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ashley

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    Range wrecks

    in MV Chatter

    Posted

    eddy,

    its been re-schedualed for the August bank holiday...check the future events forum

     

     

    Ashley

     

     

     

     

    What happened fella's ,did the trip to the plain come off or did the idea die a death.i'd like to go if it was still possible,does anyone else feel the same.

    brilliant thread by the way,really fascinating.thanks

     

     

    eddy

    One for August

    in Future events and meetings

    Posted

    Great to have you back with us Rich and gang.

     

    Raptors Claw weekend 2010

    Just to refresh the thread, This event is for you guys and not a public event. Some of the ideas we have planned so far; now we have the other 10 acre field next to the camp site we are going to have a Military style time trials course, it has been mentioned that drivers will have to be blind folded with the co-pilot shouting out the directions, Rich you are a bad boy. You can use your own vehicle or a vehicle of our choice can be supplied.

    The course will basically be an out the vehicle start, a slalom around cones, reversing into bays, 3 point turns, shooting, an off road bit where a bucket of water will be placed on your bonnet, and all this done against the clock. You will need two people in your vehicle, driver/co-pilot. The day for the times trial will probably be Saturday afternoon running into saturday evening.

    Saturday morning if everyone is happy with it we can go over to the Weyhill Hawk conservancy and veiw the many birds of prey they have on show and watch the displays, this is a great place for the kiddies to visit so please if you have kids, bring them along.

    Saturday night can either be a walk to the local boozer or if everything goes to plan we will have a camp site bar available. If the weather is good a BBQ will also be fired up for the afternoon and night, this will take a bit of pressure off Dave. We have been given the green light to have a fire, nothing too big guys....

     

    Sunday will be our road run, we will be going to Salisbury Plain. One idea we have come up with is to drive to Warminster by road and come in on the ranges at Harmann lines. This route will allow you all to have a gander at the wrecks on the West impact area. Just a mile or so from the wrecks you will then move into Imber village, at the moment we are planning a stopping point/tea break and stretch the old legs here, but this will only come about if we can find a parking area big enough to hold all the vehicles. We will then move out and head towards Gore cross, again this is tarmac and straight forward driving. Gore cross will be our first road crossing point so a team will need to be sorted prior to the drive. The next part of the run will then go onto stone tracks.

    The Northen Transit Route (NTR) is mostly hardcore scalpins, there will be some potholes but nothing we can't handle. We will drive the NTR to Lavington and then turn right and head towards West down, this again will be stone tracks with the odd pothole. Once we hit Waltons wood and West down we will jump onto the Southern trasit route (STR). WE will then drive East, if we can, we will visit the Bombard area again. This will be another tea break and STOLs time. From there we will head out across the ranges to Bravo 1 crossing, another road crossing point so road crosser will need to be there first. There are no plans to stop at the river, all that tea and then running water, not a good mix. Road crossing three will be just up from the river, boy you road crossing teams are going to be busy.

    At this point we are now on the East of the ranges and the first part of the East side run drive. If we can, a visit to Beeches barn will be our first stop. Some of you that came on the first run will remember Beeches barn, it's the place we went and did the group shot and Chris and Hongkong Dave tried their best to get their vehicles airbourne.... We then move back to Zulu where we meet-up with the RTV back in 2008. At this point we will be heading to the valley run, this will not be for the faint hearted. Anyone not fancying this will be escorted to a VCP at the top of Dunch wood where Dave will have a brew on the go. Hopefully everyone will meet up at this VCP, a quick check of the vehicles, a cuppa and STOLs and then we move of for the last and shortest part of the range run. We will move out from the Dunch wood area and head around Sidbury hill and then down to Pennings. We cross at the bottom of Tidworth hill and head up the Engineers track, this part is stone and then tarmac. Once we hit tarmac that all folks, a VCP will be set up at the bottom of the road, we will need to check the vehicles, remove mud if there is any from lights and VRNs. We then get back onto public roads.

    The first village we come to will be Ludgershall, there will be shops for provisions if you need them. We will sort this before we move out. Anyone stopping at the shops will have to drive through the village and meet up with the rest of us at the top in the layby. Just down from the layby is a garage, so anyone wanting fuel, this would be the best time. We then move out and head towards Andover via Weyhill. When we reach 100 acre round about we cross the 303 and slip back onto it heading West. about three miles down the 303 you will see the turning for the Hawk conservancy and base camp.

