at 05:00.
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#100
11-04-09, 18:52
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Quote:
Lang, Sounds like our paths have crossed longer ago than I realised ! I do know of Herman and he often comes to Beltring with his grey Chev 1 1/2t. All the best wishes for your journey, not too long to go now, see you at Etreham no doubt.
__________________
Richard 1943 Bedford QLD lorry - 1941 BSA WM20 m/cycle - 1943 Daimler Scout Car Mk2 Member of MVT, IMPS, MVG of NSW, KVE and AMVCS KVE President & KVE News Editor
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#101
17-04-09, 08:52
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We have just confirmed our meeting up with the Italian Military Vehicle Club who will join and guide us from Ancona about 250km through the hills to their base at Scarperia just north of Florence.
This will please the Kiwis no end as it will follow the route of the New Zealand Division as they attacked the Gustav Line and took Florence. Lang
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#102
21-04-09, 03:33
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We have 4 days to go before flying to Istanbul to meet the mob (I have not actually met everyone on the expedition yet).
A number of people are doing blogs for everyone to follow, I am sure when reading them you will wonder if we are on the same trip! As I get the addresses I will put them up here on MLU but in the meantime, Bev and I have rehashed our old web site : www.next-horizon.org This will have regular updates and photos. Hopefully the ones next week are not of drama and a saga about us slashing our wrists on the dock in Istanbul trying to deal with Turkish customs. Lang
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#103
21-04-09, 06:03
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Spare parts in Europe
What is the availability of spare parts either NOS or second hand in Europe , ( Turkey, Greece , Italy and France) for WW 2 vehicles that we will be using on the Gallipoli to Normandy run . Vehicles that are participating are Chevs , Fords, Dodges, Studebaker, Jeeps and a Harley D. Some of the Chevs have 1950's motors fitted ie 235's .
Were any Chev trucks imported into Europe after the war as in the 1950's ? It would be handy to know of any sources that maybe available in case of emergencies . Thanks Regards Jim S C15 Wireless Van
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jim sewell cmp and cckw
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#104
21-04-09, 20:15
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Documentation
SO.... the Big Question - who's going along to document this marvelous enterprise? Lang, I do so hope you left some room for our Keefy on this - he's rather good at it, y'know!
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SUNRAY SENDS AND ENDS :remember :support
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#105
21-04-09, 22:51
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Documenting
Quote:
It frankly disappoints me how complete crap is funded for television while interesting and significant events such as this are ignored. And it's not as though the organisers and crew are amateurs either.
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Film maker 42 FGT No8 (Aust) remains 42 FGT No9 (Aust) 42 F15 Keith Webb Macleod, Victoria Australia Also Canadian Military Pattern Vehicles group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/canadianmilitarypattern
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#106
22-04-09, 00:00
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Jif,
Keith did his best but as he said, hit brick walls. We have a few HD and SD cameras with us and if we shoot a million hours there might be something mixed with original historic footage that can be done. Making movies is the last priority so I suppose we will see what we have at the end - at least something to bore the grandkids with. Lang
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#107
22-04-09, 00:17
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Quote:
 Lang... I saw your Peking-Paris thingy on Discovery and thought it was wonderful - I'm only sorry I didn't record it. I haven't seen your Vimy episode yet but am watching for it... it WILL show up again eventually! The thing is, with those in mind, why not this adventure too? It doesn't make any sense... 
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SUNRAY SENDS AND ENDS :remember :support
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#108
22-04-09, 00:24
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For everyone involved, have a good and safe trip, and looking forward to hearing about as many of these historic australian military vehicles returning home as possible - so our grandkids can get to drive them not just watch them on a screen.
Steve.
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#109
22-04-09, 00:26
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Priority
Quote:
 I think the most interesting approach will be if people can keep some sort of video diary - not just of sights and scenes but also of their expectations from the beginning and their impressions of the trip as it unfolds... that way we may be able to create something from what is shot... and remember to shoot from tripods where you can, avoid zooming and hosepiping! 
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Film maker 42 FGT No8 (Aust) remains 42 FGT No9 (Aust) 42 F15 Keith Webb Macleod, Victoria Australia Also Canadian Military Pattern Vehicles group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/canadianmilitarypattern
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#110
22-04-09, 00:28
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Quote:
__________________
SUNRAY SENDS AND ENDS :remember :support
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#111
22-04-09, 02:19
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Quote:
A number of the vehicles are going to be sold (including mine). I don't really have a problem with common types such as these leaving the country because we live in a global village. Information from someone who works with the the Moveable Heritage people who issued our export permits indicates there are nearly twice as many veteran, vintage and classic cars coming into Australia as are going out. One of our vehicles was a protected object and must be returned. Several of our members have brought in historic vehicles from overseas (I have brought in 5 and if I sell my Normandy Chev it will only make 2 I have exported. I have also brought in 7 rare vintage aircraft and exported 2). I think people who are worried about a few dozen vehicles a year going out of the country should look at the hotrod people who are destroying thousands of historic vehicles a year!
