Most Memorable Vehicle
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: South of Old Warden
Age: 87
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
What about those mini pick-ups. I heard they only cost £90.00. For the hammering they took on the Sqdns at Akrotiri in the '60s they were good value for money.
Gentleman Aviator
Remember getting one of the first turbo-diesel Montegos as a Barnwood desky for a visit to St Mawgan. Empty M5 going at the speed of heat in the middle lane (and clearly not checking six in mirror full of sun!). SAAB turbo whizzes past at warp factor extremely quick, closely followed by Police Jam Sandwich who pulls across my bows very close as if to say - if it wasn't for the SAAB, we'd be having you!
It was also one of the first MT vehicles with "civilianised" numberplates. Later that day after several wets in the Mess, tannoy goes "Sqn Ldr Teeters to reception please". Met by A/Cpl Unpaid RAFP. Surreal conversation follows:
"You'll have to move your vehicle sir, it's in a "Service vehicle only" parking space."
"But it's a service vehicle"
"You'll have to move your vehicle sir, it's in a "Service vehicle only" parking space."
"And anyway I've been drinking so I can't move it"
"You'll have to move your vehicle sir, it's in a "Service vehicle only" parking space."
"Goodnight cpl"
"I'll have to report you sir"
"For why??"
"Parking a non-service vehicle in a "service vehicle only" parking slot!"
......strangely I heard nothing more........
It was also one of the first MT vehicles with "civilianised" numberplates. Later that day after several wets in the Mess, tannoy goes "Sqn Ldr Teeters to reception please". Met by A/Cpl Unpaid RAFP. Surreal conversation follows:
"You'll have to move your vehicle sir, it's in a "Service vehicle only" parking space."
"But it's a service vehicle"
"You'll have to move your vehicle sir, it's in a "Service vehicle only" parking space."
"And anyway I've been drinking so I can't move it"
"You'll have to move your vehicle sir, it's in a "Service vehicle only" parking space."
"Goodnight cpl"
"I'll have to report you sir"
"For why??"
"Parking a non-service vehicle in a "service vehicle only" parking slot!"
......strangely I heard nothing more........
I guess for those with boring cars, the wretched Montego Turbo diesel seemed reasonably quick..... But it most certainly wasn't; a miserly 81 bhp gave it a sluggish 0-60 in 12.5 sec and, for those who could stand the noise and vibration, 102 mph flat out. It was actually slower than the 1.6 petrol version! But no doubt some dimwitted MT Warrant Officer thought that 'Turbo' naturally mean that it was a high performance vehicle..
At RAF Abingdon, we were supposed to go and have a 'special driving test' if we wanted to drive the boss's Montego. I refused point blank because for one thing, it was a diesel
. Diesel is not an officer's fuel! Secondly, it was very much slower than my current car of the time, a Stage 3 Manta GTE....
Never did drive the Montego, nor ever wanted to. But the boss and/or CFI managed to reverse it at reasonable speed into a huge white bollard outside our building.......just after delivering a minor collective bollocking to all and sundry about driving standards...
Boy were we ever so sympathetic!
At RAF Abingdon, we were supposed to go and have a 'special driving test' if we wanted to drive the boss's Montego. I refused point blank because for one thing, it was a diesel
. Diesel is not an officer's fuel! Secondly, it was very much slower than my current car of the time, a Stage 3 Manta GTE....Never did drive the Montego, nor ever wanted to. But the boss and/or CFI managed to reverse it at reasonable speed into a huge white bollard outside our building.......just after delivering a minor collective bollocking to all and sundry about driving standards...
Boy were we ever so sympathetic!
Last edited by BEagle; 5th Nov 2007 at 09:57.
(a bear of little brain)
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: 51 10 03.70N 2 58 37.15W
Age: 75
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Many years ago when competing in Rallies we often used to get service entries, usually army in Landrovers of various sizes. I believe these were treated as 'navigational exercises' by the service. The entries were accepted with the landies running at the back of the field and on the unofficial understanding that if anyone needed a tow they would oblige.
I remember Jack Tordoff telling the tale of when his Porsche broke down in Dalby Forest one of the army entries stopped to give him a tow to the stage finish. They set off quite sedately but gradually got faster and faster - the Landie driver said at the end of the stage he had forgotten they were towing the Porsche. Jack did say that the point when he got worried was when he looked at his navigator and he was putting his helmet back on - they had taken them off when the car broke - and he was too busy steering to put his on.
I also remember someone doing a conversion of a long wheelbase Landrover to a short wheelbase the quick way, with the assistance of a railway bridge.