    On a serious note

    Salisbury Plain is open to the public and we will come across them at some stage of the drive. So with that in mind....All of the drive will be conducted in a responsible manner, at NO stage will anyone leave the tarmac or stone track unless they have a really good reason to do so. While on the ranges, all the bylaws will be followed by the book. All vehicles must be Taxed, MOTed, and insured, all drivers must have a full driving licence. If we are told to move from an area from any range staff, we will do so at a moments notice. This route will be driven by myself and Yogi closer to the time, if we feel there is parts of this route that may cause damage to you, your vehicle or the ranges we will then look for alternative routes. Sadly, if tracked vehicles are allowed onto the camp site, they will not be on the SPTA drive. Sorry thems the rules.

    All the driving will be carried out at the speed limit laid down by West down, this is 30mph. The ranges are patrolled not just by range staff but by the local Police. Anyone found to be speeding or breaking the range laws will be past onto them and dealt with accordingly. This is out of our hands, we don't make the rules, we just follow them. The whole drive will be a team drive and not a free for all. If anyone breaks down we try to help them on the spot, if nothing can be done then we need to tow them the rest of the way. Any guys out there with towing vehicles fancy coming along please join us...

    All vehicles will need to carry, spare fuel, towing gear if posible, tools and a first aid kit. You will not need winches, stropps or anything to recover vehicles from deep water or holes, there are non on the route. If we get a fair few vehicles on the run we might have to break into groups. Each group will need a leader and a tail-end charlie. Flags will need to be sorted, if anyone has such things can we borrow then please???

    I think thats about it for Sunday. After driving that lot you won't want to party all night, but this can be sorted at short notice.

    Monday will be a sort out of the camping area, making sure you have everything and then head home at your own leisure. Being bank holiday Monday I recommend you don't leave it too late.

    There will be more activities added as and when so watch this space. Like I said at the top of the page, this is a weekend for vehicle owners, not the public. I'm sure we will see some over the weekend but they will be informed that they enter at their own risk and under no circumstances will any of you guys be held responsible for any injuries sustained while on site. Disclaimers will be posted around the camp site and entry points. A £10 fee will be asked for. This is camping fees and toilets. Water will be on site and situated in easy reach areas. I think we can get some electricity on site but this is still to be sorted. I am going to need your vehicle type so we can work out the best places for any big trucks and possably tracks to park. If we do get the green light on tracked vehicle, we will get something sorted for you guys to play. One idea is, if the 100 acre field next to the camp site is cut and baled you can go out there and drive to your hearts content. This should give all the photogs a chance to get some stunning photos of you and your kit.

    Just a quick warning to all vehicles that will be arriving via low loaders, there is a bridge just down the road from the camp site. This has a 13.5 height restriction so please be careful when driving down. There are no turning areas along this road, but they are wide enough for articulated trucks. I will be posting a site contact number on here nearer the time. If anyone should get lost or needs directions, we are just a call away.

    Hope this has answered any questions you might have about this weekend. I would like to think what we have here is something a bit different for you guys. This is a brand new camp site with some new ideas thrown in to boot. All I ask is you come along, give it a go and see if it's for you. I know this isn't for everyone, but for you guys that want to drive your vehicles on Europes largest training ground then this is right up your street.

     

    All the best and hope to hear from you soon.

    Tony.

    Plain Military

     

    Bloody well sounds great tone, but i am not due home from yorkshire untill the 27/8 so i shall have to be well behaved to get up on the sat/sun.

     

    Ashley

    My story

    in Introductions & Welcomes

    Posted

    My name is Charles I will be 63 years old, infact I am a pickelhaube collector and interested in first WW.

    Charles Vanhoenacker

     

    Picke collector eh, welcome to the forum.

    I do own a pickle my-self, issued to an o.r.`s from the Mecklemberg regt. wich is a bit more unusual.

     

    Ashley

    The Tiger 131 Appeal 2010

    in MV Chatter

    Posted

    Well, I just think its a bit odd , peoples' preoccupation with all things German. All to their own I guess.

     

    Well i hope you do not go to Beltring, because even though i am a German fan, even i find some of the re-enactors, vehicle owners, militaria dealers etc at this event some what "overpowering" in thier portrayal, of military re-enacting (possibly glorification ??) and some of the dealers who ply complete and utter junk as origonal militaria for hundreds/thousands of pounds :nono::mad:

    Slightly off thread here sory.

