croc

Yes must have been very crowded.....even the ones built in 1945 were there too.....

not forgeting a healthy scattering of Hotchkiss Jeeps.

I think (could be wrong) that Grampian Transport Museum have a Halley fire engine chassis. Photo 20 (Mack Snowplough) has a view of it above the Mack. http://www.gtm.org.uk/gallery/photos/index.html It may be worth contacting them to see what info they might have.

When I taxed the Explorer a couple of months ago I did it online, there is no mention of 112G. You need to tick the yes option for having an MOT to progress to the next page, then use the reference number on the reminder form (V11) and the insurance and MOT is checked automaticly.

http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/?SKIN=directgov

Assuming it is working, why would you want to change it?

Bugger. :-(

At least you discovered the problem at home and not out and about somewhere. If you were really pushed I suppose that you could drill and tap the shaft and use a bolt. But there are so many Scammells about with overpowered engines someone is bound to have a spare shaft.

I work on about 8mpg in the Explorer depending what I am doing with it, short trips and off roading use more longer trips when everything gets warmed up uses less. The show I went to last weekend cost about £70 in diesel for a 60 mile round trip a bit of off roading and a go at tractor pulling. I spent about £20 on food and Guiness.

If you think of it in terms of fuel cost it sounds expensive, but if you think of it as entertainment cost a weekend for less than £100 is really quite cheap.

All that is really needed is a power to weight ratio (not engine size) limit on newer drivers, increasing as they gain experience.

I can't see much benefit in curfews and such as the only way to get experience is to go out and drive. Getting driving schools to keep running lessons in poor weather, rather than cancel, would be a bonus, as would some skid pan sessions.

Thanks for the birthday wishes, I was away at a show (BA Stores) for the weekend. The weather was less than perfect but was a good test of my 12x12, it was the first time out with it since I managed to get the correct frame poles. I had a good run there and back in the Explorer and managed to do a bit of off roading and had a go at tractor pulling...

Overall, much more fun than a birthday party. :-D

http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=44893&d=1304865570

 

......and hadn't the King died by the time the Explorer came into service? or are we being way too fussy!

No, the King did not die till 1952, after the Explorer came into service.

I saw David Lees earlier this evening, his running Albion CX22 is still for sale, as is the spare chassis. However, in the fairly near future he wants to start cutting up the spare one for scrap, so last chance if anybody is needing any bits. I will try to get some photos up in the next couple of days.

Adam Elsdon had to move south last year, his Pig and trailer have been waiting for a ride south ever since.

Wednesdays job was to get it loaded onto a lorry and on its way. Here are the last few pictures of it at my place, before it left.

Look out for it (and Adam) around the shows.

Got to say I love driving mine about, I take it out most weeks (would drive it more if the diesel wasn't so expensive) and it must rattle more than yours Kevin. I can see yours being slow with the Gardner in it, mine runs sweet at about 27mph and will top 30 if I thrash it.

Kevins Explorer in the local paper... http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2184235

and more

Thats just the sort of picture to make an Austin Gipsy owner smile. :cool2:

A great event in Aberdeenshire for anybody up here or willing to travel. Although it is a mixed event the Military section has been developing nicely over the past few years.

http://www.bavintageweekend.co.uk/

Show Report 2009

There is scope to do a bit of off roading at the bottom end of the site.

2010

2007

ran over the pit crew? :-D

Sounds interesting Mike. There aren't too many of them around, in fact according to the Albion CX22 website they know of just nine: http://www.albion-cx22.co.uk/cx22database.html#

It doesn't look like any of the three I know of are on the database, although the pair that Dave Lees has for sale are shown in the survivors section http://www.albion-cx22.co.uk/survivors.html.

Just been going through some old picture albums and came across this shot I took at The Great Dorset Steam Fair in 2004. If I remember the guy drove it all the way from Scotland to the show. Croc will no doubt be able to tell you more.

This one is also for sale, with a spares donor, as David has bought a steam roller (the Albion was just too fast for him!) It has been fairly active round the shows up here and did the epic run to GDSF a few years ago (600 miles each way) it appears briefly here

Kevlar was just a joke, to point out the daftness of trying to catch Bullets.....If Kevlar bags were to be used it would beat catching bullets blindfolded between your teeth, which is the only other way of catching bullets I know of!

Wouldn't the blindfold be over the eyes rather than between your teeth?

Do i need to fit those yellow side marker reflectors on my Scammell? They were fitted at some point in the past as there were remains of them when i stripped it. not sure it had them when new.

Yes you need them, have a look here:

 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/contents/made

 

Schedule 1 table 1

 

On another note regarding side marker lights, if they are within a meter of the rear of the vehicle they can be coloured red instead of amber, very handy on the back of a long trailer or truck, helps you see where the rear end is in the dark / rain.

I am sure they were not fitted when new and looking at that link you don't need them, as your Explorer was first used before 1986 and is less than 8 meters. Up to you if you fit them or not.

How useful is getting the driver of a stuck vehicle to apply some drive during the recovery operation?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC7cY6GP01A

Hi Croc,

Is there much difference between an Explorer back body and a Pioneer .As far as looking at photos it just looks like the small access door to get up to the jib is nearer the back end.If they are the same I would gladly take a copy and pay the going rate.

Cheers

Bryan

I know that they are not the same but as far as I can tell it's just the large and small boxes next to the drop door are the other way round. I still haven't had a chance to price copies but I will get onto it.

I am still trying to decide if voluntary testing is "the responsible thing to do" or an attempt to pass the buck if things go wrong. Whatever happens the driver is still responsible for the roadworthieness of the vehicle, I suppose it depends on different individuals mechanical ability as to how much outside assistance they need.

Personally I feel that using something with an MOT exemption makes you more aware of the condition because there is no bit of paper to wave about.

Ultimately if you dont think it is safe on the road don't take it out.

One of the reasons why there was a stop put on the 'Historic' classification of VED was due to the rise in sales of 25 year old plus vehicles and the number being used to flout the congestion zone in London.

Not sure about that one, the taxation class was originally a rolling "25 year exempt" it was replaced with the non rolling "Historic" in 1998, by a chancellor who gave nothing away but the gold reserves.

I don't believe the congestion charge had been thought of at the time of the change.

When you think about it, quite a few people talk about "honouring the veterans" as one of the reasons they display their kit the way they do. Is displaying a Hotchkiss mocked up as American dishonouring those that used them in service?