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Old 18-01-16, 06:15
Jan Thompson's Avatar
Jan Thompson Jan Thompson is offline
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Default GPA wanted in Australia to build Half-Safe Replica

Hi all
I have been contacted by Alex Cullen from the Channel 7 who is a reporter with Sunday Night. Here is his introduction letter. The program are looking at attending our 37th Annual GPA Swim-In so hopefully people will bring along their GPA's this year.

Quote:
Dear Enthusiast,

My name is Alex Cullen and I’m a reporter with Sunday Night on channel 7 based in Sydney. We are channel 7’s flagship public affairs program that runs for an hour each week and has an average audience of around 2 million people across Australia. We cover everything from crime to adventure, to sport to human interest stories. I write to you to tell you of a story we are embarking on about the late, great Ben Carlin and his incredible journey around the world in the famous ‘Half-Safe’. Through our story, we hope to give Ben Carlin the recognition he deserves because what he achieved almost defies logic.
By modifying a Ford GPA, he created a vehicle that would circumnavigate the world on a journey that took almost 10 years. It’s also a feat of incredible engineering and ingenuity and this is where you come in. With your help, we are hoping to modify an existing Ford GPA into a replica of the Half-Safe. We want to know how difficult this task was? We want to know if this will work? We want to then launch the vehicle into the ocean and take it into the open ocean. I must also stress that Channel 7 will cover the costs. I understand that Ford GPA’s are quite expensive but if we can find a cheap one, all the better!
We would look to start filming in the first quarter of next year with an airing date of mid next year. This part of the story would involve filming the planning and building process right through to launching into the ocean. I must stress that it does not have to be an exact replica of the ‘Half-Safe’. We envisage it to be a lot like Mythbusters. Obviously without the myth but shot in the same way with a camera following the process from scratch. We would hope to interview those involved in the process too. If this can be done close to Sydney, even better. I know this may be asking a lot but this part of our story could be fascinating and, again, show just how incredible Ben’s achievement was. I have attached the specifications of the Half-Safe which will give you a better idea of the vehicle and what might be involved. I hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,

Alex Cullen


Alex Cullen
Twitter: alextcullen
Reporter | Sunday Night


Seven Network (Operations) Limited
Media City | 8 Central Avenue | Eveleigh NSW 2015 Australia
Postal Address: GPO Box 7777 | Sydney NSW 2001 Australia
Telephone +61 2 9877 7384 | Mobile +61 438 777156
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  #2  
Old 18-01-16, 07:01
Lynn Eades Lynn Eades is offline
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Jan, On the Fordbarn forum is a chap in Perth who is actually working on getting Halfsafe running. I assume the same people doing the TV programme have instigated the "getting her running". She is only required to be able to be driven around. Not swim.
I can send the guy a personal message and ask him for some contact details if you need them.
Halfsafe resides at the school north of Perth where Ben Carlin went to school.
(I cannot recall the name of the town.
I have seen a few pictures of Halfsafe taken in the last few weeks and I doubt she would float for long.
I imagine it would be a big undertaking to copy her. She underwent a big rebuild in Birmingham after The Atlantic crossing so has existed in at least one other form than the current (bigger)version.
A man with a dream! .... Crazy. Interesting subject. An amazing and sad story really.
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  #3  
Old 18-01-16, 07:08
Lynn Eades Lynn Eades is offline
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Halfsafe as she sits

Half 14 S.jpg HALF 4 S.jpg Half 9 S.jpg
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  #4  
Old 18-01-16, 09:25
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Richard Farrant Richard Farrant is offline
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Hi Lynn,
We actually had Half Safe attend the Corowa GPA Swim-In in 1999 and it was made roadworthy for the parade, by the late Bob Dimer. I recall Jan driving it across the campsite. There was no way the school would have let it go in the water, it is kept in its own glass fronted building at Guildford Grammar School, WA.

regards, Richard
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  #5  
Old 18-01-16, 11:01
Lynn Eades Lynn Eades is offline
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Thats the place Richard, where it is in the photos.
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Carrier Armoured O.P. No1 Mk3 W. T84991
Carrier Bren No2.Mk.I. NewZealand Railways. NZR.6.
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So many questions....
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  #6  
Old 18-01-16, 11:40
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Mike Kelly Mike Kelly is offline
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If anyone wants to learn about Ben Carlin's epic adventures, then a good starting point - get hold of his book HALF SAFE . There are plenty of used copies around . The book is a first hand story written by the guy himself.