     

    Ashley

    The Tiger 131 Appeal 2010

    in MV Chatter

    Posted

    I agree the Tiger has ben a crowd puller since its restoration, befor the Tiger the WW 1tank was the crowd puller untill i belive stress fractures in the frames due to age caused concern.

     

    The Battle day as far as i can remember has allways been popular (up on gallows hill in the past :shocked:)

     

    The main problem with restoring loads of exhibits ...proper / secure storage, safe enviroment for public to view collection (gone are the days of free entry and when no one was looking climbing in to the first open hatch you spotted to pull levers, push buttons and twists knobs ), even right down to enough drip trays to catch dripping oil, proper maintenence facilities, fuel storage bla bla bla bla.......

     

    To charge public entry fees to enable the museum to preserve / restore /accuire / run exhibits vehicle or items worn / fought with... = comply to H&S

     

    German armour / vehicles / history, are very popular the world over, and untill recently hid behind closed doors by most of the major collectors (vehicles in particular)

    Samur i belive is also still owned by the French army as well as run by volunteers.

    Just a few thoughts

     

    Ashley

    It is still out there

    in German Vehicles

    Posted · Edited by ashley

    what a beaut ,havent had time to read the whole thread yet but that is some find

     

    ps does Jack know you are being unfaithful and carrying on with another forum???

     

    Nigel

     

    This is a forum i have been a member for several years (eventhough it has a subscription charge ) and if you ever are at a loose end a vey good reference guide to include vehicles, British uniforms etc

     

     

    The chap in the post wili has a massive collection of german items to include other schwimers, kubles, combos, etc but a nice guy

    Ashley

    Replica Schwimvagen...

    in MV Chatter

    Posted

    They were never made with doors, the doors in this one were cut into it to de/militarise it and then when baptys bought it and used it for film hire they roughly welded up the doors. Below are two pictures when I bought it in 1990. John. tried to put them up but the picture format has changed, not for the better, so no idea how to show pictures, why alter a perfictly good system.

     

     

    You can actually revert back to the "old" system there was a thread here on the forum from lee i try and lok for it later.

    Ashley

    on ice would you bail out

    in Other Chatter

    Posted

    Well really the person was warned, he shouldn`t of attemted tp drive with the road condititon {should be done for dangerous driving}

     

    Stay with the vehicle at all times, there may have been an oppertunity to regain control no matter how slim

     

    We had a similar problem here as i drove to work one Monday :yawn: morning, the roads were fairly clear but it began to drizzle with rain and though i was on a bus route i felt the car starting to back end slide, 4 wheel drive lessend that and on stopping saw that the drizzle had turned to sheet ice on the road etc,

     

    Even with 4WD in 2nd low it was still an expirience to finish the journey to work.

     

    Ashley

    Snow..

    in Other Chatter

    Posted

    Though only a fleeting glance your portrayal looked as great as ever Enigma :thumbsup:

     

    Ashley

     

     

     

    Allready participated in a docu about the Americans during Market Garden.

    Now, same crew and probably same format. US troops in the Bulge.

     

    Here a link to the docu.

    You can see me now and again for a few seconds. Including a few seconds "hollywood walk" (slowmotion walking next to another.)

    Havent seen the documentary myself, hopefully we'll see it during the evenings of filming.

    http://www.theamericansonhellshighway.com/

    http://www.ww2-reflections.com/ww2-homepage.html

     

    Also, A few mates and me were in a national newspaper in a special saturday extra in color. A background feature on the Bastogne walk and re-enactment.

    http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk-online/VK/20100109___/7_030/#original

    Snow..

    in Other Chatter

    Posted

    Though not a lot of snow here it is realy treacherous under foot, got a minor bollocking from the manager for not letting the vehicles out of the yard before 08:30 (the refuse wagons, gritters and day centre buses were kept off the road untill 10:30 ) so we could grit the yard and entrance bend waiting for the office staff to come in," if you can drive to work....... you can drive at work" sounds fair enough but there are less twats around at 06:30 and this was two days after on of our vans lost grip and crashed into a wall behind a pelican, crossing luckily no one was hurt.

    Working for the local authority can be fun sometimes

     

    Ashley

    Famo

    in German Vehicles

    Posted

    Hi,

    i belive that one of these used by the British army is now preserved / converted to an artillery troop carrier to tow the 88 flak piece here in the U.K.

     

    Ashley

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