Jessie The Jeep Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 I've known Jack ( in a virtual sence ) since the initial days of setting up this forum, when he sent out mail about his intentions for the forum, and got his sand coloured truck as it was back then. This was around the time I first started doing ground based green things and bought my Jeep. This set me thinking about what Jack, and all the other HMVF members, did with their spare time before doing MV's and going 'green'. I know some have been doing this since Noah was a kid playing Poo Sticks, but not everyone. Some of you know I was heavily into large scale radio controlled warbirds. I started R/C flying in 1983, and moved on to the large scale US warbirds in 1994 with an 81 inch span P-47 Thunderbolt powered by a 38cc chainsaw engine. A team of other modellers joined me, and together we displayed throughout the UK and also in Europe. My planes got bigger, the largest being the B-17 at just over 17 feet wingspan and 130 lbs take off weight. Our planes were also used by Steven Spielberg in the 'Band of Brothers' and on 'Glenn Millers Last Flight'. My aircraft were/are Several P-47's of the 'D', 'M' & 'N' versions, the B-17G, Tiger Moth, Vultee Vengeance and a part built 1943 Northrop N-9Ma Flying Wing. In 2004, I got a chest infection which resulted in asthma and a wood dust allergy. This pretty much knocked on the head my building of the planes. As a result, I was looking for something less dusty to do with my time, and military vehicles seemed a natural extension of the Military Aviation theme. I started looking for a Jeep at the start of 2005, found one in Feb and collected it in April. I've had so much fun with the Jeep and have been to places and done things I would never have thought of 'B.J.' ( Before Jeep ). I have met so many great people in that time, especially on this forum. So before MV's took over your life, what did you do with your time, were you equally obsessive, and what brought you into the world of 'Green'? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightweight Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 Interesting question - I have absolutely no idea! I've only had an MV 3 years, I can only assume that I had a social life that didn't involve going camping in the pouring rain and dressing like a lunatic - must have been hell! :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 I spent childhood, playing with horses, boats and bunkers. So I suppose the 4x4 and tractor and military bit was always there. When others had Lamborghini car posters on the wall I had Lamborghini tractors? Landy's were a norm (As I couldn't find another Gypsy) and obviously a lot were ex mil, so i suppose they were always about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 Always been into green, it's just that work got in the way of getting anything and it was not until I stopped travelling that I was able to participate in the hobby. A very boring life before that. :coffee2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeEnfield Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 I guess playing around with landrovers, trialing with AWDC, and greenlaning; military history since during school always of interest, satisfied 'yearing', to a point with wargaming; (napolionic period, waterloo in particular still of interest.) Got into reenaction in small way,...(got it TOTALLY wrong, then..........Ahem :whistle: - still only way to learn. ;-)) First military vehicle was 2/4 stretcher L/rover, which did a few local shows, then case of (trying to) saving for something earlier. Between times got heavily involved in conservation, but found that experience didn't count for nowt, employers only wanted to see bits of paper. :angry: Still got there in the end;..............next ?? who knows..... ;-) Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markheliops Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 Before I went green - I had loads of money and no sense - Now I just have no money and no sense. :shake: I was into Lotus Cars - LOTUS - Lots of trouble, usually serious. Started with an Excel, then brought another. Then had an Esprit GT3, then an Exige. http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u233/Markheliops/Excel2.jpg[/img] http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u233/Markheliops/ExcelSE2.jpg[/img] http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u233/Markheliops/Esprit1.jpg[/img] http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u233/Markheliops/Exige4.jpg[/img] Was a member of the Lotus Driving Club - infact should really cancel my membership as I don't think the WLF qualifies. Would I turn the clock back - absolutely not. Markheliops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhc Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 Mark, Nice EOD Land Rovers in the background. Do you have any more photos of these? I am looking for photos of Land Rovers in service with the following units at the following times: 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD)09/04/97 58 Field Squadron (EOD) 04/07/97 21 Field Squadron (EOD) 16/01/03 Specifically I am looking for HP 63 AA which is a Wolf 110 hard top Cheers, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ford 369 Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 I spent years hanging about in rock and roll clubs driving classic cars and bikes but have always collected militaria trouble is I keep on doing the same things even after buying several military BSA,s no wonder Im always skint Nigel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowtracdave Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 Always had an interest in old vehicles of all kinds really , Dad liked his cars and