mick.wilson Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 The trip to and from the Victory Show turned out to be another 514th adventure story. It all started with the Halftrack gear box rumbling on route to the show but we arrived with little problems. The Dodge followed up on the Friday with Cara driving, only 5 miles from our Farnborough depot we received radio transmissions that there were problems with the transfer box and she was jumping into neutral. Thanks to the evacuees (Connor and Sean) wedging their feet against the gear lever to hold it in position for the remaining 115 miles the Dodge arrived safely on site. But that was just the start of our adventures. The halftrack gear box continued to cause trouble throughout the weekend and after pondering all day Monday a coin was flipped to decide whether to low-load it home, we went against the decision and drove. 10 miles into our homeward journey, the halftrack cut out on a roundabout leaving the convoy dangerously exposed. A quick repair job and we were on our way again for another 10 miles, where the second vehicle in the convoy (Jeremy’s truck) decided that it wanted all of it’s six spark plugs changed. At this point we told the halftrack to continue without us and that we would rendezvous with him at the halfway point. Jem’s truck continued for all of 5 miles before it gave up the ghost (That’s one engine per season so far, for this particular truck), with all the trucks towing trailers the only vehicle with an available tow hitch was the Clubmobile, which was immediately turned into a Diamond Tea recovery truck. Towing Jeremy’s fully loaded truck and trailer (We must have welded the extended chassis on well enough as it didn’t come off). Due to faulty communications equipment I (Driving the Clubmobile/Diamond Tea) was the only person unaware of what was unfolding with the Halftrack ahead. At 2100 on the A43 I was being flashed by a spot lamp on the cab of a halftrack stopped on the side of the road, only to realise it was our halftrack. After talking to the driver (Parker) we were informed that the near side track had snapped and shot across the dual carriageway nearly taking out an 18 wheeler, luckily Parker and Mother had managed to drag it off the road to prevent a major incident. So we phoned for recovery as we were certain that our new Diamond Tea couldn’t tow a halftrack aswell. Half an hour later 2 low-loader recovery trucks arrived at our position, 1 to load the halftrack and the other to tow the Bofors. After loading our convoy continued to the break down depot at 10 miles an hour with one recovery truck with halftrack at the front, followed by the Clubmobile towing Jem’s and trailer, then the two still operational trucks, with the second recovery truck towing the Bofors bringing up the rear. After a quick cup of tea at the recovery depot, trucks, drivers, trailers were all swapped around and the remains of the convoy continued and arrived back at the Farnborough base at 0430 this morning. Some people would say “What a horrible journey.†but we were laughing all the way home. All in all an excellent weekend with an exciting finish to the season. Mick http://www.514th.co.uk/images/Victory2006/IMG_2713.jpg[/img] http://www.514th.co.uk/images/Victory2006/P9050264.JPG[/img] http://www.514th.co.uk/images/Victory2006/P1010237.JPG[/img] http://www.514th.co.uk/images/Victory2006/P9050251.JPG[/img] http://www.514th.co.uk/images/Victory2006/P9050257.JPG[/img] http://www.514th.co.uk/images/Victory2006/P1010246.JPG[/img] http://www.514th.co.uk/images/Victory2006/P9050261.JPG[/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Every trip a mini adventure! Glad you got back ok. Perhaps your next purchase should be a proper wrecker for the convoy? I know of a Ward le France M1A1 Heavy Wrecker for sale. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Nice one Mick, was that roadsure recovery or a friend of your's :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Sounds more like a motorpool re-anactment. Glad all of you returned safe. Guess its typical, not 1 problem but lots of them, good thing to have a little convoy to help each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooTallMike Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 Mick, I guess that answers the question about whether to change the Halftrack track then! I'm glad no one was hurt. What happened when the track went? - was there any other damage or did it just spool out underneath? - Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 Some of the Dorset guys had this happen to them with a half track, could of been very very nastly. Lucky enough a Dodge was following behind - the track eat the Dodge on its way through it. If it was a normal car, it would of killed someone but they were lucky this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick.wilson Posted September 14, 2006 Author Share Posted September 14, 2006 What happened when the track went? - was there any other damage or did it just spool out underneath? - Mike Hi Mike, It when with a bang but the driver was only doing 30mph so the track just rolled off and no damage to the halftrack or the Bofors being towed behind it. If a wheel comes of a Jimmy it could kill somebody Jack, the road is a dangerous place to be dropping anything. Mick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 If a wheel comes of a Jimmy it could kill somebody Jack, the road is a dangerous place to be dropping anything. Mick. Mick was stating that the Dorset Halftrack track could of killed some by all accounts and they reckon that the Halftrack jumped about three foot in the air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick.wilson Posted September 14, 2006 Author Share Posted September 14, 2006 Your right there Jack, I have heard story's of them ending up on top of the driver :?, our one went 3ft side ways. Mick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodge Deep Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 Mind you, you could put on a good display with it... Take the good track off at a show & drape the knackered one over the rollers dig a hole under the track... bingo mine damage :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick.wilson Posted September 14, 2006 Author Share Posted September 14, 2006 Mind you, you could put on a good display with it... Take the good track off at a show & drape the knackered one over the rollers dig a hole under the track... bingo mine damage :-D Yep, could do..... we have found and quick way of getting them off :-) not sure how quick we can put then back on again. Mick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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