1st Hussars and Holy Roller & Perry Kitson

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

I wonder what happened to the tracks and roadwheels that got replaced, nothing like stripping away the original wartime pieces for new replacements....

The originals are probably on a skid headed for the scrapper. And the new replacements are, unfortunately, no longer available for a running restoration.

I agree Ed, a missed opportunity and big disappointment.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Agree with both of you. Personally I would have preferred to see this tank to be put inside or at least under cover. It seems there wasn't a lack of funds - seeing that new tracks and road wheels could be acquired from abroad. If it isn't meant to be runner, they could have re-used the old track and spent the funds on a roof over it's head?

“We have the new track on it which came from France,” Haley added. “We have new road wheels which came from Belgium. So there's been all sorts of parts that have come from all over the world to go on this tank”.

It seems the people running the show have chosen not to reconsider its location and stick it on its outside pad in the park again. A bit like the people in Westkapelle.


Added photo of Holy Roller with new track (nmp):
283282690_10227676326642068_6747960346068958254_n.jpg

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

stick it on its outside pad in the park again. A bit like the people in Westkapelle.

I get the impression from this thread that a major difference is that the people of London, ON, have no particular love for their tank, while the people of Westkapelle, ZLD, see theirs as their tank.

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by Jakko Westerbeke

I get the impression from this thread that a major difference is that the people of London, ON, have no particular love for their tank, while the people of Westkapelle, ZLD, see theirs as their tank.

Yeah, the love goes as far as letting the vehicle deteriorate outside but there is indifference to embracing any other preservation strategy.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Jakko Westerbeke

I get the impression from this thread that a major difference is that the people of London, ON, have no particular love for their tank, while the people of Westkapelle, ZLD, see theirs as their tank.

Bang on. The people who frequent the park (and, incidentally, the rest of London's once beautiful and safe downtown) are increasingly hostile drug zombies and 'progressives' who would regard the tank as symbol of privilege and oppression. Regardless of what you think of the restoration and outcome, Holly Roller will have few admirers once retuned to its concrete slab.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

It runs! (With smoke and mirrors…)

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/...ia-park-return

LFP20220530MH002-scaled-e1653929262331.jpg

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

It runs! (With smoke and mirrors…)

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/...ia-park-return

Attachment 128872

The feels-good article throws the word 'restoration' around quite a bit and leaves the reader thinking it's a running tank (that ought to get the downtown London vandals planning a nighttime visit...).

Still, we're in the middle of a climate change crisis so I'm so glad they:

installed an electric motor, allowing the Holy Roller to move by its own power during Monday’s restoration reveal.

[James P]

I am totally underwhelmed.