National get together

[Keith Webb]

As Geoff mentioned in Grant Fincher's thread I think this is a great idea, but as he mentioned the tyrany of distance is a major obstacle in this country to getting everyone together. Corowa is the closest thing we have to a national get together, and even then the travel from places such as Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia are a real challenge.

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
Grant, it's a bloody good idea whose time has come! There are 134 of you between Oz and NZ I've been able to count so far (my Admin search tools are limited), but I'm guessing the actual number is a lot closer to 200. That's a good start!

There's a fair herd of us here in North America as well, but of course we're spread pretty evenly across a huge combined land mass, which makes it difficult - read expensive - to pull all together (as in Oz I suppose).

We're also scattered right across the British Isles and continental Europe - distances are smaller and more manageable, certainly, but the cost of getting anywhere can be prohibitive compared to what some of us are used to. There is a lot of back-and-forth with British and continental shows, which is good, and as a British example, Mr. Notton, through the offices of one of his compatriots in their Solent Overlord Executive ( http://www.solentoverlord.co.uk ) have a large MLU sign up at every show.

We have the numbers, we have the interest... all we need is to bridge the gaps between us and time things right, whatever the venue. I will listen to any reasonable proposal and put such forth to the Staff for consideration!

[Tony Smith]

The Jeep guys have found a similar problem with a large country and enthusiasts spread far and wide, they have had Jeep Jamborees in out of the way locations that are kind of the same distance away for everyone.
What we need to know is where is the "Blitz Centre of Gravity" of Australia? Corowa has served well as it is fairly central to the south-eastern capitals (particularly Melbourne), but it does put the Queenslanders at a disadvantage. WA Blitzes are virtually never seen in the east, and understandably so.
So where should the gathering take place? Somewhere further north of Corowa to be amenable to the Qld'ers, or in SA to accomodate the distance for the Sandgropers (Woomera?)? Do we go for a midpoint (Ganmain?), or the place of maximum Blitz saturation (Yass?).

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by Tony Smith
Do we go for a midpoint (Ganmain?), or the place of maximum Blitz saturation (Yass?).

Sure hope Howard doesn't see this...

How about the home of the Old CMP site, Melbourne?

[Howard]

OK Fellas, you have my blood pumping now.
Ganmain IS the centre of the universe after all.
I know that the local community organisations would get right behind it & be of enormous help. I am willing to work at it if Ganmain gets the nod. See this thread
and this one
What say you?
HH

[Keith Webb]

Are the locals CMP-friendly?

Sounds like a plan.

The Great Ganmain CMP Muster 2007!

But when? I know what Riverina summers are like.

[Howard]

How about September/October. Not too hot, not too cold, not usually wet. Maybe long weekend October?
But definitley not before Winter.
Tony says "I'm in" & the idea has him, erm... "Aroused"
HH

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

What we need is a bloody map of bloody Australia showing where the bloody hell are all these bloody locations you bloody twits keep on harping about! Never mind red x's in crayon showing where you all hide when you're pretending to be "normal"...

[Keith Webb]

Us? Normal?

I think the map is a great idea, Jif. Perhaps we should start a new thread on it, or perhaps even a new section to the forum - sort of an extended profile - who are you and where are you.

H - I must admit the thought of Tony "aroused" has me worried. Perhaps we should hold the muster in Tasmania or Perth instead.

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
H - I must admit the thought of Tony "aroused" has me worried. Perhaps we should hold the muster in Tasmania or Perth instead.

Just make sure he's not wearing his helmet and battledress...

[Howard]

Cave Street - Ganmain(2702) - Australia
Lat-Long:
-34.8 (-34°48') | 146.9 (146°59')

MAP (You may have to zoom out)
See also here

[Keith Webb]

Try going from your home town to Ganmain, Australia and you'll get a good idea of where it is.

Google Earth is quite amazing (and eats bandwidth).

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
Try going from your home town to Ganmain, Australia and you'll get a good idea of where it is.

Google Earth is quite amazing (and eats bandwidth).

Here's my place:

37°43'50.31"S 145° 9'39.98"E

[Keith Webb]

I'm afraid Ganmain looks a bit primordial on Google Earth - perhaps it might be better if only 4X4 and 6X6 versions of CMPs visit in case it's muddy.

[Tony Smith]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
H - I must admit the thought of Tony "aroused" has me worried.

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
Just make sure he's not wearing his helmet and battledress...

Just to clarify people's mental picture's, I do believe Howard was referring to his mate Tony with the C60L..
I am interested in this event, but not to the extent that I might require raising the steering wheel for clearance.

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by Tony Smith
Just to clarify people's mental picture's, I do believe Howard was referring to his mate Tony with the C60L..
I am interested in this event, but not to the extent that I might require raising the steering wheel for clearance.

Yes, it is a different Tony - I've been trying to convince him to get online.

I'll post a video sometime to show the excitement level when he sees a CMP running.

