Meteor mark 4B

I note in my local newspaper a letter about the changing of the MOT test. An EU directive for 2012. Possibly I might have missed this news somewhere, but:

Under the Directive, the test will be every two years. Sounds good. However, it will be at Government run test centres. I quote the letter: " The tests are much more expensive, and Draconian to the point of obsessive. No leeway is granted, no free re-tests, and no allowances are made".

As I understand it, a vehicle which leaks a bit of oil will not pass in Germany. Is this what we can expect in the future?

....and it sounded glorious! A pity the Russians could hear it 15 miles away though......

Yes, a photo found somewhere on line and a visit to a vinyl lettering place will get results. There seems to be a variance in prices though, so shop around. It might pay, if the badge is large, to get the sign place to put them on properly.

Don't know about the Churchill, but the C spanner on a Centurion was used to turn the gun barrel, a quarter turn I think, to release it for removal. As a humble driver I might be slightly wrong with the amount of turn, but you certainly didn't turn it very much!

For a current list of events go to http://www.cmvt.org/Events2011.html There are some Devon ones as well and others further afield.

Looking at the tracks and driving position I would say there are/were Chieftains.

I did a photographic display some years ago at a show, basically with pictures of the Centurion tank and all its variants. An elderly gentleman, looking at a battle tank, exclaimed to his lady that ...." that's the Tiger, we had no answer to that" Hmmm...

Good book! Outlines the rallying exploits of one of the foremost Army drivers of the 70s/80s, Les Dalton. Land Rovers, Austin 1800s and Minis.Excellent pictures, and written in Les's own style. http://www.flyarmy.co.uk Don't get it from Amazon, it appears to be far more expensive there, for some reason.

List now up dated. We are hoping to put on a bit of a show at the Tractor Club show

List is not updated yet, I note.

Good Book! Excellent photos. If you are interested in LRs and motor rallying, buy it!

http://www.cmvt.org/ The events list should be updated shortly.

Seems the tyres were off an aeroplane of some sort.

Nicknamed "The Beast" I'm advised, and not to be confused with later big-wheeled Ferrets.

No tools, and I didn't get the "Fly Army" motorsport book I asked SC for! However, it's now ordered and hopefully it'll be here soon.

I've heard that an ex mil engine that has run on leaded fuel over its early years can have enough protection to run on unleaded as long as (A) it's not hammered, and (B) not driven long distance at one go. I used Castrol Valvemaster, but now I've got an "unleaded" cylinder head after an unassociated problem.

As I understand it, Bloody Omaha would have been a lot less bloody if they have accepted some of Percy Hobart's kit.

Slightly off thread, I was chatting to a mate yesterday who knows about these things and he reckons the Vulcan has another two years as a flier, it's SO expensive to run.

Spent a few hours there quite a few years back, as a guest of Roger Jones, who was the curator then. Good stuff on show, sadly not open to all. When I was there, there were a few Land Rover "specials", including the Roadless Forestry Commission one with tractor tyres front and back. An excellent interlude while on my way back to the far South West!

The only ones to answer that are those who have actually fought. I was a Cold War Warrior.

Agreed, stunning pics. HMS Albion is now our flagship, a pity it will probably be "parked up" most of the time.

I'm not sure if advertising is allowed, so if its not, my apologies. A great friend and Army mate has at long last got his book about his Army rally days published. Look here: http://www.flyarmy.co.uk Just in time for Christmas!

A few years ago a team of Old Comrades suggested we might give it a Magicote restoration, never got asked sadly.

I can think of quite a few Gate Guardians of the past. Apart from the one at Eastbourne, there was a Chieftain near Tewkesbury, a Chieftain and a Cent at Lulworth, a Cent and Two Conqs at Bovvy, a Chieftain at Telford, another at Bulford, an ARV at Bordon, a Cent and a Conq at Castlemartin to name a few. Where are they now I wonder? Forgot the Cent at Warminster!

Different tank, same subject. Does anyone know what happened to the Comet outside of the Kings Royal Hussars Museum in Winchester?

And thanks Steve for putting me right on the Kings RIH.