LarryH57

I went to the IWM in Lambeth the other day to see what it was like after its expensive re-fit and you've guessed correctly, it was a shadow of its former self with most of the exhibits cleared. In days of old I remember loads more vehicles and exhibits being on show such as the Grant tank and quite a few artillery pieces. The ground floor now has a WW1 18 pdr and a T34/85 but not much else. What also is annoying is that there are no labels next to exhibits and instead you have to look at a board map to find a description. There are also mini shops on every level which you have to pass to get to the other side of the floor you are on. In my opinion it also wasted space in some areas and then tried to cover all Britain's 'small wars' with just a few exhibits. I think the Falklands war was covered by a captured twin 20mm AA gun and a camo smock and yet after being directed to go to the terrace, it was in fact the top floor which was TOTALLY empty; why?

Out of interest was Gas Warning Paint used on RAF and RN vehicles that were used IN THE UK?

Perhaps they could make a few replacement engine blocks!

It's understandable that a visit to Normandy 2014 would have used up an owner's holiday and their hobby fuel allowance, and therefore WPR in Folkestone would have been too far for most MV owners who did not live in the South East. However 2015 is the 70th Anniversary of VE-Day and Channel Islands Liberation, so its likely next year's show will off the list of events for many already! Another thing that needs to be taken in to consideration is the age of MV owners which is increasing, so many are less able to stand driving long distances in their pride and joy let alone camping out for a week! Perhaps the show should be held every other year in Kent and every other year in the Midlands, otherwise its not going to get some of the old time MVs to attend, that I know are out there.

I was there on Friday and people were going home even then!

I don't understand the point you are making regarding a national day of remembrance; Saumur are proud of their MVs and take some of them great distances.

The point I was trying to make, but not very well, was that WPR could do with some added MV attractions. I mentioned before that it would be good to have some vehicles from the French Armour Museum in Saumur. It was said that this is very unlikely, but as they brought their Valentine to Normandy I don't think the idea is impossible for them to get some interesting French vehicles to Kent. Regarding German vehicles have Sdkfz.com boycotted the show? Also some vehicles seen at Miltracks in Holland have been seen in the UK and many Dutch MV owners attend WPR so why has the number of original WW2 German vehicles gone down? I think it's down to money and as long as the public attend in their thousands nothing will change, well not until MV owners and the public, see nothing new, start to fade away. It would be interesting to see a comparison of numbers through the gates over the last few years.

Having mentioned that it would be good to see Sdkfz.Com, Miltracks and French Tank Museum at WPR I noticed in CMV Mag that the Valentine from Saumur came to Normandy, then it wouldn't be so far to come to Kent would it?

I did not realise the site had to be restored after use, which doesn't give much hope that it could be changed for the better, well not until the local council makes up its mind. The site could become like Detling and be used as a Show Ground for other events. As for the viewing platform, when I first heard that the event would be a former racecourse I thought great, they can use the Grandstand for viewing the arena - but sadly they didn't!

I should have said I'm after WW1 information on a relative who joined in 1909 and was killed in 1914. I have the service record but I'd like to find out which Company he was in. IIRC soldiers were soldiers first and tradesmen second and if he was a bricklayer would that have put him in a particular Company?

Thanks Richard; I remember the Sherman but I'll have to put down the fact that I missed the ALM Acmat, Austin K5, Bedford OXD and Fordson WOT8 to either the weather or that they were on the move when I walked the fields. BTW I did see the CMP C60X with workshop body, but I was thinking of those on 15 cwt chassis. So it still seems to me that there is a noticeable drop off in British & German WW2 era stuff. If I was Rex I'd be trying to get the stuff that goes to Miltracks in Holland to come to WPR and at the same time have a word with the French Armour Museum at Saumur to see what they could supply. British vehicles went to Normandy this year so its not impossible.

