Energumen

Ongoing and growing respect.

I am delighted for you, and love your Jerboa, as is.

What a fright with the transmission, panic time or what?.

You must be justly proud and extremely happy.

Well done again

Well done, a very nice restoration, and well documented. Good luck today.

Hi 6X6 and Andy, what a wonderful day you clearly had, and what a wow the Scammell looked.

I am so pleased that it went well and sad to have missed an opportunity to see more of it.

However, the balance on the day was better as it was, with the elements well matched in terms of experience and expertise.

Hi Mike, well done indeed, I am increasingly impressed with the engineering skill and ingenuity of you guys.

I love your style Mrs. Becket, I think I heard something once of a possible ancestor of yours, Thomasa?.

Wasn't it an Airbus that had to set down in the Hudson River in NY after encountering a flock of birds?

It was indeed, but on the American vehicle track record on this thread, if it had been a Boeing, it would not have got off the runway. Lol

Did you say you are flying with Easy Jet? I'll look forward to watching that episode of "Airport" :coffee:

One can only hope that it is an Airbus and not a boeing, what say you?.:-D

Jack, just to let you know that we have a Stationary Engine section at this years Bunker Bash... do you want a booking form for your GMC :coffee:

PRICELESS:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Please do not ask for one of those tyres for Christmas, as the way house prices are going, it looks as though, a set of six, would leave little change out of a re-mortgage arrangement. Lol

Ah well, better late than 'the late', is what I say. Lol:)

No doubt Energumen will be watching this with interest, so I'll do my best to keep the ball rolling with the restoration. Thanks for taking the time to read my posts. :coffee:

Hi there, surely will, but then again, so will many accomplished restorers.

Personally, my previous efforts were very amateur to what I see reported on this site and I am honest enough to say, that nowadays, I am happy to read of others, stirling efforts.

Good luck with the manuals, and the big task ahead.

Well, that has taken a few hours from start to finish, including re reading bits, to get it into my head.

RESPECT!

Hi Mike, as a now retired, rank amateur in the field of mechanical engineering and restoration, I am compelled to congratulate you, not only on your obvious knowlege and improvisation, but mostly, on your undaunted application.

It must be said, I would probably have given up and sought a buyer at an early stage.

Well done you.

Thanks Andy, I was not aware of today's events before.

The reason I suggested posting your Constructor post on the 'Constructor' thread is that it's hot stuff and people interested in Constructors won't think of looking under "It's Will from East Sussex" and might miss it. That would be a shame. Kind regards, Tom

Understood and much appreciated.

Looking forward to meeting you. PM sent.

Hackneyed expression nowadays, but it really will be my pleasure.

Just picked this tit bit up, thought it worth sharing. NOW OLD NEWS

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7857643.stm

Ah, you have gone and spoiled it now. I definitely qualified for the first description, but have to say I am interested in most military vehicles, some more than others, and the Scammel Constructors and 10 ton Albions, more because I have a direct associaion with them, over 40 years ago. But I am no longer into spending hours underneath them, as I was never a mechanic, and what my Brother and I did, came very hard, ten years ago, and would cripple me now. So not exactly a nutter.

Nonetheless, if you are down wherever you keep your vehicles one day and are happy to let me have a little look. I would appreciate it.

They're now in BA3 and you're very welcome to visit but only if you're a complete nutter. :cool2:

Cor, I used to be through that area all the time, with a dry cement tanker, going to a Block?brick plant just outside Norton Radstock, Holcombe Block works and the ARC Quarries at Mells.

Small world, is it not?.

The London Circular

Ah well, may as well finish it.

Now, I was never any good in London and that has not changed to this day.

However, I was not the Shepherd, the modern day equivelant of whom, do not carry crooks, but rather, carry 'pips', and are crooks.

No that was not true, but it just came into my head. Seemed funny to me.

So this sheep in Olive green steel and canvas attire, is faithfully tagging on to the end of this noisy gas guzzling chain of similarly housed humanity, as each with their own thoughts, they roar, clank and crack their way through the shadowy streets of the Capital, in that half light that signals a new dawn.

It is at this time, that I, always thinking myself 'the wit', happened to spot a Metropolitan Police Officer, swathed in his cloak and with the reflection of our passing headlights, playing little dancing patterns on the chrome of his helmet badge. Well, could I keep my tongue between my teeth ?, so to speak.

Well actually, yes, but only because I needed it there to whistle the theme to Dixon of Dock Green. You know the one; dah de dah - de dah de dah- de dah de dah dah- dah dah dah dah. then it came loose, as I shouted, 'Evening All'. Then, "have you got the time Mr. Policeman", we had slowed to a crawl, as the 'pips' studied the 'charts'. Well I was only young. Would I be that silly today? You bet.

Good old boy, he waved and took it in good part.

The dawn fully unravels and the road sweeps are out, the Daily Mirror vans are flying round disgorging bundles of papers every so often, without stopping. (how did they do that?, there must have been two of them).

I digress.

So London is awaking to a new day, and we are still about 55 miles from home, I say about, because, just then I thought, this street looks familiar, you ever had that deja vu feeling when finding your way through an unfamiliar town?, yes?, well I had it now, as into view, not twenty yards from where I had last seen him, came a vision in dark cloak and tall helmet, standing on the opposite pavement and doing an Acadamy Award rendition of 'The Laughing Policeman'. Alright, It's not that funny. The poor bogger was absolutely hysterical as 'The pips' asked him the way and I tried to get down between the pedals with embarrassement.

