Gear ratios & highway speed

[Pete Solomon]

Once again thanks to all for your input.

Once I have got official sanction from Legacy I will start another thread devoted specifically to the trip. Havent worked out the exact route yet but am thinking 5th of May 2013 as a departure date as that makes it 70 years to the day the C8AX was built. This would also work in relation to weather in the top end and across the Nullabor as it will be cooler & more truck friendly. My copilot will be visiting in the next few weeks so we will nut out more details then but we will have at least 9 weeks - maybe as many as 12 depending on our leave (both emergency service personnel)

Lang is of course right - we can do the trip in the vehicle in its original configuration with out any modifications with no dramas - My main concern was about the safety aspect of being on major highways at 70 kph or so as for some legs we will not have a support vehicle.

Watch this space!

[Lang]

Pete,

We have run the Postie Bike Challenge for 10 years now (40-60 riders on Honda 110cc stepthroughs) 3,000km through the outback. They travel at 70kph and we have never had a bike run down. A CMP is a heck of a lot bigger target so you will have no problem. You must spend $150 and get a UHF radio so you can talk to the road trains and other trucks. You will find they are some of your best salesmen and will spread the word.

We had great support from them on our prostate cancer trip in the 1915 Willys Overland www.willys.com.au Feel free to use any ideas from our trip to plan yours.

Lang

[motto (RIP)]

Once again with his vast experience at conning slow moving machinery across the face of the planet Lang's opinion is worth listening to. Travel times are not a real consideration. What I point out to people who query that aspect of a vehicle with a low cruising speed is that ships sail around the world at 25 or 30 MPH and it's quite an adequate rate of travel.

Having said that, some images/incidents flash to mind. One is of a DUKW (NOT a small vehicle) upside down on top of the Armco railing alongside an English motorway as the result of a semi-trailer changing lanes a fraction too late.

I also remember talking to the owner of a Leyland Hippo in Normandy 2009 who was run into from behind on the motorway on his way down to the docks. (Again, NOT a small vehicle) The amusing part of this incident was the wry observation from the owner that he glanced at the speedo at the moment of impact and it was showing 33 MPH instead of the usual top of 28. He said that's the fastest she'd ever gone. Damage to Hippo=bent mudguard, damage to VW impacting vehicle= total write-off, driver=multiple injuries inc two broken legs.

Another, more recent incident was the death of a well know and greatly liked British MV identity in his Jeep when hit from behind. He had taken part in a tour to Italy and was only a few miles from his English home.

Like it or not, low speed is a safety issue if only because of the blind bastards out there and luck plays a huge part in the outcome of any time spent on the road. I painted the rear bolster on my 3 ton Chev vivid white and seriously considered putting an amber rotating beacon on the vehicle. I have it in the shed yet and it won't take much prompting to use it.

Consider.

David

[Pete Solomon]

Motto,

Sobering thoughts in relation to rear impacts. Believe me - 10 years as a front line Paramedic has shown me the stupidity of a lot of road users!

I already have purchased a magnetic flashing amber beacon for the back of the truck & it will be used on all trips except the run down the street to the post office!

I will also be fitting a 6v-12v converter so I can run a UHF radio as I agree that the truckers are a wealth of knowledge on road conditions and also great source of early warning and information.

[Little Jo]

Hi Guys

A very interesting thread and some good comments. I agree with the majority of suggestions put forward and envy Pete going on his adventure. It is something we would all love to experience.

I recently drove behind a club member on the freeway in his WW2 Jeep on our way home from a Club Event. As it had been wet I decided to support him in case of a breakdown. I found it a harrowing experience watching vehicles including Semi Trailers in my revision mirror come hurtling up behind at speed and then having to slow down before passing and giving me some uncomplementary finger gestures before they realised the Jeep also moving slowly in front of me. I suggest this would have been more dangerous drive at night.

This has prompted me to purchase a large amber flashing light which will be fitted on a raised tube so the light will be above the roof line of my WW2 Wills Jeep. I had previously had some close shaves with speeding vehicles coming up behind me whilst driving on country roads.

I wonder if this is a safety requirements with our Military Vehicles I have seen driving in convoy with Amber flashing lights to make other road users aware of slow moving vehicles.

Let us all enjoy our hobby in safety as our vehicles do not have many safety features as with modern vehicles and the risk of serious injury or death is much higher. So I hope the purchase of an Amber Light is cheap security.

Cheers

Tony

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Tony

Your point on driving on the highway with antique anything can be and issue. Your suggestion of a yellow warning light is a good one. In thinking about a long distance trip one relatively cheep and quick upgrades would be adding or replacing the standard CMP tail lights with LED versions. With 6 and 12 volt versions now available this is a good common senses upgrade.

Don't know the rules in Australia about driving with revolving or flashing yellow lights. Some places in the states it is illegal, but even in one of those states we asked the State Police and the response we got was run with the warning lights anyway.

Know what you are talking about when escorting slower vehicles on the interstate. People just don't see them or under estimate their speed. Our MV club tries to travel in convoy for this reason when we can. The other thing we do is put a big truck at the end of the convoy. So often my CMP C60S with radio box is tail end charlie.

The other solution we found once when coming back from a movie shoot we came through Boston Ma at rush hour on the express way. Tail gating and closing on vehicles is the norm and suddenly the guy in the tail end CCKW came on the radio saying something was strange because people would scream up on his tail gate and then suddenly brake hard and back way off.

We stopped at a rest stop not long after that and we discovered the cause of strange behavior. The last CCKW was loaded with props from the movie shoot. Boxes all clearly stenciled CAUTION HIGH EXPLOSIVE.

The only people who didn't seem to notice or care was a Police Cruiser who came up along side the convoy paced us for a while and then passed and went off down the highway.

Cheers Phil

[Little Jo]

Hi Phil

I agree with you and love the idea of putting the biggest vehicle at the rear, especially with the, "WARNING HIGH EXPLOSIVES" sign. that tickled my warped sense of humour. I have already replaced all the signal turning lights, brake and tail lights on my Jeep to LED and they are nice and bright. As for the Amber Flashing Lights I am sure they are not a problem with authorities as we are very road safety conscious here. I drive my Jeep on a lot on back roads in the hills here and there is nothing more scary when travelling at 40Mph in a 60 Mph zone and have some cowboy come screaming over the hill or around a corner, but hey, I love my hobby and do try to stay safe.

Cheers

Tony