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#112
22-04-09, 05:58
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Lang,
I appreciate your reply and thanks for taking my comment sincerely. Earlier in this thread you said "I am working on a very rare Australian built vehicle. Should be nice and comfortable." for this trip, yet you've just said "A number of the vehicles are going to be sold (including mine). I don't really have a problem with common types such as these" and that it's not coming back. But I'm confused, it's gone from "very rare" to "common" in the same thread? You mentioned at a club meeting some months ago as a counterargument to me that vehicles are coming into the country all the time, and you raise it again here in your reply. This doesn't sit as easily with me as perhaps others who look at their vehicles from a dollar value aspect, I even hesitate to say it's somewhat disingenuous. Why? Because these imported vehicles don't have an australian military history. They are just some other countries' vehicles, not our vehicles. Not our history. One of the great pleasures of owning an australian historic military vehicle - to the distinct envy of HMV restorers in other countries - is that we are so very very lucky that we do have records of them, sometimes of their use, and often of their subsequent disposal. How many of us have visited the AWM and experienced the excitement and thrill of finding our vehicle listed in the well-thumbed journals, or detailed in a report? I have, and friends have done that for my other vehicles too. For example a four-page army report on the testing of the two australian army Weasels has recently emerged for the sole surviving example we are rebuilding. To me that's what makes these vehicles special. That's just not possible for any import. Or since you mentioned it from left-field, hotrods. If importing ten hotrods meant more to me than the export of one jeep then surely I would be hanging out on a Hotrod Board, not posting on this Board. Before each Anzac Day the call goes out at club meetings to supply enough vehicles for the marches and there never seem to be enough to meet demand, the diggers have to wait in line while the jeeps or Blitzes go around and around. I'm lined up for three marches this Saturday myself. A few more jeeps would not go astray here, we don't have a surplus. Now I will declare like you I've imported four vehicles myself from overseas so perhaps some may consider me hypocritical or even selfish, but for vehicles that have a tie to our military history and have left our shores, they're... gone. Never to grace our Canungras and Corowas, our historic displays, our swap meets, our Anzac Day marches ever again. So yes, I am saddened at such a mass export. We may own these pieces of rolling history in a financial sense, but we are all just temporary custodians as they pass through our hands for future generations of australian HMV enthusiasts to enjoy. Anyway - I've got that off my chest as it's been bugging me for some time. Have a good trip and looking forward to your report at a club meeting. Steve.
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#113
22-04-09, 07:25
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Steve,
Thanks for your reply. When I said my vehicle was a "rare" model I was responding to an overseas enquiry. They are extremely rare overseas having been made nowhere else in the world and never commercially exported but can not be called anything like that in Australia - they are the most common of the 40's 1/2 ton utes of any make by a long shot having been produced through the war and for two years afterwards. You would find few issues of "Just Cars" that did not have at least one of these Chev utes in it. I think you might be a little precious taking the high moral ground when you intimate the people going on the trip see their vehicles in dollar value. Almost all of them have a long history of military vehicle restoration and between the group I would not be surprised if over a hundred vehicles have been saved and restored over the years. I have never met a restorer (as compared to a ready made buy and sell type owner) who has genuinely made money on a vehicle if they place any value at all on their time - most don't even get their actual outlay back. As far as I am aware everyone on the trip has as much or more interest, respect and love of our history as you do. Most are not wealthy and some are forced to sell their vehicles to fund a trip of a lifetime. What will it be - a trip across the world promoting Australia's military history or driving around the block 3 times on ANZAC day once a year? I don't think anyone should judge them. When I was talking about hotrods I never mentioned anything about importing them. My comments on importing referred to quality historical vehicles. My comments on hotrods referred to hundreds of these guys combing the Australian countryside, paying top dollar, dumping all the running gear and chopping the bodies of often extremely rare complete vehicles. The more well heeled of these people go out and buy beautifully restored vintage cars and destroy them the same. They have the most wonderful workmanship but finish up with a one man mongrel that many observers admire for a couple of years but do not wish to purchase so the parts get used on the next project often dumping what remained of the original historic car. I am interested in your comments on Jeep Club members owning 90% ex-Australian forces vehicles but having 90% marked with USA colours - there are even blitzs with US markings floating around. I have never understood this - is this preserving Australian history? I figure what we are doing on this trip, even if everybody sells their vehicles (which is not going to happen - I think 3 or 4 out of the 15) is promoting awareness of our military history within Australia and across the world more than a hundred jeeps with American markings driving in a parade on ANZAC day in Sydney. I know at least two of our people are looking at bringing back in military vehicles of a type used in small numbers by Australian forces overseas but now very scarce or extinct in Australia. Lose one of a thousand+ jeeps, blitzs or Chevs still active in Australia to give people a look at a type seldom seen or no longer here (even if that particular vehicle never carried Australian markings) I think is good value. Anyhow we all have our opinions and it is good thing too! MLU forum is an excellent place to voice them. Lang Last edited by Lang; 22-04-09 at 08:05.
