| Annus
Horribilus, no other way to describe this year as far as the weather is
concerned. Coupled with rising fuel costs and the temperamental nature
of the vehicles we own, well mine anyway and I know of some others, I
suspect that most of you will have been to very few events this summer.
I have managed two! I would be very pleased to hear otherwise, so e mail
or ring me with your stories of events that you have attended good or
bad. After 5 years of such summers I’m surprised that the price of
DUKWs hasn’t soared. Clearly they are the future.
Chris Smyth
took his Quad, limber and 25pdr to the local classic car show on the
cricket ground in Burley in Wharfedale in August and it’s fair to say
that it attracted more attention there than at a military show. Martin
Laker was also enjoying the day in his jeep. This is a great event and I
believe the organisers would welcome more of us turning up. I’ll keep
you posted.
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| I
hear regularly from Stuart Wright and am happy to report that his White
M16 Halftrack is now fully restored/painted/lettered and on the road.
See photo. Work is continuing on the quad 50s to go in it which he says
will be gas firing. Gordon Trousdale has recently acquired a 37mm anti
tank gun that will eventually be towed behind his jeep or his 1941 GPA
when restored. That combination should be good to see.
Our own 69th
Field gave an excellent display in front of two of the Deputy
Lieutenants of West Yorkshire at Eccup on the 16th Sept. It involved
twenty six uniformed personnel, three 25pdr gun sets, a jeep, a tilly
and a motor bike. A 21 round gun salute was included. This event was
originally scheduled for a park in central Leeds but had to be moved at
the last minute after some truly spectacular incompetence by the
‘powers that be’.
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Mike
Shackleton is a member of the re-enactment group, D-Day to '45, and was
at Peak Rail at Matlock in August with his QL. He says a good time was
had by all, apart from the 3 hour drive up and down the M1. The lovely
B&W photo is of his QL alongside the QLT of John Walker.
A couple of
weeks ago the group was at Embsay, to which he and his son David took
both their Bedfords. He says the event was very poorly attended last
year, but was slightly improved this year.
Brian went to
the Jeep and Cheerful event which was very pleasant and attended by
quite a number of YMVT members. This he says is very low key, but nice
and relaxing. The organizer Steve Hague wants to include an overnight
stay, with free camping next year so one to think about.
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| The
end of season Crank Down started as a quiet affair on the Friday night
at Nev’s with the threat of poor weather putting most off, apart from
our visitors who came up in two vehicles from Dorset and Hampshire!
However, some dozen vehicles set off on Saturday morning despite what I
have just said, and enjoyed an almost dry run around the N. York Moors
taking in a real mixture of roads and terrain.
Saturday night
camp was at a spectacular site on the cliff tops at Robin Hoods Bay.
Sunday saw more of the same terrain with a stop over to see the engine
sheds at Grosmont, and then back to Nev’s for about 4.30 for everybody
to toddle off home. The excellent ‘splash’ jeep photo was taken by
Sharon Annot and stars Hugo Hunter and Dave Reape.
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| Denis
Matthewman in his Standard Tilly really enjoyed the trip and thought
Simon Roberts had done a marvellous job planning the route. Denis is
known to enjoy breakdowns and the occasional beer and reports “Our
erstwhile leader had trouble with his Dodge Command Car with a bad water
leak out the header part of his radiator, but he was quite unmoved! just
pouring a bit of radseal in.
Bad starting
both days was down to a tired battery, but British Land Rover power got
him going both days - dramatically off the cliff top at Robin Hoods Bay
camp and back to civilisation. By gum some beer was supped - too much by
young Nick or was it the uncomfortable sleep twisted round his gear knob
in the Mahindra”.
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On the last day
of September I popped over to the Manchester Militaria show and was
pleasantly surprised by the venue and what was on offer. This is a great
venue and deserves to grow.
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| Mike
Humphreys |
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