2017 New Years Challenge

[Phil Waterman]

Hi All

To mark the New Year would like to again issue the following Challenge How Many CMPs Can We Take For A Drive On January 1st 2017?

Who will be the first to post a picture or video of their drive? Who will be the last? Good way to start the year. Extra points for highest and lowest temperature, deepest snow etc.

Cheers and Happy New Year to everyone.

Last year I made the same Challenge (which Hanno recently reminded me of) there were many interesting responses last year.

Cheers Phil

[Keith Webb]

Somehow I don't think we'll win the deepest snow challenge.

[Lynn Eades]

Keith, you could probably do first again?, which would be a double. ....and warmest.

[Bob Carriere]

Two licensed vehicles ...maybe a third one........ much of our snow has been compacted by freezing rain and crusted..... it may be a challenge to cross the back field but will darn well try....... already given up being first as the Aussies will be there first even if they sleep in.......

How much snow you got Phil????

Bob C

[Robert Bergeron]

Challenge accepted Phil ! It will be either. F15A GS or a Chev C-15A Wire 5 depending on wich one starts ... 1 foot of snow forecasted around here for the next few days ..

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Bob

Right now the ground is basically bare, some ice, but in about 3 hours a snow storm is supposed start and dump 12 to 18 inches of heavy wet snow on us.

If I don't plow with the storm may have to take BEAUTY my C60S out to break trail so the pickup plow can make it out the drive.

Will post pictures.

Cheers Phil

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

Keith, you could probably do first again?, which would be a double. ....and warmest.

Not possible for me this year as I'll be away but you Kiwis are a couple of hours ahead of us so go for it!

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Guys

Remember the challenge is about How Many of us will start our New Year by driving our CMPs and other MVs on the first day of the Year.

We did get the snow storm yesterday, but only 6 inchs, so my drive should be pretty but not a snow record challenge. Batteries charged, and the two trucks in cold storage, sitting in Temps ranging from -4 F to 40 F during the month of December, both started with out hesitation.

Happy New Year

Cheers Phil

[Phil Waterman]

Hi All

I'm going to delay my first drive of year, to later in the week. Spent the night in ER with suspected Heart Attack, wasn't, but confirming that took all night.

Still looking forward to hearing how many and where people got take a drive.

Cheers Phil

[Grant Bowker]

Mulligan granted. Look after yourself Phil.
I'm working today but suspect someone from Hammond will be driving soon and surprised nobody from New Zealand, Australia or Europe has claimed first honours yet .

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

Hi All

I'm going to delay my first drive of year, to later in the week. Spent the night in ER with suspected Heart Attack, wasn't, but confirming that took all night.

Still looking forward to hearing how many and where people got take a drive.

Cheers Phil

Very sorry to hear about this Phil, let's hope whatever it was you recover quickly and there's no repeat performance!

[Lynn Eades]

Hi Phil, I have the same sentiments as Keith. Take care.
Lynn.

[Little Jo]

Hi Phil

I am so relieved that you are OK. Not the best start for 2017 but a good result in the end. I am sure you will be back driving soon.

Best wishes

Tony

[RHClarke]

Phil: I echo Grant's sentiment - please take care of yourself first. The trucks can wait.

As for Hammond activity on New Years Day, there was a lot of wheel spinning - Bob will elaborate. Early bed for me...

[Robert Bergeron]

Get well friend .Tried to go for a ride but the snow was too deep. My snow removal contractor took the day off and i don't blame him for it . Happy New Year .

[Alex van de Wetering]

Definately not what I was expecting when opening this thread.

Take care Phil and get well soon!

Alex

[r.morrison]

Hey Phil: We didn't need this, to start the year off. BUGGER! You take care of yourself and ease up and for God's sake no snow shovelling!!! I will send you down a book to read while you're on the mend. It's about that other guy with a radio recording HUP....Matthew Halton, CBC News. Fascinating story. Spoke with his nephew just the other night. You take care and we all look forward to hearing from you. Robert

[Bob Carriere]

Yes there is a Santa Clause....

.......and the trucks did go out in Hammond.....

......................turned out to be the New Year s(tr)uck event.

Pictures to follow..... need time to sort them out.....

Of much more concern is Phil's little demise.......

......glad it was a near miss...... and that it will scare the sh*t out of you to be careful......... Margaret better take care of you and hid the keys to the barn!!!!

Cheers

PS ,,,,, my wife took about 400 pictures in quick burst.......phew!!

[Bob Carriere]

This one is dedicated to Phil.........

First of all basic facts...... Sunny and a pleasant -6 C....slight breeze...time noon when we started..... dark when it ended.

About 36 inches of snow on the ground some compasted and some ice crust about midway.