used to take us to steam rallies and the like . When I left school I got involved with some mates who had a rock band - my first car being an escort van (guess why they wanted me ).I used to cart their gear around & sit & listen.Long story short , the singer got fed up of me telling him I could do it better than he could & one day said **ck you - go on then do it . So I did .Met my wife through working with bands as road crew etc . When we were going out my then transport was a Marina van which got demolished outside her house one afternoon by a drunk driving a sherpa motorcaravan . After that I thought I'd have something which wouldn't bend as easily & bought a Series One 80" Landy which I rebuilt from the ground up. Also had a '58 Vauxhall Victor and a '69 Vitesse at the same time .Then I got involved with the local farm machinery preservation club. This lead to the arrival of my first tractor -an Allis Chalmers B which I restored from a wreck. Fast forward ten years, got back into music after a long break , being married, building stables, sorting the house ,learning to drive horses ,playing with cars and things & eventually , unfortunately, a divorce which meant amongst other things , the Vauxhall & tractor had to be sold .Fast forward another fifteen years - still single but we won't go into that - and the long felt need for something green had to be satisfied . The collection now comprises 1914 showmans living wagon ,1930's showmans living wagon ,1936 Morris 10cwt truck in bits,42 Fordson N tractor in bits ,65 Massey Ferguson 2130 industrial tractor,69 Vitesse ,74 Unimog aircraft tractor ,78 Ford Falcon Ute in bits, 78 Snow Trac oversnow vehicle , 83 Unimog , 98 Triumph Daytona 1200. Um.....going to try & thin things out a bit this year ....don't have much space left for some reason & I'd really like something WWII - been promising myself a WC ambulance for a long time now . Oh..and I'm still singing with the band most weekends too. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 For me - it's the same as in my spare time these days (spare as in non-MV spare...) and that is classic cars in general and classic Saabs in particular. Met my wife through one car - a '67 Crayford/Savage conversion of a Mk 2 Cortina. Sadly that is now sold. Still have the 63 Saab Sport two stroke - same type that Eric Carlsson used to rally - and the 74 Type 95 V4 though. Took the 95 from Oslo up to the North Cape and then back to Trolllhattan (2,700 miles) back in 1997 for Saabs 50th anniversary. Thinking now of a small classic to use as a daily run-about - although I'll admit to being tempted by an RX-8 as well........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 5, 2008 Author Share Posted January 5, 2008 Keep it coming! Some nice hardware listed, even if it isn't green! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 I was very much into heavy metal (music). Went to lots of concerts and festivals. At the Dynamo Open Air festival I've been backstage and as a photographer. Also did a lot of modelmaking, German experimental Jet and rocket planes mainly. The MV thing became more prevalent when I bought a Dodge WC52 and started going to MV events (mainly the WW2 commemorations). The rest is history... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rambo1969 Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 Was in the army cadets and interested in army stuff. Wanted to join the army straight from school but mum would'nt let me, so off to colledge I went. About 15 yrs ago I went to a classic car show with my dad, who had a vauxhall cresta at the time, but it was a MV show and not a classic car show, looked at a few landys and decieded to get one. Went to another MV show and found the people really friendly and been on the circuit ever since. My hobby before mv's was fishing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Hardyferret Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 Being female and brought up by my Grandparents and Mother who thought going out side to play was a dangerous activity I did not have the chances of many on here to get muddy or oily. I had to content myself with looking after and riding my imaginary horses. Once I left school I did that for real and worked with Hunters, breeding stock and show horses. The money was non existent so eventually had to get a 'propper Job' and ended up working in a garage supervising the forcourts. Luckily this was in the days of hot cars and conversions. :-D Every mechanic in the place gave their vehicle some sort of treatment and I met my 1st husband who gave my 105E Ford Anglia ' a bit of a going over' fitted a V6 3 litre engine, Jag back axle, uprated front suspension.....and Wayhay I was off like a scolded cat making all the lads with their Mexicos and RS 2000 eat my dust. :evil: Then got involved with a motor stunt team - used to have great fun driving a Fairlain 500 Black & White police car up and down the contry to shows., (needles to say by this time my over protective mother had given up and now is unsurprised by anything I do). I remained a little 'off the wall' as my friends put it but always kept my horses. the last being a horse trained to joust with a Geoff Winships Medieval Jousting Show- great out hunting would charge through anything :schocked: . :roll: Then I met HF................................. Things have got steadily madder from that point on - lots of fishing comps off Chesil Beach, tractors, Scuba diving all round the Dorset coast (not bad for someone who is scared of being in a boat and cant swim very well), a collection of Rover cars - 80, 90, 100 etc the one with the freewheeling gearbox was terrifying. Shooting, ...it goes on till we get to this point of falling into MVs with the first one being a lightweight