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#114
23-04-09, 09:33
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Trip Members' Blog Sites
We now have 4 addresses of people on the trip doing regular reports. As I said there will be as many different stories of the same incident as there are people!
Jim & Sandy Sewell (MLU) http://www.sewellnormandy.blogspot.com (C15A Radio) Hans & Anjolien Sprangers http://www.sydney-normandy-2009.blogspot.com (Jeep) Karen & Dale Barnard http://www.anzacconvoy.blogspot.com (Chevrolet 1 1/2ton) Lang & Bev Kidby (MLU) http://www.next-horizon.org (Chevrolet Coupe Utility) Last edited by Hanno Spoelstra; 15-05-09 at 21:41. Reason: fixed links
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#115
23-04-09, 22:44
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Lang and all others onboard the Greece to Normandy Convoy, Have lot of fun during the trip.
I really admire everyone who joins this trip and will closely follow it through the websites posted by Lang. Maybe these sort of distances are usual in Australia, but for Europeans it is just a long, long.....trip, especially with a column of vehicles older than most of us. I hope to see you guys save and well in Normandy and I am really looking forward to haveing a close look at the Australian vehicles in real life, in stead of on the Computer screen. p.s. I will staying on the Etreham campsite as well. Look for a red Fiat van and hopefully a restored BSA folding Bicycle! Alex
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Chevrolet C8 cab 11 FFW BSA Folding Bicycle
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#116
04-05-09, 12:33
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Anzac Cove
... for those of you who haven't been following the participants blogs, here's a good pic from the weekend (courtesy Hans & Anjolien Sprangers). All Aussie/NZ Trucks and Jeeps at Anzac Cove, good onya mates. A fantastic sight! Here's the original image.
__________________
Swiss Chris aka Christoph Zimmerli - Driving Switzerland's only Aussie F15 www.wheelsandtracks.com >> Condor A580 M+85691 (1952), Swiss Army Motorbike (unrestored) >> F15 1942 Aust (Cab 13) ::: restored by Keefy Last edited by zemsi; 04-05-09 at 12:44.
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#117
04-05-09, 12:40
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Simplon Pass
... after heavy snowfall over the past few days, the Simplon Pass has been closed for public traffic.
At Simplon village (1460 m above sea level) it was snowing 67cm in 24h. At the pass (2629 m) over 138cm in a few days. So take out all your warm cloths when entering Switzerland 
__________________
Swiss Chris aka Christoph Zimmerli - Driving Switzerland's only Aussie F15 www.wheelsandtracks.com >> Condor A580 M+85691 (1952), Swiss Army Motorbike (unrestored) >> F15 1942 Aust (Cab 13) ::: restored by Keefy
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#118
04-05-09, 12:42
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diary
... I found a good website with most of the events/commemorations around D-Day in Normandy.
__________________
Swiss Chris aka Christoph Zimmerli - Driving Switzerland's only Aussie F15 www.wheelsandtracks.com >> Condor A580 M+85691 (1952), Swiss Army Motorbike (unrestored) >> F15 1942 Aust (Cab 13) ::: restored by Keefy
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#119
15-05-09, 17:30
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Sorry for not keeping everyone up to date but it is rather busy running 15 vehicles through different countries.
Latest update blogs and pictures of the trip (now on the ferry from Greece to Italy) can be found on www.next-horizon.org click on Latest News. Lang
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#120
16-05-09, 23:17
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Quote:
Just found these five photos taken at Pireas port ; http://www.flickr.com/photos/anttsic...n/photostream/
__________________
Richard 1943 Bedford QLD lorry - 1941 BSA WM20 m/cycle - 1943 Daimler Scout Car Mk2 Member of MVT, IMPS, MVG of NSW, KVE and AMVCS KVE President & KVE News Editor
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