Hello Everyone,
This must be the bit that everyone dreads. Introducing themselves to a forum of their peers and trying not to sound like either a complete idiot or an arrogant sod. I'll do my best and try to hit the middle ground...
My interest in military vehicles, particularly wartime British, goes back to childhood and for the last fifteen years or so, I've been actively engaged in all sorts of activities from organising local military vehicle events here in Northumberland, attending commemorations all across the UK and Europe specifically Normandy, Norway and Market Garden.
I am in a fortunate position that the interest in the vehicles and their restoration and attendance of many events is very much a family affair with three generations regularly out and about at home and abroad. My father in law has an interesting collection of WW2 British vehicles and I have spent many happy hours trying to perfect gear changes in one of his Matadors.
As far as restoration goes, I have assisted with a wide variety of tasks but my only foray into restoration myself was a GMC CCKW 353 A2 which we still have. Unfortunately, work pressures made it very difficult to complete the work but it was eventually done with father in laws help - not my finest hour.
My reason for re-joining the forum (I had an old profile that lapsed) is that I am on the verge of acquiring a Bedford QLW tipper which needs quite a lot of work but having learned from my experiences with the GMC and am confident I can get it up and running and back on the road. I hope that I will be able to learn much from the wise folk on this forum.
I have always been astonished by the willingness of people in the MV world to help others..
As and when the Bedford is ready, I will finish it as 11th Engineers Company of the 1st Polish Armoured Division in honour of my uncle who served with them all the way to the German surrender of Wilhelmshaven. Sadly he died in 1961 so I never got to hear his story first hand.
I hope that this is a worthy introduction and I look forward to being part of the forum.