Landrover about 5 years ago. :-D Looking back I wouldn't change a thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q208/antarmike/bilster4.jpg[/img] I was messing around with Narrowboats, and even carried abit of coal in my boat (Ex GUCCCo No 118 Bilster) My brother had Butty boat "Angel" and later also owned Lyra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q208/antarmike/stuckatrushden.jpg[/img] I moved on to the land and started some tree sirgery and soon I found the "need" and was able to justify (to myself) buying a Matador (Ex RAF and 118 Recovery Northampton Barracks, bought as a chasssis cab from David Crouch and converted by myself to Timber Tractor spec, used to pull a 24 ton capacity Pole trailer. Here I am getting stuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q208/antarmike/15-03-2007203027.jpg[/img] This lead to me buying the Ex Heathrow Airport Douglas Transporter, I still have. http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q208/antarmike/23-01-2007190505.jpg[/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 Once I left school I did that for real and worked with Hunters, breeding stock and show horses. The money was non existent so eventually had to get a 'propper Job' and ended up working in a garage supervising the forcourts. Ah yes, my girl, but when we were young wern't the horses fun? It was on a bright and sunny morn, when first I heard that huinting horn. One thing about an MV you can wake up when its cold dark and miserable and think, I don't have to get up and feed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q208/antarmike/paerseveranceandspeedwell.jpg[/img] http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q208/antarmike/jaguarprudence.jpg[/img] When I was on the Canals I also worked withy Horses, Mainly Shires but we did use a heavy hunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q208/antarmike/paerseveranceandspeedwell.jpg[/img] http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q208/antarmike/jaguarprudence.jpg[/img] When I was on the Canals I also worked withy Horses, Mainly Shires but we did use a heavy hunter Ride a horse? Yep I'll ride anything, though with age I'll qualify that to once. Drive them, no flaming chance, scares the ******* out of me. If your on the back the horse will tell you what it is going to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashley Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 My Self......... started life in a BMH ( British Military Hospital) and spent my life with green surroundings (dad left the R.E`s in 1974) became very interested in the First World War,built many a plastic kit (military of course) even went to Sutton Coalfield on leaving school to gain entry to the Army.. changed mind and joined a travelling fun fair :whistle: happy days Always had an intrest in 20 century German history and collected a fair amount of German militaria, along the way in 2001 brought the jeep which i had known of for over twenty years never regretted it, had great times met some fantastic people (+ the odd T****r) looking forward to the circit in 2008 and beooooooynd :tup: :tup: Ashley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 I was a woodsman and I studied and all of my readings was woodland history from the Medieval period until today - I still do study. Back in the late 90's I founded the Dorset Coppice Group which was started to promote our ancient woodland history and to promote business from Dorsets woodmen. The group is still going strong. I also used to be on the speaking circuit and would lecture to all of the southern county councils on my vision of the future of our lowland woodlands, I also lectured to government ministers........... I made many enemies in my drive to modernise the way the woodland industry worked and operated - pretty much how I have made many enemies in the mv movement with HMVF and HMVF TV - but my drive had me laying out the future (as I see it) to HRH Prince Charles as I was 'summonsed' to speak to him. I also 'advised' the BBC on many of their programmes.....I have alway adored history. I also used to lecture at Kingston Maurward College Show me an ancient woodland and I will take you on a journey of one thousand yeras of our history........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Have you seen what is intended for Greenwhich Park, a world heritage site for 2 days of equestrian evnts in 2012? :shake: :shake: :angry: :angry: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardyferret Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Apart, from helping with the foreign policy implementation whilst sporting DPM, pretty much a confirmed petrol head. Lets think, built Lotus 7 from scratch, not a kit, into old metal Rover 100's 90's etc, still into scuba diving and country pursuits ohhh errr so un PC. Old tractors Ford E27n's and Fergie's used to swamp our yard with Mrs HF starting to threaten allsorts :shake: Just a sucker for the infernal combustion engine :-D :-D HF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 I was once walking behind the horse, next to the tow rope going back to the boat, when the horse decided to take a shortcut, through a gap in a Hawthorn hedge, down a steep bank, through nettles, to reach a field we used to keep her in. As she went through the hedge, the rope got me by the chest, under the arms and I was dragged though the hedge and the nettles, at this point the horse was running at 90 degrees to the bank, the towrope pulled the boat to the side of the cut, stretched a lot and broke, the loose end flying back into my face, so yes, walking behind a horse isn't always a good idea... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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