lynx42 Rick Cove

In Katherine, that jeep, 'the Jeep from Hell', AKA- Phil Luff, was stopped in the main street. I stopped in the 1940 Chev Staff Car and Phil said he needed a tow back to camp. On arrival at the camp, the jeep was looked at and the gearbox and bell housing had separated from the engine. The centre of the clutch plate was ripped out. 2 hours later a new clutch was installed along with the errant bell housing bolts and Phil continued on the trip. The accident Richard mentioned was repaired by the use of some of the many spares being carried by the Jeep Brigade. This involved a new spring, brake parts and eventaully a complete front diff assembly. I think that almost a complete jeep mechanical set up was spirited away amongst the jeep mob, just in case. That jeep still looks the same. I saw it 12months ago on an outback trip north of the Flinders Rangers in South Australia. I don't think that it had been washed either since 1995.

Regards Rick

Richard, I actually got to drive Half Safe at Corowa that year. Not in the water though. Not too many people can say that they have driven a vehicle that had circumnavigated the world under its own power. There probabley isn't another anywhere. Half Safe now lives in airconditioned comfort in Western Australia. We have to thank Bob Dimer from WA for bringing Half Safe right across Australia for the event. I don't think it is going to happen next year for 'The Year of the Amphibian'.

Regards Rick

Thanks Jan. I knew that you would be the one to have the theme list for the next few years. The year of the British and European Vehicle is 2011. By the way 'Welcome to HMVF'.

Rick

G'day Richard and others,

You know two of the organisers. I'm now President of KVE Inc. The organisation that runs Corowa now. Any one who is part of the organising committee for any Big event will know that it is a lot of hard work. We have been at it since March. It is all coming along well now. Still a few problems to iron out. Mostly with tracked vehicle movements on public roads. A problem since an idiot stole an APC in Sydney last year, ( a disgrumpled ex-empolyee of the owner), and went on a rampage against 19 targets (telecom and others).

I'll check the Corowa 30 site for you. (Jan is in NT on a well earned rest at the moment.)

Regards Rick

I started my interest in all things military at the ripe old age of 10. I found an old WW1 ashtray and my interest has blossomed from that find. Attached is a photo of some of my trench art. I have approximately 100 items. These are fom the Boar War up to the recent Afganistan Conflict.

I don't go out of my way to collect it as it's getting a bit expensive, but the ccollection continues to grow slowly.

The story behind each item is as important as the actual piece itself.

Regards Rick

Richard,

That Mack was in my packet 'B'. We had 15 vehicles from the smallest, a Harley Davidson WLA, to the Mack. The Mack got the great (??) fuel economy of 2.5 miles to the gallon (:cry::cry::cry::cry:). The Mack owner had his back-up vehicle as well. Big enough to carry the Mack and his accommodation block as well. The radiator was cleaned out at Barrow Creek and the Mack continued under it's own power for the rest of the trip. Warren, the Mack driver, passed away about 12 months ago from the big C.

I ahve a photo of the Mack on the Semi but haven't got my scanner working yet.

Rick

If you were running a still, wouldn't you have a dirty great padlock on the distilled product locker?? Of course, it's for medicinal purposes only.

(I rekon it's a steriliser.)

Rick

Ashley,

Funny that you should say that. I have the actual Saracen APC that I drove from 1969 to 1972 when I was with the 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse, sitting in my yard. I tell every-one that I sent it home in the mail. Somehow many believe it to be so. I got the idea from an episode of MASH 4077, where some-one sent home a Jeep through the mail.

This is a long term restoration. (Anyone got a left-hand rear door for a Saracen Mk 2. out there.)

Rick

Paul, I'll be there for a beer one of these days. I call at Pucka and Seymour 3/4 times a year.

Rick

Nice looking truck, BUT, never an ambulance. I stand to be corrected, but I think that all ambulances in WW1 had pneumatic tyres.(All of the ones I've seen photos of, anyway.) This looks like at least a 2 ton truck. It might be WW1, but thats where it stops.

My 1916 Albion is often miss-identified by those who don't know, as an ambulance, and it's a 3 tonner.

Interestingly Richard, Bertha has a Mack rear end as well as the GM6-71.

Got meTim!:confused: Great photo but I haven't a clue.:???