Channel 7 are only interested in ratings . I wouldn't let them or any TV station anywhere near a GPA - they are likely to do horrible stunts with a GPA , even sinking it for the dramatic effect . I wonder if Channel 7 will mention the book and promote it, I very much doubt they will . Mike
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  #7  
Old 19-01-16, 08:00
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Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
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It would have to be a very delapitated GPA to be wasted on such a TV program. The GPA community is very conscious of getting most if not all of the wrecks restored to original condition.
Erik Jostad had a GPA for sale with a similar history ("Tortuga" - see http://fordgpa.xsbb.nl/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=814504), which he advertised for €40.000. It was sold and I would not be surprised if it is converted back to mil spec. Another converted GPA in Canada awaits the same fate.

But as with anything jeep, GPA parts are being reproduced. I would advise them to buy the repro parts they need and do their engineering experiment with that.
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  #8  
Old 19-01-16, 10:11
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Mike Kelly Mike Kelly is offline
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Default Half Safe

Half Safe was on display in MYERS department store in Melbourne around 1955 . The Carlins' would do this sort of thing in order to raise much needed funds . I believe Ben was signing copies of the book at the time. I'm not sure if his other half was with him at this point in time.

re: the first book - reading between the lines , he did like his booze and I think his missus became disgruntled and fed up with it all .

Ben Carlin died around the same time as the initial Corowa was held in 1980 . I think he lived out his later years in Birmingham UK , but not sure . Imagine if he had lived longer than the relatively young age he made it to ( 68 ? ) and he made it to a Corowa .

Mike
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Last edited by Mike Kelly; 19-01-16 at 10:16.
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  #9  
Old 19-01-16, 10:28
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Jan Thompson Jan Thompson is offline
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Alex recently spoke to Boye De Mente. He is aware of the cost involved and has spoken to a few GPA owners in Australia. I visited the Guildford Grammar School with Bob Dimer a few years after Half-Safe was at Corowa and I had a work colleague whose boyfriend went to the Guildford Grammar School and witnessed the vehicle being pushed into a pool.

When there was a suggestion to have the vehicle over at Corowa for our 20th Annual GPA Swim-In we had to raise funds to cover costs. There were a number of generous military vehicle owners who helped by donating money. Budget also came to the party to help with the transport. Unfortunately Bob Dimer is no longer with us and he did all the mechanical work prior to the trip to make is roadworthy. The vehicle received TV coverage and took part in the parade through Corowa. I feel very honoured to have been given a chance to drive the vehicle and have some appreciation of what some of the journey must have been like. There is no way I would want to go into the water in it.

One thing I would like is to see if we can get it back to Corowa in 2019 for our 40th Year.

In 1999 we received successful confirmation of a new Guinness World Record for 'The largest gathering of Ford GPA amphibious vehicles since the Second world War was 16, at the 20th National GPA Swim-in, organised by Jan Thompson, Maureen Bell, Jennifer Bennie and Roger Ross (all Australia), which took place in Corowa, NSW, Australia on 13th March 1999'.
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  #10  
Old 21-01-16, 09:22
lynx42 lynx42 is offline
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Default My experience with Half-Safe.

In 1999, I had the great experience of being allowed by Bob Dimer to drive Half-Safe around Ball Park Caravan Park. Thank you Bob, not too many people have driven a vehicle which has circumnavigated the world mostly under its own steam.

Here are the photos taken that day 13th March 1999.

The line up with Half-Safe as no.1. Have a look at no.2. That is the Wilsons honey-moon vehicle.

img034.jpg

Left 3/4 photo. .

img035.jpg

Check out the driving position and compare the drivers seat position with the previous photo. That is right, right back at the last of the side windows.

img036.jpg

Taken through the rear hatch. It's a long way to the front.

img037.jpg

16 year old son Michael had a ride as well.

img038.jpg

Regards Rick.
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  #11  
Old 21-01-16, 09:40
lynx42 lynx42 is offline
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Default Carlin, F.B. (Frederick Benjamin) 1912 - 1981

Here are the covers of the two books by Ben Carlin, 'Half-Safe Across the Atlantic by Jeep" published in 1955, and "The Other Half of Half-Safe" published by the Guildford Grammar School Foundation Inc. in 1989. (ISBN 0 9598731 1 2)

img039.jpg img040.jpg

img041.jpg img043.jpg

I have 3 copies of Half-Safe, one for each of my sons and a signed one for me.
Regards Rick
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  #12  
Old 21-01-16, 10:18
lynx42 lynx42 is offline
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Default Half-Safe in Melbourne.

A couple of stills from the Pathe film clip.

Not much free board.

images.britishpathe.com3.jpg images.britishpathe.com2.jpg images.britishpathe.com.jpg

With Elinore and Ben in Melbourne at the bow of Half-Safe.

Regards Rick.
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