ajmac Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Great time. However A&E was more organised and less fragmented than Tanks in Town, less Police at A&E too, all over the place in Mons, I think they added to the large gaps in the convoy, up to 10 minutes! Met Adrian S on the M36 Jackson in the Woods North of Mons and watched close hand the abuse of a Rogers trailer by steel tracks The offroad parts of the route must have been wet as the armour came out of the farm tracks dripping with mud at times, on the whole I would say the Bois woods was the biggest benefit over A&E as the owners had places to test there driving and it was all quite atmospheric. I'll post some pictures, travel camera so sorry for quality. Seriously, as a spectator, I thought A&E was the more 'polished' event, hi praise Jack! PS. Only one Carrier, a T16, was in attendance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted August 29, 2011 Author Share Posted August 29, 2011 Photos. I didn't catch the owners name, but the M36 Jackson was over from the UK as was at least one Stuart. Combat Camel made an apperance in Mons, but didn't do the run and cut out in the 'Grand Place'. Joops M4A1 was in British colours with a British dressed crew making a change from all the US gear, it also has a more modern diesel engine and made that Sherman go like stink! I'll put some low quality (sorry) video on youtube when I can, this hotel connection is pants! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcspool Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 I heard tanks with steel tracks were no longer allowed to drive on the central square. True, judging by the numbers of tanks riding piggy back on Rogers trailers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted August 29, 2011 Author Share Posted August 29, 2011 Yess Hanno, no steel in Mons or on some of the newer road surfaces, the steel guys, got Diamond-Ts from the North Woods right down to the south of Mons when they off loaded and took to the older roads and lanes, but when they turned up in the Grand Place later in the afternoon they were back on the Trailers. Apparently is was a last minute announcement and the Jackson had rubber tracks which could have been fitted of they had known! All seemed a but hit and miss, some people with steel went on a Rogers and others (eg the M3 HST) just went on the roads anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Clark Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 (edited) Just got back from Mons, went again this year as a tourist. Only light or rubber tracked tanks allowed to use certain sections of the route due to new regs. Some nice vehicles there though and also met some HMVF members. Jim Edited August 29, 2011 by Jim Clark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Clark Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 More pics Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 nice pics guys, shame about the steel tracks not allowed on all the route though (makes me a bit nervous about the cromwell on A&E ) rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted August 29, 2011 Author Share Posted August 29, 2011 The steel track thing was a little odd to be honest, I would bet that a the M36 on chevron track isn't far off the ground pressure of an M5 Stuart on steels, also depends how you drive! The guy with the M3 HST really took on board the 'drive it like you stole it' approach! Quite a number of Tanks on the Northern Woods didn't make it to the first stop to the West, Hetzer failed, Grizzly never arrived, nor did a Chaffee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Jim's images showing the giant Davey Miner's Safety Lamp got me googling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Jim's images showing the giant Davey Miner's Safety Lamp got me googling! NOS - your nuts. The small ones aren't cheap let alone one that big:-D Ajmac- thanks for the report and would be interested to know how many tanks took part over the weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 nice pics guys, shame about the steel tracks not allowed on all the route though (makes me a bit nervous about the cromwell on A&E ) rick I am kind of feeling the same Rick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I thought it had been decided some time ago that no steel tracks would be allowed at A&E? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I thought it had been decided some time ago that no steel tracks would be allowed at A&E? It might of been in general conversation we had Adrian but we need to take in to account the carriers and the Stuarts...have to say that it scares the **** out of me running steels through Dorchester and Weymouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I got it from here. http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?20320-A-amp-e-2012...!&highlight=steel+tracks+a%26amp%3Be Specifically ''But one thing for sure all armour would have to be on rubbers.'' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I got it from here. http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?20320-A-amp-e-2012...!&highlight=steel+tracks+a%26amp%3Be Specifically ''But one thing for sure all armour would have to be on rubbers.'' Yes that was the one :red: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 You didn't specify rubber tracks though........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 You didn't specify rubber tracks though........ Phew got away with that one :sweat: I have thought long and hard about it - as you know, I went through all that prior to A&E 2010 - and I have listened to a lot of feedback. I am still sitting on the fence with it as I see both sides of the argument - its a 'risk Vs reward' issue. I am having a meeting with the highway Dept on Friday and I will make a decision then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Oh to be a fly on the wall at that meeting.... I don't envy you your decision. I think the last A&E demonstrates that carriers are fine and frankly a Stuart on steel is not really an issue but I can imagine the powers that be wanting some sort of indemnity which is not something I would give! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Oh to be a fly on the wall at that meeting.... I don't envy you your decision. I think the last A&E demonstrates that carriers are fine and frankly a Stuart on steel is not really an issue but I can imagine the powers that be wanting some sort of indemnity which is not something I would give! Thanks Adrain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Conveyor belt, Jack - and lots of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted August 30, 2011 Author Share Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) Tracked vehicles that left the woods...that I remember: 1 M36 On trailer 1 Sherman M4 105 On trailer 1 Sherman M4A1 1 Sherman Grizzly 3 Chaffees 3 Stuarts 1 HST 1 Hetzer 1 T16 Carrier 1 FV432 1 US Post war APC (no good on US post war) 1 Swiss Post War MBT 5 Weasels Vehicles reaching first stop: 1 M36 On trailer 1 Sherman M4 105 On trailer 1 Sherman M4A1 1 Sherman Grizzly 3 Chaffees 2 Chaffees 3 Stuarts 1 HST 1 Hetzer 1 T16 Carrier 1 FV432 1 US Post war APC (no good on US post war) 1 Swiss Post War MBT 5 Weasels All steel tracked armour left white powder marks on the black top, the MBT had shot rubber pads and made more of a mark but no more than you would see if you rubbed a stone on the surface of the road. Carrier and Weasels left no marks. Edited August 30, 2011 by ajmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted August 30, 2011 Author Share Posted August 30, 2011 Low quality video, sorry chaps....I was at work. Carrier!! Something went wrong... I couldn't get any closer, well done to the driver! Something went wrong... The Battle Something went wrong... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMS Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) We had a great time again, the no steel tracks rule seems to have put a few off maybe, as numbers of tanks were down a fair bit compared to the last time we went, but still a great weekend, watching the T's towing some heavy armour was brilliant. it would also seem the fun police are becoming more noticeable at the event. we snuck the jeep into the armoured convoy after Cuesmes:D and the off road sections were certainly fun in the jeep! the heavy stuff was leaving some big wet ruts for us to play in, we got through almost unscathed as the head gasket threw its hand in as we arrived at the battle field:undecided:. Edited August 30, 2011 by RMS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 alastair thanks for posting the video, all good stuff. rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny loot Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 nice to see some photos on the event , when your there you never seem to take enough, meet up with some great guys , and you know who you are .........thanks again to all that help when my astra went bang on the way there ............it`s now living in mons , the loading and unloading of the tanks was crazy and an accident waiting to happen , i`m thinking that red tape may kill this event or alter the format to much , they need to keep the tanks moving more to save on them having engine troubles cheers jonny loot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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