[Ian Pullen]

I have spoken to a couple of the fellows from the Bandiana region and we could possibly travel up in convoy. It may take us awhile, over night stops etc. Then there's the question of accommodation in Ganmain. I seem to remember.... THERE ISN'T ANY. But then I suppose we could all congregate around the footy field after the sheep have been removed and hope we don't get evicted from either of the pubs in town.
Sounds great. Count us in..........

[Dinty]

G'day All, just some food for thought, re a map showing where all of us live. I frequent the Series 2 club website (UK based), and they have an interactive map showing where members live and other snippets of info.
If anyone here was interested in looking google Series 2 club, on the main page bottom left click on forums, allow it to load then a ??tool bar comes up at the top of page it has lots of info but there is the Member Map, click on it and check it out, I'm a dummy when it comes to this electronic thing, but I dare say that there are people in this site who could do such a thing anyway it's just a suggestion cheers Dennis

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

or perhaps even a new section to the forum - sort of an extended profile - who are you and where are you.

Before people get carried away with this notion, remember the eyes of the electronic world are on you. I don't mind sharing details with MLUers and the like but I certainly would not want my personal details and location published world-wide. Never mind the terrorists, what about the rogue collectors and wierdos who would just love the military vehicle treasure-trove map?

Think about it.

Bob

[Keith Webb]

Thanks Bob

I reckon it should be in fairly general terms - perhaps even dots on a map to give some idea of the distribution of collectors as well as the general distribution of vehicles.

[Max Hedges]

Originally posted by Howard
How about September/October. Not too hot, not too cold, not usually wet. Maybe long weekend October?
But definitley not before Winter.
Tony says "I'm in" & the idea has him, erm... "Aroused"
HH

The long weekend in October sounds good to me.

I reckon Yass would be a good spot as it was settled before ganmain and has a lot of history and we could all for trippies to the war memorial in Canberra for the day. A bit of history in that Yass was the last outpost for the pony express between Syndey and Melbourne in the early 1880's

And the word Yass means running stream which isn't happening at the moment.


Max

[Keith Webb]

And the word Yass means running stream which isn't happening at the moment.

So while the river isn't running is the town known as "Ya" or "Ass"?

Bad drought all over really. Hope we all get the rain we're missing. This year seems to be the worst of it by far.

[Howard]

Originally posted by Ian Pullen
I have spoken to a couple of the fellows from the Bandiana region and we could possibly travel up in convoy. It may take us awhile, over night stops etc. Then there's the question of accommodation in Ganmain. I seem to remember.... THERE ISN'T ANY. But then I suppose we could all congregate around the footy field after the sheep have been removed and hope we don't get evicted from either of the pubs in town.
Sounds great. Count us in..........

Crikey Ian, how far can you comfortably travel in a day? Being a Blitz virgin I have no idea how long it would take to cover 200km from your place to mine. About 5-6 hours allowing for wee breaks?
Good accomodation is available. See my website for a guide. The retreat houses 12 people in a beautiful old home & has modern showers etc. for starters. Both pubs have accomodation although only one sells grog these days as the licence was sold a few years back. Those that would rather camp, powered sites are available at the showground (more than likley the venue).
I look foward to seeing you mob on the road be it either here in Ganmain or Yass.

[Howard]

Originally posted by Tony Smith
Just to clarify people's mental picture's, I do believe Howard was referring to his mate Tony with the C60L..
I am interested in this event, but not to the extent that I might require raising the steering wheel for clearance.

When in Ganmain, do as the Ganmainiacs do, Tony. Foward your dress size in advance & 'our' Tony will select a nice frock for you...

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Howard
Both pubs have accomodation although only one sells grog these days as the licence was sold a few years back.

Hi Howard,

A pub with no beer ??

Sounds like the subject of a song by Slim Dusty

Richard

[Keith Webb]

Don't worry, Richard

Our Howard is an award winning beer brewer.

[Rusty]

Now if you all find a place to meet I will offer to take those who are willing on a bit of a back way route to were ever "the Gathering"is. It is one thing to drive a blitz at 35 mph for a week on the highway but a new experiance to drive one in the rough at 5 mph for a week.
Actually one of the best things about travelling in an old military vehicles is the people who simple walk up to you and ask about what your up to. Sitting round a campfire at night after a day at the wheel with a cold ale and fellow nutters sorry Blitz Happy people is always a great time.

[Howard]

(MLU National Get To Gether)
It has been suggested on another thread that Bathurst/Orange would be a better venue? Are there any MLUppers from these areas willing to help?
Does anyone have a suggestion on how we can decide a location/venue?
Any other suggestions of a venue?
Cheers,
HH

[Max Hedges]

Menindee would be a top spot plenty of camping grounds, burke & wills pased through there and stopped at the pub, if it was good enough for them it would do us that way you get to experience all types of roads.


John drove our blitz from Melbourne to Yass in a day taking 9 hours, then we drove from hillston to broken hill in a day.

Max

[Rusty]

Good Spot Max I would look forward to getting a red dust Tan and looking out over the land.