Back To The Track

[Degsy]

Reckon you're spot on there Richard.

[Guest catweazle (Banned Member)]

Reckon you're spot on there Richard.

Me to good picture never seen it before:-D

[Richard Farrant]

Me to good picture never seen it before:-D

 

Two working and two watching......that'll be right :-D

[Guest catweazle (Banned Member)]

Two working and two watching......that'll be right :-D

Isnt it strange some wear shorts and some longs,we allways changed to longs in the evening,supose it could be thats all they had.

talking of the desert a client of mines father came in today to look at the mil vehicles,just a trip down memory lane.He was in from the 60s up to the Falklands,He gave me a couple of nice books and some scanned pics of

champ leading a column of pigs(humber)but he was working with the saudi defence force driving a Prototype LRDG L/rover with 50 cal mount.Trying to convince the Saudis to buy them.I must try get more and better copies from him,he has lots of BAOR,and Falklands.He had a great time kept patting the champ bonnet,Didnt have a good word for the 101s.

[Richard Farrant]

Didnt have a good word for the 101s.

 

I cannot blame him there, I worked on them from when they entered service and thought they were bloody awful in all ways, working on, driving, etc. When the first ones went to the surplus sales, people were raving about them and paying big money for them without engines and gearboxes :???. Have you ever had a gearbox off an ambulance version? Well don't volunteer to do one!

[Guest catweazle (Banned Member)]

Did you see any with a hard top like a truck cab,we have one in at the moment looks to good to be home made.post a picture tomorrow.REME? have to agree with you

i drove one to donnington race course where they had a meeting of all vehicles fitted with the v8,mind you if you have steered a boat you soon get the hang of the 101.This particular one was a very early release,bent chassis in deep bronze green.

We sent it to an old boy in devon to straighten it,he did it cold,when we pulled faces he said it will be a damn site straighter than when it left the factory.:rofl:

[Richard Farrant]

Did you see any with a hard top like a truck cab,we have one in at the moment looks to good to be home made.post a picture tomorrow.REME?

 

 

Seem to recollect seeing one in service with a one-off hard top cab, think it might have belonged to a Light Aid Detachment REME, might have had a hand powered hyd crane mounted behind the cab :confused:

[Richard Farrant]

Well this thread seems to have ended up heading for Africa somehow :confused:, so to resume where we left off................

 

Our last night on the road was at Howard Springs, a last minute change as we should have been at Batchelor, where a good evenings entertainment was to happen.........but it did'nt sadly.

 

We assembled the whole convoy beside the Stuart Highway, after leaving the campsite at Howard Springs. The local police escorted us in one lot, including the Army, to a huge trucking yard on the outskirts of Darwin. Here we met up with the Minister of Veteran Affairs, Con Sciacca and the Lord Mayor of Darwin, messages from towns and cities along our route were passed to the mayor and we then went on a parade through Darwin. I had that empty feeling like that was it, the end, but there was a bit more to come. After finding our campsite and sorting that out, we then took our vehicles to the Sports Stadium, where we all parked up for people to come and view and have a chat. Then as evening came, we moved the vehicles onto the football pitch as a backdrop to a tattoo, with cadets from air, sea and navy taking part, along with a flypast of a military helicopter trailing the National flag. A great atmosphere.

 

The next day was a free one to visit the sights, such as the Air Museum with a wreck of one of the Japanese intruders that attacked Darwin. I also accompanied Dave to Parliament House to visit a MP's office, and I was given a conducted tour of the building. Also visited an artillery museum out on the coast, where a lot of old military vehicle wrecks were to be found, like a row of old carriers.

 

The following day was special, it was Weds 15th August, VP Day ( VJ is not PC anymore! ). We assembled for a police led convoy into Darwin, to stop at the Esplanade for two minutes silence at the Cenotaph.

 

Later, in the afternoon, all the participants had been invited to Government House, by the Governer, for a reception in the grounds. The place had a real Colonial feel to it, we had been told to dress in "Territory Rig", which I guess meant smart, so I wore black trousers, shirt and tie, and it was sweltering, and this was winter! From here we walked to the Cenotaph for a service. After that was over it was down the road to the Hotel Darwin for the official BTTT Dinner. A great evening, with lots of speeches, address swapping, autographs on the menus, etc. When it came to the prize giving, I was presented with the Furthest Travelled Award, the only others from overseas were a Canadian, and a Frenchman, Henri de Wailly. Then myself and Henri were called up again, and we were each presented with a huge Northern Territory flag and a pen, then told to go around everyone there to get them to sign it as a memento. You should see some of the comments on it!

 

The following day was a quick run round to say farewell to people. Someone suggested we all get together in five years time at Alice Springs for a reunion (2000)............that will lead to another adventure, if you want to hear it.

 

I returned home at the end of the week, in time to get my Bedford out and take part in the VJ Parade in my home town on the Sunday. Not many can say they were on a VJ parade in both ends of the world in the same year.

 

Last pictures to follow tomorrow.........

[Degsy]

It's been a great story Richard and I'd love to hear about the next trip.:tup::

[Richard Farrant]

It's been a great story Richard and I'd love to hear about the next trip.:tup::

 

Thanks Degsy,

 

Once I have put up the last photos, will look for my diary of the next trip, ths one was off road for most of the way, so a lot different.

[Guest catweazle (Banned Member)]

Thanks Degsy,

 

Once I have put up the last photos, will look for my diary of the next trip, ths one was off road for most of the way, so a lot different.

Oh goody off rd,great trip of a lifetime mate,thanks for all your hardwork

posting,cheers. J ross.