Walking you never sink to the bottom ( whcih by the way the ground is not yet fully frozen) but your tires will dig down to the wet turf then the bottom floats.
Yes a CMP can float on snow and loose all traction.

The day then turned to New Years Sucks......

The Hup would not fire up..... we tried and tried and towed it on the street where the pavement was bare for better traction.....cough and cough but wuld not start.....

Plan "B"....get the M 37 going..... and we did.

For the photos we went to the larger back field were no one in is right mind would drive....

NOTE....... when the photographer waves to stop.....don't
once you loose your momentum you are dead...

More to come

[Bob Carriere]

My truck was driven in low range and second gear to break the trail then 3 rd for more speed...... flat out in both gears. .... at times the truck decides which rut it wants to follow...... and do not leave your thumbs inside the steering wheel spokes....

Now I know what the shovel is for on a CMP.....

Amazing the amount of snow pushed by the front suspension.

[Bob Carriere]

Cavalry to the rescue.............

The Dodge seemed to have a slight advantage in the deep snow with the 9x16 bar thread compared to the wide 10:50x16.

It has all to do with momentum once you get rolling don't stop or turn too sharply or you are stuck.

All in all it was a fun day.

I also have a bunch of short videos that I need to learn how to stitch together for posting.... so more later.

[Bob Carriere]

It took me over half an hour to blow ( with the air compressor) the packed snow from underneath the truck. It seems that once the axles and brake drums get warm they collect snow which quickly freezes on the surface.

We push the Hup back in its coccoon for later consideration ...stored the Dodge and my cab 11 until the next escapade.....then generally cleaned up the snow until dark.

Looking forward to next year .... but I may cheat and install the spare set of 9x16 Michelin block threads....... and maybe like Bob B use chains on all four wheels....

Cheers

[RHClarke]

It was a great day in Hammond! Despite the HUP refusing to start, it all worked out in the end. The M37 ran like a dream in the deep snow - unlike driving in sand, I found that increasing the tire pressure (50 pounds) makes running in the snow easier.

Bob, please thank Joyce for taking these great photos! Let's plan a drive at -20, -30 and if possible -40oC.

[Wayne Hingley]

Nice photos guys! Its great to see the trucks (and Hammond pit crew) getting some laps around the field. Looks like fun!

[Alex van de Wetering]

Thanks for sharing these pics guys! The C15A....awesome. A pity the HUP was being stubborn and didn't want to perform in these kind of conditions, but it's good to see the M37 was there to complete the show.

Looking forward to next year .... but I may cheat and install the spare set of 9x16 Michelin block threads

Bob, do you think swapping over the wheels and reversing the chevron would make any difference? No more Mythbusters on TV, so I guess you have to try.....

Alex

[Bob Carriere]

,,,,when I got stuck I tried forward and backwards trying to rock it free.....so Chevron were coming and going and made only things worst by sinking deeper.

I believe that a narrow tire such as the 9x16 michelin with the NATO block pattern would be slightly better...... but chains are the way to go if things really get bad........ my 7000 pounds Massey tractor would be useless with out the chains on the rear wheels.

...... for the interested....... everything is coated with ice today......freezing rain.... getting power outages every hour or so for a few minutes...... typing this in between power blips..... not a day for even a CMP to venture outside.

Cheers

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Thanks for sharing these pics guys! The C15A....awesome. A pity the HUP was being stubborn and didn't want to perform in these kind of conditions, but it's good to see the M37 was there to complete the show.



Bob, do you think swapping over the wheels and reversing the chevron would make any difference? No more Mythbusters on TV, so I guess you have to try.....

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

when I got stuck I tried forward and backwards trying to rock it free.....so Chevron were coming and going and made only things worst by sinking deeper.

hmm...reversing the truck is indeed an easy way to test the direction of the chevrons....why didn't I think of that .

Yes, I can imagine chains are the way to go.

Alex

p.s. only some rain and hail here in Holland....haven't seen any snow here so far.

[Terry Witiuk]

First MV drive of the year...January 2nd...45 minutes or so....no snow, bare roads...cold but not too bad...not in a CMP but in my cherished Ferret. No better way to help start the New Year.
Cheers, Terry.

[Robert Bergeron]

Chains are indeed the way to go in the snow with these beauties ! Great show Bob C. ! Beautifull C-15 , absolutely marvelous .

[Chris Suslowicz]

I would just like to say (speaking as a non-driver from the effete end of England), that you are all Completely Mad.

(Not only that but you use a temperature scale that gives you a standing start.)

Around here everything seems to grind to a halt at the first sighting of snow, and you lot are apparently seriously considering going for a drive when the temperature scales coincide (-40)!

I take my hat off to the lot of you, but will definitely stay indoors (and possibly turn the heating up a bit, just thinking about it).

Wishing you all a (somewhat belated) happy and prosperous New Year.



Chris.