Greece to Normandy Convoy '09

[zemsi]

c'mon Hanno, a txt-file. That's pre-DOS era

If you've got the choice between an English girl in fancy passion killers and a Brasilian chica in a ripper thong. What would you take

Have fun
Chris

[Lang]

Thanks to Chris everyone can now see our Normandy Convoy program.

[Jan Thompson]

The program looks good but there are only 30 days in April.

[Lang]

Originally Posted by Jan Thompson

The program looks good but there are only 30 days in April.

Jan,

I knew that, I was only testing you.

lang

[hrpearce]

Hi Lang the brain is finally working, I thought I recognised you at Corowa while litening to your talk on Greece to Normandy but it only sank in today when I came in for smoco and the boys had my DVD's of Peking to Paris on. I read the book first then hunted the DVD's down, I enjoyed both.

[Lang]

Having just retured from 6 weeks in Europe flying around in vintage aircraft I now have time to start restoring my Chev ute and get more information to the convoy participants. (Members might be interested to see Youtube - look up "Vimy at Farnborough" or something similar, of a bit of excitement I had at the Farnborough Air Show a couple of weeks ago)

It was nice to catch up with some of the MLU members at Beltring - my impression of my first time visit to this show was it is a very expensive business having anything to do with military vehicles in Europe and UK particularly. There seems to be much less willingness to help each other out for a "carton of beer" or exchange of bits with everything having an increasing price (not just with dealers but amongst the enthusiasts themselves). Everyone understands this but it definitely makes military vehicle ownership a much more competitive and less friendly hobby.

Anyhow, we are lucky in Australia and although that attitude certainly exists with part-time "entrepreneurs", most of our convoy members have had willing help from many people to get their vehicles restored.

Lang

[Lang]

We have just been given a problem with Athens/Piraeus port and our convoy route is about to be hugely altered to start from somewhere else. It is good to see just about everyone involved came back with variations of "I am happy to go along with the majority"

I will put up the new (and I think even better) route for everyone to see as soon as shipping confirmation on the new port arrives.

Lang

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Lang

It was nice to catch up with some of the MLU members at Beltring - my impression of my first time visit to this show was it is a very expensive business having anything to do with military vehicles in Europe and UK particularly. There seems to be much less willingness to help each other out for a "carton of beer" or exchange of bits with everything having an increasing price (not just with dealers but amongst the enthusiasts themselves). Everyone understands this but it definitely makes military vehicle ownership a much more competitive and less friendly hobby.

Anyhow, we are lucky in Australia and although that attitude certainly exists with part-time "entrepreneurs", most of our convoy members have had willing help from many people to get their vehicles restored.

Beltring is indeed big business. As many shows do, it started small, a local show organised by club members donating their spare time. It has grown into a full-time business with permanent staff who have to earn a living. With entry prices for vehicle exhibitors and stall holders, people tend to feel they have to at least earn their money back.
Positive side of the full-time entrepeneurs in this hobby is that we see parts and vehicles shipped across the globe and money being invested in buying old stock which otherwise would have gone into the skip. I have friends who have invested sizeable sums in buying up spare parts for Sherman tanks, CMP trucks and jeeps which were about to be scrapped. These guys have to charge serious money for their parts to earn their investment in time and money back.

But it is great to see the CMP scene is still dominated by enthusiasts, rather than entrepeneurs.

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by zemsi

c'mon Hanno, a txt-file. That's pre-DOS era

If you've got the choice between an English girl in fancy passion killers and a Brasilian chica in a ripper thong. What would you take

I know what I take!

But do you realise some of our members are from the pre-PC era?!?!

H.

[Howard]

Originally Posted by zemsi

...If you've got the choice between an English girl in fancy passion killers and a Brasilian chica in a ripper thong. What would you take...
Chris

I'd take the Pommy Chick. She's more likely to be an actual chick, rather than an aftermarket conversion.
Howard

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Howard

I'd take the Pommy Chick. She's more likely to be an actual chick, rather than an aftermarket conversion.
Howard

[Lang]

Just to keep everyone posted, here is the shipping list for our ANZAC convoy. We still plan to be driving out of Istanbul 01 May to arrive Normandy in time for the festivities. Some people want to sell their vehicles so look down the list for something that takes your fancy!


Chevrolet Coupe Utility (Aus)
Chevrolet C15A
Chevrolet 1 1/2ton 4X4
Jeep
Chevrolet C15
Jeep
Jeep
Jeep
Studebaker US6
Harley-Davidson WLA
Jeep
Chevrolet 3ton 4X2 (Lend-lease style)
Ford Heavy Utility
Chevrolet C15A Radio Van
Jeep
Dodge 1/2 ton Closed Cab WC
Steyr light truck

[Sydneymver]

Lang,

Can you please specify what grounds at Etreham the campsite is located please.

Bruce McCann
Sydney NSW

[Lang]

Bruce,

As far as I am aware there is only one campground at Etreham (we stayed there in 2004). It is a tiny village not far from Port-en-Bessin. It is a standard tourist park, not just a D-Day temporary site - really easy to see on Google Earth.
Lang

[Sydneymver]

Thanks Lang,
I currently have a booking in Carentan, but i wouldn't mind staying where you guys are, so will see if i can organise that, i wasn't aware that there was only one camping ground in the town.

Many Thanks
Bruce McCann