I remember Jack Tordoff telling the tale of when his Porsche broke down in Dalby Forest one of the army entries stopped to give him a tow to the stage finish. They set off quite sedately but gradually got faster and faster - the Landie driver said at the end of the stage he had forgotten they were towing the Porsche. Jack did say that the point when he got worried was when he looked at his navigator and he was putting his helmet back on - they had taken them off when the car broke - and he was too busy steering to put his on.
I also remember someone doing a conversion of a long wheelbase Landrover to a short wheelbase the quick way, with the assistance of a railway bridge.
1.6 Astra Estate (red)
Granted, not a particularly memorable car in itself.
However, when you set it in gear (2nd = about 10-12 mph) down the runway of RMB Chivenor (summer 2000) and jump out leaving just the boot unlocked or the sunroof open and then chase it to re-gain control with your mate (Ghost Car as we christened it!). Or seeing how fast you dared to jump from the roof whilst it was moving (20 mph seemed a reasonable maximum!) into the unmown grass along the edge of the runway.....
..... then it becomes a very memorable vehicle.
Ahh, the days of being a young holding Officer with absolutely no responsibility whatsoever!
BV
However, when you set it in gear (2nd = about 10-12 mph) down the runway of RMB Chivenor (summer 2000) and jump out leaving just the boot unlocked or the sunroof open and then chase it to re-gain control with your mate (Ghost Car as we christened it!). Or seeing how fast you dared to jump from the roof whilst it was moving (20 mph seemed a reasonable maximum!) into the unmown grass along the edge of the runway.....
..... then it becomes a very memorable vehicle.
Ahh, the days of being a young holding Officer with absolutely no responsibility whatsoever!
BV
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: @exRAF_Al
Posts: 3,297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The BV 206 was probably the most fun. Great performance from the Merc/Ford drive and staggering grip and traction. Once, crossing a frozen lake in Norway one year, myself an an arty gun bunny went through the ice. That crack, which sounded like small arms, the sudden lurching forwards and downwards of only an inch or two, then a drop of a foot.. and then another one, before green water slammed into the near vertical windscreen.. we just looked at each other and made like Shaggy and Scooby Do. The doors wouldn't open, so we negotiated an expeditious exit via the sunroof. An absolutely awesome vehicle, on sand and on snow. Negotiating the near vertical 15 metre drop at the Defence Driving School, into water was possibly, one of the nerviest pre planned things I've done. You wouldn't think it possible, that a vehicle could do what that vehicle does.
That Norway driving course was interesting. It was only a few weeks long, and we found out that the final week was supposed to be spent doing admin nif naf jobs for the army out there. Sod that. We told them we were needed back in Blightly, to which we received a smirk and a 'Well, if you can go back, you can do.. but you'll have to pay for it yourself.'.
Rrrrrring!!
"Boss? Hi, yeah. Err, the army wants us to stay here and paint things for a week. If we pay for our ferry tickets back, will you reimburse them? We can be out of here tonight. Excellent news! Thanks.'.
Another peach was/is the REME fitters version of the FV 432. We once found ourselves automotivally embarrassed once between warring Serbs and Bosnians. There had been a small fire in the back of the CVRT, we had no power as a consequence and had to use the hand genny to power the means, which created an extra hazard as I seem to recall we had to deploy the trailing wire antenna. Anyway, we eventually got recovered (those bastards didn't call the Warrier 'white death' for nothing by the way - a great piece of kit) and we were eventually able to make our way into the REME clank after it recovered us, after night fell.
It was warm, dimly lit by red bulbs, safe and just how the back of a tank should be.. smelling of damp socks drying, sweat, damp uniform, tea on the go, warm POL, leather, plastic, wpns oil and ammunition and.. well, pretty much like an old aircraft I guess. The engine in them was a RR marine craft engine, and it was as smooth as silk, a joy to drive. The vehicle cmdr twisted his elbows in, dropped down from the cuppola, gave us a cheery smile and threw us a few small bottles of champagne. 'From the Sun' he souted '.. Happy f#cking Xmas boys!'.
I still have one of the bottles, unopened.
That Norway driving course was interesting. It was only a few weeks long, and we found out that the final week was supposed to be spent doing admin nif naf jobs for the army out there. Sod that. We told them we were needed back in Blightly, to which we received a smirk and a 'Well, if you can go back, you can do.. but you'll have to pay for it yourself.'.
Rrrrrring!!
"Boss? Hi, yeah. Err, the army wants us to stay here and paint things for a week. If we pay for our ferry tickets back, will you reimburse them? We can be out of here tonight. Excellent news! Thanks.'.
