Tanks in Town in Mons, Belgium, August 2007

[kettenkrad]

From Friday the 24th of August until Sunday the 26th of August 2007 the event "Tanks in Town" takes place at the town of Mons, Belgium.

Official website: http://www.tanksintown.be

Around 50 real tanks are driving (!!) around in town in a parade and a mock battle line. I'll go there with my NSU Kettenkrad (The liberators must chase someone...)

Anyone from this forum, who goes there, too? What about Hanno? It's not far away from the Netherlands.

Best regards from hot Germany (36 °C today)
Andreas

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by kettenkrad
Anyone from this forum, who goes there, too? What about Hanno?

Hi Andreas, long time no see. hope all is well with you and the missus.

Last year I was there with the Netherlands Army, riding on their Sexton. Yes, I hope to be there again this year.

H.

[kettenkrad]

Hello Hanno,

Regina and I are well, hope you are well, too.

Kettenkrad is still running (see picture below, taken a few weeks ago near Peenemünde, Batic Sea)

I just got the reply from the Hotel at Mons. I'll go to "Tanks in Town" on Friday the 24th of August and I'll stay there until Sunday.

Hope to see you there. I've never been there before but the pictures on their website are very interesting. You know, I like to DRIVE my Kettenkrad, not only to SHOW it.

Best regards
Andreas

[Col Tigwell]

In the early 70's I worked for a company down here that imported from NSU.

One morning I was fronted by a person who had a WW2 airborne scooter, which he had imported to restore.

NSU were very helpfull, and supplied many of the parts, which upon arrival were very apparently NOS. I recall one item they could not supply, so they sent the drawings.

In the days prior to gthe AUDI buy out, I always found them very helpfull with older machines.

I regret now that I did not take photos of the scooter, anyone have any thoughts on what it may have been.

Regards

Col
Downunder

[Nick Bullock]

Just looking for a few tips on this event since I've never been there before. where to go and what to see etc. Can any body add any more than is shown on the organisers website? I will be in Mons (or nearby) from around Saturday lunchtime until the monday morning hindered only by the two small people that I'll have in tow and of course my good wife!!! I promised them a memorable weekend.

kind regards
nick

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Nick Bullock
.... hindered only by the two small people that I'll have in tow and of course my good wife!!! I promised them a memorable weekend.

kind regards
nick

Damn fine job of keeping the rear echelon happy, Nick! Buys you lots of time to muck with rusty old trucks, doesn't it?!

[Nick Bullock]

as if a week in Normandy wasn't enough already! The eldest daughter is still looking for the Barbie connection!

[Alex van de Wetering]

Nick,

I went to Tanks in Town on sunday, last year and it was well worth it. I just managed to get to the square when the vehicles started moving for their drive around Mons. Some quick navigating and a car enabled me to "meet" the bunch on two or three different spots around Mons. I will try to find the exact spots on Google-earth, which might be of help to you ( that is...if they take the same route this year).

This year I intend to visit on saterday.

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

Nick, it seems they have described the route in more detail, this time:

http://www.tanksintown.be/itineraire.htm

Alex

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Nick Bullock
I will be in Mons (or nearby) from around Saturday lunchtime until the monday morning

Nick,

Spend Saturday afternoon in the Bois-Brûlé, a moto-cross track in the woods just outside town. There will be some tanks driving around the track in the woods. Parts dealers have stalls.

And there's Belgian beer to be had in copious quantities.

As for Sunday, trace the route as pointed out be Alex on a map and make sure to get into position on some of the vantage viewing points, most notably the field where the mock battle is to be had and the town square where all the vehicles will rather after the drive around town.

Drink more beer Sunday evening.

Get a good breakfast on Monday morning to battle the hangover and off you go to the UK.

Hope to see you there,
Hanno

[Nick Bullock]

I have started on the Belgian beer before leving just to get the mood right! Thanks for the tips,
kind regards
nick

[kettenkrad]

I'll go to Mons on Friday the 24th and leave on Sunday the 26th.
3 Kettenkrads are on the subscription list.

I'll disguise my Kettenkrad as a US Military Police vehicle. Have a look at the attached historic picture. Kettenkrad in US-Service.



Does anyone have an idea, where the picture was taken? Looks like somewhere in France. (After D-Day, I presume...)

Best regards and see you in Mons

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by kettenkrad
Does anyone have an idea, where the picture was taken? Looks like somewhere in France. (After D-Day, I presume...)

Hallo Andreas,

Good to see you on here again! Would you like me to start a new 'Then and Now' thread in the Sergeants' Mess showing your picture? One never knows... perhaps someone will come up with an idea of location (and ideally, a current-day photo from the same vantage point!); we've had remarkable luck before from our Dutch contingent with the same type of thing!

If I do the first one, it will give you an idea as to what I mean, for the future.

Have fun at Mons...

Jif

[kettenkrad]

Hello Geoff,

I've never been far away. It would be very nice, if you or another forum member could find out, where the picture was taken.

It comes from a 1970s Kettenkrad book by Friedhelm Abel and the caption says only: "This pictures was taken at the invasion front in northern France, June 1944".

On the sign on the building on the right, just above the Kettenkrad, I think one can read "Cherbourgh". (Not on the scan but in the book).

Only five days are left until "Tanks in Town" and the next week will become very busy for me. At first I took vacation for all the week to prepare the Kettenkrad for the event. Now I have to work on Monday and on Wednesday I have to drive to Mannheim (420 km from here) tp pick up my new (used) car. It is another silver BMW 525i but not the 1995 model, now it is the 2004 model.

The good news: I can use the new car for the journey to Belgium. With ventilated leather seats...

Best regards
Andreas

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Picture of MP Andreas coming out of the woods after a good bit of off road driving. More to follow later!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

My ride for the day. . . an M10 w/17-pdr SP AT gun:

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
My ride for the day. . . an M10 w/17-pdr SP AT gun:

Where are you in that pic... pushing?

[kettenkrad]

Hanno is behind the tank, in the smoke...

There are several videos on Youtube, showing the vehicles at Tanks in Town 2007.

Here a video, showing my Kettenkrad through the mud with a well-known Dutchman on the back seat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRShBN3gMl8

Have a look at the related videos on Youtube, there are much mure from this event.

Best regards from Germany
Andreas

[Alex van de Wetering]

Does anyone have an idea, where the picture was taken? Looks like somewhere in France. (After D-Day, I presume...)

Best regards and see you in Mons

Andreas, what's the price for the winning answer? Although the picture seems to have turned into a red " X", I think I just came across the same picture in a book. According to the text next to it, the pictures was taken in Cherbourg.

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

If I remember correctly, this was the picture in question:

http://www.archivesnormandie39-45.or...hp?ref=p000957

Alex