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Jims (Rice and Gilmore) and List. If this message is a little muffled it
may because it is emerging from my anal cavity! I APOLOGISE - echo!!!!!
I have no wish to enter into a transatlantic flaming contest, especially
because I totally agree that the safety issue, particularly at public events
cannot be emphasised hard enough. After Beltring last year, I approached
Rex Cadman, the organiser, with a list of problems that had really worried
me which ranged from the visible shortage of marshals to a personally
witnessed incident concerning a dealer and corporate entertainer, who should
have known better, driving a tank on the busiest Saturday afternoon, with no
walking marshals and doing spin turns in the public area - quite literally
an accident waiting to happen. These issues will be addressed this year by
a total ban on vehicle movements in public areas and a far greater turn out
of visibly identifiable marshals. The 'Frank Buck Incident' may have been
badly chosen but there are other examples not safety related. (I won't fan
the flames by naming these). My point was that it may be better to cut a
little slack and deal with certain matters off list. I am sure Frank was
mortified when brought to book. There are other occasions where 'naming
and shaming' may be the best route. Jim G's campaign on the MVPA election
issue is a good example. So far as the DUKW matter is concerned, I stand by
what I said.
On a more positive note to potential DUKW owners, I met Jack Tomlin by
chance at an MVPA Convention somewhere many years ago, told him about 'Les
Amis de L'Amphibie' and he said 'great, I'll come over as an observer to
this years rally' (in Holland). I thought no more of it till, to my great
surprise, he turned up at my house and made the trip in my DUKW. Of course,
we became lifelong friends and Jack got totally hooked on DUKWs. About six
months later I went out to his place in Tooele to see if I could persuade
him to sell some of his treasure. It was deep in the Utah midwinter minus 5
degrees with six inches of snow on the ground. Jack had built this large
hanger with walls made of WW2 ammo boxes (would that I had those again -
most of them floated off to sea in Private Ryan!) with a roof of truck
bodies. The whole erection was covered over by truck tarps and heated by a
giant military gas heater that looked highly dangerous and Jack said was
bankrupting him in trips to the gas station. Inside this structure was
..... a DUKW! that Jack had bought from the National Guard and hauled home
400 miles on a giant and highly illegal lowboy trailer towed behind his pick
up truck!! I tried this loaded rig down Jack's drive and I wouldn't have
driven it round the block! Any way Jack toiled right through that winter
to totally rebuild the DUKW, he kitted it with (amongst other things) a
giant home refrigerator, an inflatable dingy and a trail bike and then
drove it 600 miles to LA and set off for Europe where for the next ten years
or so he indulged in a series of adventures which I am sure he would agree
changed his life. So be warned, DUKW owning is highly addictive and they
are extremely demanding mistresses. DUKW prices (for good ones) are
probably higher over here than in the States. Last one I took to Normandy
50th was bought in Virginia and shipped in the other direction!! Shipping
to the
States could be tricky due to ATF problems but could be overcome - it would
be expensive however especially for a non runner. Anyone wanting to own one
would do well to talk to Jack - he has a wealth of experience. And if you
want to see how it's done big time in Europe, get in touch with 'Les Amis'
and try to hitch a ride to this year's event - in Italy. I can supply
contact details off list. Best Regards. Mike S.
----- Original Message -----
From: The Jeep Dogs
To: tankcity@globalnet.co.uk
Sent: 10 April 2000 04:55
Subject: Re: [MV] DUKWs
Mike,
Live up to your own standards. I posted the message about Frank Buck. I
followed up with the postings of TWO eyewitnesses. One of these witnesses
even beat me to the punch of directly contacting Frank Buck. The facts are
there and definitely provable. So disappear up your own ass, to paraphrase
your own words.
Jim Rice
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon May 01 2000 - 05:30:05 PDT