We did get back to Brighton about four hours later, having had our ten minutes break every two hours.

Don't get too relieved it is over. I was in the TA for about sixteen years in total. Ha ha.

Energumen

Part Four, The Don R's and London Circular.

So, the broody Austin Champ is really struggling to close the gap and I, spoiling for another battle of words with my tormenter, decide to pull over to hasten the confrontation.

Now it was my turn to have the puerile tantrum, I leapt, well yes I could and often did in those days, yes, I leapt from the cab, grasped my beret and like a protagonist of yore, thrust it on the ground, (well the Don R's had all the gauntlets). Here was my challenge.

Have you ever been so built up for a fight, that you have actually felt disappointed, when the other party apologises or gives a reasonable excuse?.

Bod it, you know that man, you know, that one , the one in the Austin Champ, well it wasn't him. Bogger!.

Captain K, a most genial and well respected, up through the ranks, Gentleman, greeted me with his warm smile and a twinkle in his eye.

"Well Sapper", he says, "and which front are you returning from today".

Don't you just hate it when you want to be sullen and morose, and some bogger makes you laugh?.

I explain in great detail, my traumatic experiences of the day and close by telling him that I am obeying the last order and trying to catch the convoy.

"Well you are to be congratulated", says he, (this was better, a bit of praise, what a nice man). "Yes congratulations indeed, you have done so well, the convoy is at least ten miles to your rear, and what news have you of the Don R's "?.

I explained that when last seen, they were heading South Like two angry bees who had flown through a line of washing and come out bedecked in Grandfathers World War one Military attire.

I will be brief, who are you kidding?, who me?.

Well, the convoy duly became caught up with, after I had waited about forty minutes. We all had tea and set off South. The Don R's?, we came across them somewhere North of Watford.

Now, how about the London Circular, ah, indeed, that is a story for another time.

Energumen

sounds like a skippy moment , Glad you were not seriously hurt .

How nice of you. The funny thing is, they knuckled under and knew where we all stood, but that set the tone for an underlying warmth between us, which they felt able to confess to at the end of the course.

I remember my Colleague Pete, in response to these lads coming up to us and thanking us etc, he said in his best parade ground voice, "right lads, now you have all passed out, you can call me Pete>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>Corporal ******* Pete!"

This photograph was taken about 10 years ago in the yard in Bristol where I kept my lorries. On the left is the ex Roland Simonds Militant MK 1 Cargo XVS 199, in the centre is the ex Laurence Davison Constructor YFO 311 and, still in snowplough red, the ex Ted Gowen Constructor YSV 865.

 

Hi 6X6, I wish I had known. I am in BS37, and would have tried to beg a viewing.

Part three; The Don R's

Now, still smarting from the public dressing down for doing as instructed, but nonetheless happy to be free of the impedence of slower trucks for a while, I wend my way homeward again, the whistle and clatter of the V8 petrol and vibration from the all terrain tyres, interrupted frequently with the sharp crack of the canvas tilt as sail like, it fought with the wind, these had become a sort of calming overture to my ears.

Then it happened, as if from nowhere first one, then a second Don R appeared alongside my cab door, the riders appearance resembling some gruesome and macabre ghouls from a nightmare. Goggles, crash helmets, great coats flared out like the wings of Concorde, leather thigh boots and gauntlets, complete with scarves that trailed like ships pennants in a storm.

Here we go, "Wwwuuuwww wwwwwover" shout the ghouls in unison, as they wooble, along, bodies akimbo and left arms flailing the air, "Wwwuuuwww wwwwover yapwat". It was quite clear to me as an astute observer of body language and military speak, that these individuals wished me to stop and exchange dialogue with them, and I did so.

Now something must be left to the readers imagination, so you must insert your own sentences, phrases, grunts, gesticulations and obscenities into the tale at this point.

Suffice to say, it resulted in my doing a five point about turn on this rural road, scarcely wide enough for a vehicle in each direction, now you would think I had been punished enough, wouldn't you? yes?. Not Broody likely, just as I complete the manouvre, up comes a knight in , no not shining armour, a broody Austin Champ, who could this be wondered I, as it approached, then an arm bedecked with three of the most prominent chevrons known to man, appeared from the drivers side, apparently offering to give me some physical ecstasy and relief, now I knew who this was, before the voice became audible, sorry, no prizes.

Sargeant Strident, having sent the Don R's to turn me round, had been advised that if I had carried straight on it was a more direct route to the A1 anyway. He now directed another five point about turn and in his own inimmitable way, sent me to join the A1 South and catch up with the convoy.

On arriving at the A1 with the two Don R's in attendance and Strident having gone goodness knows where, I was instructed to wait in a lay by for the rest of the convoy and rejoin at the rear.

This instruction was valid for about fifteen minutes, whilst the two Don R's Went Northward, after which time they reappeared, telling me to get my boot down as the convoy had already passed.

Now it is fair to point out at this time, that the only means of radio communication between any convoy members was a pair of No.19 radio sets, which were 'netted in' at the start of our outward journey and never spoke to each other again until we got home.

However, delightful, I am coaxing about 51 mph out of this old Canadian Thames, the various noises like sections of an orchestra, each making their own unique contribution to this 1812 overture, with the curtains providing the explosions. Even more delightful, the only vehicles passing me are the 'Tartan Arrows', who remembers them?.

Then in my 2inch mirrors, first offside, then nearside, I caught a glimpse of what appeared to be an Austin Champ.

To be continued.