Rick

We didn't have a wet day, but, boy was it cold at night for the first few days. I was very lucky with a tin-top and wind up windows in the 1940 Chev Ridemaster Delux Sedan. The Jeep and Dodge drivers had to put up with a strong easterly side wind each morning. They said that it was a very lazy wind. Too lazy to go around you so it went straight through you.

I was not so lucky with the engine. I hadn't put anti-freeze in the cooling system in the rush to fit a new rebuilt engine in the week we left to take part,I had it in the boot to put in but was just too flat out to do it.

With -7c and -8c degrees at night near Alice Springs, my engine suffered frost cracks to two places in the water jacket. Whilst not enought to ruin the engine we kept going with the help of a substance called Irontight.(?). This sealed the cracks and stopped the water leak.

A problem with the brakes was also repaired with the help of the RAEME detatchment who traveled with us.

There was also a Doctor and Nurses with an RAP post every day if you needed them.

Rick

Must have looked funny with all 6 wheels spinning as it was towed down the road. Either that or you must have disconnected the rear hubs somehow. Interested to know what you did as I have to shift mine within the next 2 months.

Regards Rick

You are all right, it was the trip of a lifetime! I met Richard the first day in Melbourne. I have many, many photos but my scanner is playing up.

There were 98 military vehicles which drove into Darwin in convoy. Most of them WW2. Of the 98 there were only 2 or 3 which were actually used on 'THE TRACK" during WW2. I won't steal Richards thunder , so I'll let him continue with the trip report. Keep up the good work, Richard. The memories are flooding back.

Regards Rick

Back to "Ice Cold in Alex" in the scene where the K2 was being cranked in reverse up the dune was not done on the crank handle. There was an AEC Matador over the other side with the cable buried in the sand pulling it slowly up the dune backwards.

Not the first time and not the last. I'll have to scan a few in as well.

Rick

BTW We were in Tennent Creek NT this day in 1995.

3 GPA Amphibs gained permission to 'put to sea' in the only water for 1000km around and in their haste, two of the owners of them forgot to put in the bungs and almost sunk. Great to watch the panic as they realized that the ingress of water was beating the pumps. Both made it to shore, but not before there was some wet feet and red faces. The Mayor of Tennent Creek was in one of the sinking GPA's.

Rick

Your right Richard. It was "The Biggest Event since the Tall Ships"(Warren Brown)

A troop train loading in Sydney NSW then picking up in Melbourne Vic. and Adelaide SA and unloading at Alice Springs NT. Before a 1600km drive to Darwin.

98 Second World War vehicles took part in the drive into Darwin.

I'll have to check on the train disrance, but it was more than 4,000km and our train had 'right of way' on the line. I'll do a seperate thread one of these days.

The photos are 2 of Flinders Street Station Melbourne and one of the desert stop 40km from Coober Pedy SA.

Rick

Sure looks like a Packard to me. Rick

Just a brief glance at the chassis photo as I'm on my way to the AGM of the Khaki Vehicle Enthusiasts. The group which runs the Corowa

get-together in March each year.

Only one I can identify is the mid 20's ALBION front-end and wheels. I'll chech the others next week.

Regards Rick.

Well, the last photo is definately a Ford Model TT 1ton truck of indeterminble age.

No Tim, no tank wheels on my Albion. The tyres on the rear are off an old farm trailer. They were too big in diameter, so I had 3/4 inch thick spacers made up which were shrunk onto my wheels to take up the 1 1/2inch difference and then the bigger diameter wheels fitted over the spacers. The front wheels are another story. The right front is one that came with the chassis and is very worn. The left front tyre was is a bigger diameter rim which we out cut the difference in the circumference, re-rolled the rim to fit and affixed it to the wheel. The right front tyre started to delaminate badly on a 650+km trip we did in May 2006 in the old girl. I had to carve off all loose rubber with a carving knife on the side of the road to stop the rubber flapping and tearing off the rim. So I need two 720mm solid tyred rims, to if on the front.

Regards Rick

Great job on the wheelsbut where did he get the tyres?????

Top photo may be a NACKE, a well known German truck firm, based in Saxony. But I may be wrong.

The second one with the gun is, I think, a Daimler/Krupp 60/80hp. fitted with a 7.7cm gun and seating for the crew of 9 plus the driver, and ammunition as well.