Sth Australian rally

[Mike K]

My secret spy sent me this pic from the Birdwood rally , held last weekend in Sth Aust. .

Can you ID the vehicles ?

Mike

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Mike Kelly
Can you ID the vehicles ?

Mike, great pic of Aussie Ford Gun Tractors!

Tractor, Artillery (Aust) No.8 and No.3 (CMP Ford FGT and 1939 Ford/Marmon-Herrington)

Next question: which one do you like best? (It's tough choosing between Fords! )

[Keith Webb]

It would HAVE to be the #8 - the CMP front end (not to mention the 6 seat capacity) puts it in front of the pack!



This (and other images) were kindly sent to me by Bob the (dashboard) builder of the Adelaide FGT #8. This is a rebuild from an original chassis and cut down body.

More pics of it here

[Wayne Henderson]

The No 8 looks great! I also like the numberplate. Well done.
Now where is the mystery box on the rear left?

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi gals & guys

The secret spy pic that Mike sent was actually part of the 10th anniversary celebrations for the above named Museum. (It used to be called the South Australian Military Vehicle Museum but we went up-market).

The run was from the Museum at Port Adelaide to the grounds of the National Motor Museum at Birdwood. This in sections is a very arduous drive through the Adelaide Hills and Chain of Ponds. I drove the Bandicoot and it got quite scientific at times.

I'll post a selection of pics from the day for your entertainment and envy.

The first one is the muster that followed a barbeque breakfast.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

You work it out

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Tom Kruse's truck. You can find out about this Aussie pioneer on the net.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

This is what the Marmon-Herrington was towing.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

A selection of vehicles.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Another selection.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

And another selection.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Last selection.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

And of course - ANOTHER BBQ

[Keith Webb]

Well done for posting these interesting pics.
Tell us more about the drive in Bandicoot - especially the "scientific" bits!

For those interested in the Tom Kruse story, I have a website with all the details, particularly of Tom's other mail truck, a 1936 Leyland Badger.
The Cab 12 (Monkey face) to Tom is of course a replica - the original remains are apparently still rotting on a lonely outback station somewhere.
I have a few pics of the original one from Tom's album, and from stills taken by the Shell film unit during the making of the movie "Back of Beyond".

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Bob Moseley
The first one is the muster that followed a barbeque breakfast....

....And of course - ANOTHER BBQ

Lemme guess, you guys had a BBQ lunch too?
Thanks for sharing the pics, by the way.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Hanno - that pic was the BBQ lunch. I was too busy eating the BBQ breakfast to take any photos.

Keith, if you are reading this, I'm always in a quandry as where to post these types of images, MLU or your site. Please take them and incorporate them on your site, as with any of the Oz ones I post.

The "scientific" part of the drive is as follows. I don't know if you are familiar with the road to Birdwood, if not look at a map. It is a very convoluting hilly road with many switchback corners and when driving the Bandicoot with limited visibility, a narrow road and very winding, one tends to concentrate somewhat especially when passing on-coming semi-trailers. Plus a lot of gear changing especially when following a gutless FGT8 towing a 25pdr. However, as in most instances, the traffic does stay out of my way and I can still park wherever I want.

Bob

[Keith Webb]

Bob, I can well imagine the FGT would be a slug with a 25 pounder, with it's 95 BHP engine.
I can't begin to imagine what the lot of the Guy Quad Ant drivers must have been with a similar all up weight and less than 60 BHP and cable brakes to worry about.
Happy to host your pics - I'll download them when I next get a chance.