Big ray

Steve has stripped, cleaned and repaired the carb, manufactured 3 new gaskets that we could not acquire, we will have her running next week and moved into the next shop for further works.

What I thought was going to be a relatively easy restoration project is turning out to be anything but that. I am having considerable difficulty obtaining quite a few of the replacement components that I need, infact I am having to refurbish some components, I will attempt to record and photograph whatever we manage to refurbish. I do like a challenge, this should test our skills......... we will start by refurbing the carb and manufacturing a new exhaust system (We cant get the re-furb kit for the carb)

If I could have TWO Christmas stockings, thats what I think that I would like to have in them........ but I know that there really is no Santa Claus, what a shame. Dream on.

Post WW2, before it became fashionable to build by-pass routes around town centres our town actually did have a by-pass road, but halfway around that road it had a crossroads, the road that crossed heading uphill into the town centre was elevated. This made the crossing like climbing over a barrier, commercial vehicles of any length could not use that crossing. There were several roads crossing the by-pass road into the town centre, but only that one posed a problem. One of the roads that crossed into town was from the cattle market car park, this is where any overnight vehicles would park, including military vehicle, this was the car park where I and my friends had climbed into aircraft (damaged) during the war, often finding ordnance. The road leading from the car park into the town centre was actually constructed with cobblestones, they had always been a problem, even for horse drawn carts, they were slippy. One day whilst I was walking into town a Diamond "T" complete with Rogers trailer and loaded with a tank had just left the car park and was heading up this road into town to continue his journey. I could not believe that he was going to attempt to climb that cobblestone hill up into town. The inevitable happened, he got approximately halfway up before he lost all purchase on the cobbles. He now had to un-hook the trailer and turn the D/T around in order to nose the trailer back down the hill, and take an alternative route. I watched, along with what now had become a rather large crowd, whilst he hooked-up. I knew that if he got it wrong once that he started to descend the hill, he would not be able to pull himself back up the hill to correct that mistake. He did start to get it wrong and had to unhook again and reposition the tractor to correct his mistake. By this time I had to leave the scene to get to my destination, I know that I had to be on time, but I cannot for the life of me remember where I had to be...... it was a long time ago. I do remember walking back later expecting that he may have been in in serious trouble, but he had obviously succeded in his effort to extracate himself, he had gone........... I bet that he told his fellow D/T drivers to avoid that road like the plague.

Steve has overhauled the fuel/vacume pump, complete rebuild, and he`s rebuilding the carb, still quite a lot of work to do, but it will keep us busy over the winter months......... just light the fire, lock the workshop doors and enjoy ourselves.

I am pleased to report that we were awarded "Best Club Stand" by Classic Car Weekly. Well done to all concerned.

I have spent a fabulous day on the MVT Stand down at the NEC with some of my friends from the North Staffs Area and the Birmingham and West Midlands Area of the MVT. Thanks guys,really enjoyed your company.

Happy Birthday Rosie from the North Staffs Area MVT:wave::wave::wave::wave::wave:

When my "brother" Cyril was inducted into the army in early 1945 Germany were still at war. He was inducted into the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) by the time that he had completed his training in Northern Ireland Germany had capitulated, so he assumed that he would be going to the Far East to deal with the Japs, who were of course still at war. However he found his company being sent to southern France, Toulon. He did not like that posting, he found the Vichy French to be very anti-british, in fact one of his friends was actually dragged from the cab of his truck after an accident involving a tram and his friends truck, the french crowd beat his friend to death. He moved from France in late 1945 to Hamburg, Germany. As everyone knows Hamburg was very heavily bombed, apparently many civilians jumped into the lake in the city and drowned in preference to the bombs, and lack of oxygen created by the fire storms. He and his friends watched one day in late `45 whilst they dragged the lake for bodies, many bodies were recovered, but they had all gone black, with the exception of one, which was white, they (He and his friends) assumed that this was very likely the body of someone who had been murdered a short time before and thrown into the lake. I suppose that such things must have gone on at that particular time. He was demobbed in 1948, by the time that I went to Germany in 1956 things had changed quite considerabely, I remember him telling me that you could have a woman for a pack of cigarettes, and not to get involved, but times had changed by the time that I got there.......... you needed two packs of cigarettes.

Peter A. spent a lot of time explaining the advantages of membership with the MVT.

Steve being blinded by the shirt of one of the many visitors to the stand.

Yes folks, that where the engine goes. Stan, Margaret and Craig. Lovely people, lovely day.

Myself, Margaret and hubby Stan have spent a very enjoyable day down in hall 11. on the MVT stand with all the guys from the Birmingham and West Midlands Area of the MVT, lots of interest from the general public, and a surprising number of ex-MVT members who have realized just how much that they are missing the club, and wish to renew their memberships. That surely speaks volumes for the advantages of our membership that we tend to take for granted. Lovely speaking with all of the public, they showed considerable interest in the club and its activities.

I have just worked out that it will require £240.00 in fuel................. I think that we will leave it where it is.

MVT Stand, Classic Car Show, NEC. 16/17/18 Nov 2012. The Birmingham and West Midlands Area of the MVT assisted by the North Staffs Area are again putting on a stand at this weekends show. The stand depicts a diorama of a Field Workshops somewhere in europe during 1944/45. We will be displaying GMCs, Jeeps and motorcycles under repair. If you are at the show, do call and see us on Stand No.11C90. The show runs Friday,Saturday and Sunday.

Hi, and welcome in, you are one lucky guy, thats a great looking truck and trailer, I always fancied the rag top model, am I envious, you bet I am.

Members of the North Staffs Area MVT spent a very enjoyable day bathed in the autumn sunshine in the centre of Cannock on Sat 10/11/12. We were there at the invitation of Staffordshire Police, who were raising funds for the Royal British Legion. The general public showed a great deal of interest in our display, which included a Tank and a 35 pounder field gun (Not pictured, they were on the other side of the square) Our nutritional needs were catered for by the organizers (Staffs Police) and the food proved to be both very good and varied.

Hi, enjoy your trip and please do post photographs, we all look forward to seeing them.

Welcome to the friendly forum.......... I would start dreaming about a Dodge Weapons Carrier, the Halftrack might turn out to be a nightmare, basic cost, fuel, spares and you will need a co-driver at the awkward junctions. I have one, its a pitty that you live so far away.

So long as we have Dads Army, we will have Clive Dunn in our midst. Only the Brits could make a film that makes us all look silly and a fumbling lot to boot, you either like or hate the programme, I found it to be compulsive viewing, not only do I find it funny and entertaining....... but I fear that it contains a modicum of truth about us. May he rest in peace.

I agree.

Thank you for the info, I will make it available to all of our members. N.S. Area MVT

I think that you are just feeding us a line there.......

This photograph was taken nearly 30 years ago when I (Stoke-on-Trent) and Ray W. (Halifax) travelled down to Brians family home on the outskirts of London. This visit to his home was the last one that we made before we lost him to the genetic complaint that took him from us. This photograph was taken just before we took him to the local pub for a drink, he could not manage to get out normally because of his condition. His speech was seriously impaired by this point, however we did manage to converse quite well, and the permanent smile on his face spoke volumes anyway. The next time that we went to his family home it was to carry his coffin, we still miss a very good friend. ( Brian is wearing the jacket.)

A belated Happy Birthday.