Driving Range of Camp Borden

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Interesting picture and explanation:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35068121@N08/4428888452/

[Keith Webb]

And a fascinating story too. With such an emphasis on training it seems incredible they'd let people with no driving instruction at all just jump in and attempt to drive something like a 3-ton truck! No wonder they wrote several off!
Interesting too to see the guesswork by people completely unfamiliar with the type commenting. We're so used to seeing comments by people who have lived with these vehicles for most of their lives.

[lynx42]

Keith, Nothing had changed by 1965 when I reported to my first posting. HQ.3rd Div Transport Platoon, Melbourne. I walked in and was handed my full Army licence. I had only ever drive around a farm paddock and I was told to drive a Chev C60L out to Broadmeadows to return to their fleet out there. This was one of the few Blitz's still in service I believe. I got there without mishap but the gears were pretty polished by the time I arrived. I never had to undergo a driving test at ever.
Rick

[Keith Webb]

Thank goodness CMP gearboxes are strong!
I didn't realise you actually drove one in service - will have to get these stories on camera.

Originally Posted by lynx42

Keith, Nothing had changed by 1965 when I reported to my first posting. HQ.3rd Div Transport Platoon, Melbourne. I walked in and was handed my full Army licence. I had only ever drive around a farm paddock and I was told to drive a Chev C60L out to Broadmeadows to return to their fleet out there. This was one of the few Blitz's still in service I believe. I got there without mishap but the gears were pretty polished by the time I arrived. I never had to undergo a driving test at ever.
Rick

[Jon Skagfeld]

I know Blackdown Park, Camp Borden, very well having spent several summers there. One summer was for a D&M course and we used the area extensively for training.

There was a snake's tangle of roads in one area near the Lisle Road (west part of Camp) where it was quite easy to get disoriented...as in temporarily lost!

There was also a deep ravine-like depression down by the Pine River known as the "bullpen". It featured a sand track up which one was required to successfully get to the top. I was about 150x in length at about a 30 degree angle. Great fun!

The posted pictures look like it may have happened at the top of the sandy track.

Good Grief! I could babble on about my memories of that place.