Greece to Normandy Convoy '09

[Lang]

Steve,

Thanks for your reply. When I said my vehicle was a "rare" model I was responding to an overseas enquiry. They are extremely rare overseas having been made nowhere else in the world and never commercially exported but can not be called anything like that in Australia - they are the most common of the 40's 1/2 ton utes of any make by a long shot having been produced through the war and for two years afterwards. You would find few issues of "Just Cars" that did not have at least one of these Chev utes in it.

I think you might be a little precious taking the high moral ground when you intimate the people going on the trip see their vehicles in dollar value. Almost all of them have a long history of military vehicle restoration and between the group I would not be surprised if over a hundred vehicles have been saved and restored over the years. I have never met a restorer (as compared to a ready made buy and sell type owner) who has genuinely made money on a vehicle if they place any value at all on their time - most don't even get their actual outlay back. As far as I am aware everyone on the trip has as much or more interest, respect and love of our history as you do. Most are not wealthy and some are forced to sell their vehicles to fund a trip of a lifetime. What will it be - a trip across the world promoting Australia's military history or driving around the block 3 times on ANZAC day once a year? I don't think anyone should judge them.

When I was talking about hotrods I never mentioned anything about importing them. My comments on importing referred to quality historical vehicles. My comments on hotrods referred to hundreds of these guys combing the Australian countryside, paying top dollar, dumping all the running gear and chopping the bodies of often extremely rare complete vehicles.

The more well heeled of these people go out and buy beautifully restored vintage cars and destroy them the same. They have the most wonderful workmanship but finish up with a one man mongrel that many observers admire for a couple of years but do not wish to purchase so the parts get used on the next project often dumping what remained of the original historic car.

I am interested in your comments on Jeep Club members owning 90% ex-Australian forces vehicles but having 90% marked with USA colours - there are even blitzs with US markings floating around. I have never understood this - is this preserving Australian history?

I figure what we are doing on this trip, even if everybody sells their vehicles (which is not going to happen - I think 3 or 4 out of the 15) is promoting awareness of our military history within Australia and across the world more than a hundred jeeps with American markings driving in a parade on ANZAC day in Sydney.

I know at least two of our people are looking at bringing back in military vehicles of a type used in small numbers by Australian forces overseas but now very scarce or extinct in Australia. Lose one of a thousand+ jeeps, blitzs or Chevs still active in Australia to give people a look at a type seldom seen or no longer here (even if that particular vehicle never carried Australian markings) I think is good value.

Anyhow we all have our opinions and it is good thing too! MLU forum is an excellent place to voice them.

Lang

[Lang]

We now have 4 addresses of people on the trip doing regular reports. As I said there will be as many different stories of the same incident as there are people!

Jim & Sandy Sewell (MLU) http://www.sewellnormandy.blogspot.com (C15A Radio)
Hans & Anjolien Sprangers http://www.sydney-normandy-2009.blogspot.com (Jeep)
Karen & Dale Barnard http://www.anzacconvoy.blogspot.com (Chevrolet 1 1/2ton)
Lang & Bev Kidby (MLU) http://www.next-horizon.org (Chevrolet Coupe Utility)

[Alex van de Wetering]

Lang and all others onboard the Greece to Normandy Convoy, Have lot of fun during the trip.

I really admire everyone who joins this trip and will closely follow it through the websites posted by Lang. Maybe these sort of distances are usual in Australia, but for Europeans it is just a long, long.....trip, especially with a column of vehicles older than most of us.
I hope to see you guys save and well in Normandy and I am really looking forward to haveing a close look at the Australian vehicles in real life, in stead of on the Computer screen.

p.s. I will staying on the Etreham campsite as well. Look for a red Fiat van and hopefully a restored BSA folding Bicycle!

Alex

[zemsi]

... for those of you who haven't been following the participants blogs, here's a good pic from the weekend (courtesy Hans & Anjolien Sprangers). All Aussie/NZ Trucks and Jeeps at Anzac Cove, good onya mates. A fantastic sight! Here's the original image.

[zemsi]

... after heavy snowfall over the past few days, the Simplon Pass has been closed for public traffic.

At Simplon village (1460 m above sea level) it was snowing 67cm in 24h. At the pass (2629 m) over 138cm in a few days. So take out all your warm cloths when entering Switzerland

[zemsi]

... I found a good website with most of the events/commemorations around D-Day in Normandy.

[Lang]

Sorry for not keeping everyone up to date but it is rather busy running 15 vehicles through different countries.

Latest update blogs and pictures of the trip (now on the ferry from Greece to Italy) can be found on www.next-horizon.org click on Latest News.

Lang