Thinking about friends from across the water - I would have thought Folkestone would be a much better proposition for them and yet there seemed to be far less of the old crowd than in previous years at Beltring. At the opposite end of the field to the arena at Beltring there used to be a large camp of friendly Belgians in their Minervas and the Land Army girls nearby. Where were they this year? And was it me or were there less Dutch visitors this year? Certainly the guy who gave me a lift on his Kettenkrad at Beltring wasn't at WPR with his vehicle. For some reason many of the old favourite vehicles were missing and a quick look at my photos, old and new suggests that the following were not at WPR (or had left by Thursday); ALM (French 4x4 2 ton), Austin K5, Bedford OXD, BTR 40, Canadian Ram, Canadian CMPs with Radio bodies, Churchill Tank,Daimler Fox, Ford WOA2, Ford WOC1, Fordson WOT1 Crash Tender, Fordson WOT2 Light Warning Set, Fordson WOT8, GAZ 66, GAZ-MM, Humber Mk III Armoured Car, Humber Snipe FFW, Karrier K6, Morris C8 Artillery Tractor, Morris Commercial CDSW, Morris Commercial CS8 (several), Panzer 38t, Panzer IV (in working order), Sdkfz 2, Sdkfz 7 and 8.8cm Flak, Sdkfz 250, Sdkfz 251, Sherman Tank, T54/55, Tilling Stevens Searchlight Truck, various German WW2 field cars - to name a few!

Can he make me one, was my first thought to the above! Actually it must have been quite difficult to build to ensure it looked very 'original' and it certainly convinced me. I wonder if they sourced the tracks from another type or cast their own?

Does anyone know where the Regimental records are for the 4th Bn Middx? The Regiment merged in to the Queens Regiment and later in to the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment. At one time the records were at Bruce Castle in Tottenham.

"A bit soon to pass judgement on the relocated show" - actually the more I think about it, it's the site that is the problem.

Thanks for the comments so far. I agree that good company is a plus but its no better or worse than any other show. For me I think it is the reduction in the number of interesting vehicles being brought to the show and the over abundance of certain types, that has changed the event. This is confirmed by comparing my photos from each year.

I'm interested to know if any of you, who used to go to W&P perhaps for many years, don't bother anymore and why? To give a bit of background, I have been going for many years now but have come to the conclusion that in moving to Folkestone it has lost something and does not feel like the old show, so instead I may attend more local MV shows from now on.While seeing the TKS from Poland was great, there was a notable reduction in the older WW2 British vehicles thatused to attend, leaving a lot of modern stuff on display. As for German vehicles do the SdKfz.Com guys boycott the show? Strangely, the attempt to have MVs and military camping only to improve the appearance of the show may have backfired in that those who cannot be on site for the complete show, now turn up and park all over the place often where there is a majority of civi vehicles. I appreciate the logistics would be a nightmare but it would be good if MV owners camping in far flung fields could all move their MVs each morning to a section of the show, so that the public can see them more easily. Also some of the Club stands seemto be very far away from the action and I’d be interested to know if they saw as many members of the public as the living history guys? As for the Arena at WPR I cannot understand why the Marshalls on the far side need to have a cabin and civi cars and fenced off supplies, as these ruin any photos the public try to take when vehicles pass near by and as for the double decker bus in the corner, surely WPR could put this outside the Arena for the same photographic reason. If the VIP bus hast o be in the Arena (for some reason) build it as a period ruined house perhaps? As for the distance, while the M25/ M20 on a good day can get you to Folkestone quite quickly that was not the experience of many who came down after the start of the show. I also found it slightly amusing that in taking an alternative route home I came upon a turning for Paddock Wood after an hours driving through the back roads! Oh how I wish it was back at Beltring!

Clive, out of interest what does ENV stand for regarding half shafts. Are yours so very different from a normal Series Land Rover?

Terrierman, if you are new to the MV scene - welcome! BTW - I always fancied a K9 as I had a ride in an RAF Ambulance version over 50 years ago! Sadly I have nowhere to store one now

Good idea

Many years ago I saw four or more Scorpions doing much more than 25 mph on the M3 on their own tracks and not on the back of a truck either! In fact it was more like 50 mph if they can go that fast.

Has anyone ever had a speeding ticket in their MV? I suspect for some owners they can hardly do 30 mph so would be hard pressed to get a ticket.

If the MV idles well but does not drive, it could be a problem with the carb. With mine the float had a crack in it and swelled up and then the replacement part I bought turned out to be too big (it was built in Taiwan), so also failed to work properly on the move, but was OK when the vehicle was stationary. I also found the rubber O ring seal between the upper and lower parts had swelled so did not fit allowing the carb to flood.

Spotted today a Czech version of the BMP-1 on a low loader heading down early for WPR at Folkestone on M25 perhaps? How early does the collection of vehicles start for WPR?

What about the Jeep also listed? The Registration must be known to someone in the hobby? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WILLYS-JEEP-1944-WW2-Jeep-/251565393900?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a927747ec The location may be known to someone too?