From: Bill (bill@welovenh.com)
Date: Sun Aug 22 2004 - 18:51:28 PDT
I want second Nats comments. Best non-mil specific show I have been to ever.
Nat, I was across from you in the WC-54.
The weather today was perfect and the show had something for everyone.
One of the "Officials" told us that they had 357 vehicles registered
(this was at 1 o'clock). They Ranged from HMV's to TT units (an old
beautiful Fruehauf single axle aluminum trailer that looked like new
caught my eye), Farm Tractors, Dozers, Fire Engines, Hit or Miss Engine
displays, many chain drive rigs. An Oil distributor from Henniker NH had
some immaculately restored older rigs including a horse drawn oil
delivery wagon.
Most of the spectators were families who brought out the whole family
and it even looked like the spouses were having a good time.
For the Northeast this show is truly a sight to behold.
Nat is correct, this is a show to see.
Just don't get there to early as I want my good spot again next year.
Bill Wolf
Nat Lee wrote:
>All:
>
>The weather today was bright, cool, and absolutely delicious for a
>late September day. It's August 22nd and this is not right as it is
>not even 60° this morning.
>
>Mara and I wandered up Rt 113 to Haverhill to meet up with a fellow
>unimoger, Tom Rudden and his wife Terry. They live right off of Rt125
>and therefore this makes it an easy ride to Barrington, NH from their
>house. About three years ago Tom bought a 1962 French Troop Carrier
>Unimog. The French Army happened to do a lot of restorative work on
>their trucks and then parked them in storage before putting them on
>the auction block.
>
>We fueled up the trucks at the local HESS station for the trek North
>(a minor ouch @ $1.87 per gallon).
>
>Life on Rt125 was uneventful as we sauntered in classic Unimog style
>spinning only a few heads that realized not one but two of these odd
>beasts were in one place. Mara and I have become used to the heads
>turning as we pass by. Seeing these trucks together take the traffic
>cake.
>
>The truck show was wonderful. The folks that ran the show were
>pleasant and unobtrusive. Among the many trucks were many variety of
>antiques ranging from the late 191x and possibly earlier up to the
>late seventies. Many Mack trucks of all sorts and ages were there and
>I was like a young boy in a toy store. There were a couple of
>different chain driven trucks offered by Mack there too. Wow!
>
>Aside from the usual Ford/Chevy/Dodge/Studebaker pick up trucks were
>many trucks that were painstakingly restored. One Chevy Cab over
>engine(COE)truck sported a 261cid 6 cylinder gas engine attached to a
>4spd transmission and 2spd differential. The owner took great pains
>to make this 1952 truck better then factory new.
>
>There were many fire trucks there as well including a hook and ladder
>truck from the Danvers, MA offered for $1500. Hmmm...
>
>Another one of a kind was a Chevy Corvair Greenbriar van. This was
>not a typical box van, but a completely restored camping van. This
>van was capable of managing a family of 3-4 people. Odd was the
>location of the spare tire, behind the front bench seat.
>
>We had the pleasure of being parked amongst the other military trucks
>and we had, completely by chance, four different Unimogs. There were
>plenty of WW2 trucks ranging from jeeps to 2.5ton GMC's. There was
>also a 5ton tow truck and a couple of other miscellaneous M series
>trucks in the midst. Not to be ignored was an 80's CUCV (aka Chevy
>Blazer) which the owner Paul purchased last Friday. Because of it's
>mysterious idiot lights, he wasn't sure if it was actually charging.
>Fortunately, my recently rain-soaked digital voltmeter was there to
>assess the situation (it was charging).
>
>On the subject of Unimogs, I bumped into an entertaining
>acquaintance, Tom Brownell, whom I had met at the Mogfest earlier
>this year. This was the fellow with those ridiculous ear bleeding
>locomotive air horns. Fortunately for those with heart conditions, he
>did not let those horns make ANY noise. He related to me a story of a
>pull-start dog. It's a hoot, but a story best told in person! We had
>a momentary forum on Unimog clutch design, of which I came away with
>all sorts of conclusions.
>
>We had arrived a little after 10am and left around 2pm. There was a
>lot to see and so many exciting different trucks to enjoy and
>appreciate. A couple of people also brought in "one of a kind"
>machines such as bulldozers and a tracked sidewalk snowplow. One
>fellow had the nerve to bring a Subaru version of a VW bus, but about
>45% smaller in every dimension. There was even a Flexible bus with a
>Ford V8 drivetrain meticulously restored. All in all, too many toys
>in one place to be able to mention them all.
>
>As car shows go, this is in a completely different league. Did we
>have a good time? No question, yes. There was a lot of different
>types and styles of trucks from the ages that many people spent a lot
>of money and sweat equity to restore. I recommend that you try this
>show at least once in your life just so you can appreciate where the
>trucking industry is today and how it arrived there. Next year we
>hope to bring the M135 with 6 new sneakers along with the 'mog as
>there was only one GM hydramatic truck there.
>
>Speed in style and we hope to see you there next year, and have no
>fear, there are indeed things for the ladies to do.
>
>Fighting over the driver's seat,
>
>Nat & Mara
>
>
>
>
>
>
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