[Mark]

Wonderful story Richard many thanks for posting, be goodto see the videos at some stage if possible, one quick question, where did all the fuel come from was it carried on a separate truck ???

[Richard Farrant]

Wonderful story Richard many thanks for posting, be goodto see the videos at some stage if possible, one quick question, where did all the fuel come from was it carried on a separate truck ???

 

Thanks Mark,

 

The videos will have to be transfered to DVD and I have some from other people as well. Might try and pick out the more interesting bits when I have time.

 

As we were travelling mainly on the Stuart Highway, there are roadhouses and service stations at intervals, might be about 200 miles or so in some parts, but you have to prepare for that. The next trip was a different matter!

[lynx42 Rick Cove]

Thanks Richard for reviving the memories.

It was a once in a lifetime trip for sure.

 

My mate Roger Ross and I were the first into Darwin from Howard Springs. We went ahead and had tea there on the 13th. On arriving back at Howard Springs, I rang home to tell them that we had made it and my wife said 'that's good because you have to come home.' My Mother-inlaw had passed away whilst we were having tea.

 

As a result I had to miss the formal part in Darwin and I had to fly home.

 

Paynesville, where I live, is the FURTHEST town 'as the crow flys', from Darwin on the Australian Continent. All flights out of Darwin for the next 5/6 days were booked solid. All those who had travelled to Darwin for the VJ day celebrations, were booked to fly home. I was stranded.

So what to do?

 

In Alice Springs, I had the pleasure of carting Con Saccia and his wife in my 1940 Chev Staffcar for the day. Con introduced me to his Northern Territory Advisor, Robyn Smith, with the words" If you need any help, contact Robyn."

 

As I couldn't get a flight out, I wasn't sure what to do. After all the old MiL wasn't the dragon most are. Then I remembered Con Saccia's advice. I rang his advisor Robyn, to see if she could help. Robyn gave me a code to quote when I rang ANY Airline and a seat would be available. This I did, and miraculously a seat was found and at a MUCH REDUCED PRICE. Seems they have a few seats in First Class for Politicians etc. who need to get to Canberra or somewhere in a hurry.

 

So with this help,I made it home in time for the old girls funeral.

 

But what about the Car?

The Army support crew had a tank transporter travelling with them to pick up any breakdowns. My Chev and jeep trailler were loaded onto the tank transporter and delivered to Puckapunyal in Victoria and my travelling companion Roger Ross also travelled back in the truck. Roger then drove the Chev back to Paynesville. Only cost was 1 tank of fuel too.

 

Regards Rick

[Great War truck]

Fantastic journey. Thanks for sharing it. Hey, anybody thought of doing something similar like driving across Africa in a Landrover. That would make a good story.

 

Tim (too)

[Guest catweazle (Banned Member)]

Fantastic journey. Thanks for sharing it. Hey, anybody thought of doing something similar like driving across Africa in a Landrover. That would make a good story.

 

Tim (too)

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::pfrt::pfrt::pfrt::sleep::sleep::sleep::nut::nut::nut::box::captain::rotfl::rotfl::goodidea:

Good idea anyone done it out there i would be interested in a story like that.:coffee:

Edited November 27, 2008 by catweazle (Banned Member)

[Richard Farrant]

Thanks Richard for reviving the memories.

It was a once in a lifetime trip for sure.

 

 

 

Thanks Rick,

I did not know about your story, good job you did go into Darwin, else you would not have had the chance, with circumstances. Good of the army to help as well.

 

Have you found any photos yet?

[Richard Farrant]

Good idea anyone done it out there i would be interested in a story like that.:coffee:

 

I think GWT is actually an avid reader of your story, but is keen to hear more, like we all are. I do not know how far you actually did go, so come on, get your diary out and write a bit more :-D

[HotBed]

thanks richard for giving up so much of YOUR spare time to write this story of a wonderful trip you had :clap::tup::

 

regards

[Richard Farrant]

thanks richard for giving up so much of YOUR spare time to write this story of a wonderful trip you had

 

 

 

thanks Graham,

Actually going back over it, made things come back to me, that had been forgotten.

[Guest catweazle (Banned Member)]

thanks Graham,

Actually going back over it, made things come back to me, that had been forgotten.

Thats my problem,rather be there than here.:-D

[Guest catweazle (Banned Member)]

I think GWT is actually an avid reader of your story, but is keen to hear more, like we all are. I do not know how far you actually did go, so come on, get your diary out and write a bit more :-D

Trying to put together more from the top gear day at avon dassett,have about another 45 min for HMTV.put it on PC last night but no sound:argh:

hadnt got the correct thing selected.

Also trying to make a cd of the boat sea trialls for the Nelson Club Archives.This is very difficult because i just keep turning the sound up and listening to the noise :cool2:.To old to be this young:-D

[N.O.S.]

We should all make a trip like that once. No excuses. Just do it. Me? I'm just waiting till I have a TIME MACHINE :tup::

[Richard Farrant]

A few last photos, I now realise how much more I have on video, wished I had taken more photos, although you have not seen them all !

 

1. Assembling in one convoy for police escort into Darwin.

2. Dave and I with his trusty Land Rover, only problem on the trip was a flat tyre.

3. Some of the vehicles in the Sports Stadium before the Tattoo.

4. A view of Darwin Harbour.

5. Three derelict Carriers at East Point museum, the site of a wartime gun site.

 

Finally, I must thank all those that helped me and made the trip memorable, especially Dave, who let me be his co-driver, get well soon, mate.

:tup::

[Guest catweazle (Banned Member)]

Hey Richard you dont look a day older now, whats the secret