Another peach was/is the REME fitters version of the FV 432. We once found ourselves automotivally embarrassed once between warring Serbs and Bosnians. There had been a small fire in the back of the CVRT, we had no power as a consequence and had to use the hand genny to power the means, which created an extra hazard as I seem to recall we had to deploy the trailing wire antenna. Anyway, we eventually got recovered (those bastards didn't call the Warrier 'white death' for nothing by the way - a great piece of kit) and we were eventually able to make our way into the REME clank after it recovered us, after night fell.
It was warm, dimly lit by red bulbs, safe and just how the back of a tank should be.. smelling of damp socks drying, sweat, damp uniform, tea on the go, warm POL, leather, plastic, wpns oil and ammunition and.. well, pretty much like an old aircraft I guess. The engine in them was a RR marine craft engine, and it was as smooth as silk, a joy to drive. The vehicle cmdr twisted his elbows in, dropped down from the cuppola, gave us a cheery smile and threw us a few small bottles of champagne. 'From the Sun' he souted '.. Happy f#cking Xmas boys!'.
I still have one of the bottles, unopened.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Buckinghamshire
Age: 66
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Talking of the Montego Turbo Diesel, I was driving a brand new one back from Brampton to Innsworth with my boss and an Aussie exchange officer on board when a truck reversed back onto a roundabout, straight up the bonnet and through the windshield! You would have thought we had ejection seats the speed we debussed. The call to MT was a classic, they were glad we had totalled another one of their least favourite cars.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: firmly on dry land
Age: 81
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anyway, before the run we would properly civilianise it.
Hide the green canvas and plywood wallet. Add a few freebie stickers - brats on board etc - newspapers, maps and sundry crap.
Pulled into Wattisham for a qucik top up. - Yes, same as the RAFP bit but we got fuel more easily. Then the fun bit, the ferry crossing.
As we got to Felixstowe we would drive down the freight lane with all the trucks flashing and honking cause no matter how 'civilianised' dear old movements always booked us freight
At least we got to use the truckers' restaurant which was inclusive -
munch munch munch.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK/Philippines/Italy
Age: 73
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Best service vehicle ever driven was a Mercedes G Wagen. Unfortunately, it belonged to ( and was liberated from) the Argentinian Army and was impossible to get registered in Germany.
1.6 Astra Estate (red) Granted, not a particularly memorable car in itself.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hunched over a keyboard
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As a holding officer in the early 80s, I had great fun in a SWB Landrover with canvas roof bombing up and down the beaches of the Outer Hebrides looking for Russian sonobuoys.
We had 13 people on one once - I was driving and had to get someone else to change gear on my call as there were 4 of us up front.
Last edited by moggiee; 5th Nov 2007 at 12:00.
Best service vehicle ever driven was a Mercedes G Wagen. Unfortunately, it belonged to ( and was liberated from) the Argentinian Army and was impossible to get registered in Germany.
Details
http://navigator.rafmuseum.org/resul...ze=1&id=106573
I didn't realise the Montego Turbo Diesel was viewed with such "affection". When it was selected as the new grade 'B' car - it won the "competition" from out of nowhere behind the Nissan Bluebird, new-style Vauxhall Cavalier and the Peugeot 405 - the CMovO's staff were plagued with "I want one" calls. After the first few had been delivered into service, they started getting the "I want my Cavalier back" calls. IIRC, the first one to get trashed, never completed its delivery journey from Ludgershall Depot - something to do with the driver testing its off-road performance!
I remember a night in mid '70s when I was part of a gang from 71 MU Bicester staying on the outskirts of Hull for the night. We went into town using the teams Ford Transit and after an evening doing the rounds of the pubs we were about to return to our digs when the gear shift broke off half an inch from the bottom !!! So, the gang boss, 'Tricky' Dickie Hayter reversed two and a half miles from the town centre back to the digs. Next day he managed to lever the gear stick into third and we drove all the way from Hull to Bicester in that gear. Those were the days.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dorset
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I remember Dick Hayter from around that time on 71MU, he was on salvage and I was on ARF, later on in the late 80s Dick joined Channel Express as a line engineer on the Heralds and Electras, however following a nasty fall one dark night he was quite seriously injured and went in to retirement.
Not for long, up to about 2000 Dick was working as a stores drver and workshop odd job man, despite his health, a huge amount of stories and escapades, I think he settled in Bournemouth when he retired properly, I hope that he is still going strong.
Best regards,
om15
Not for long, up to about 2000 Dick was working as a stores drver and workshop odd job man, despite his health, a huge amount of stories and escapades, I think he settled in Bournemouth when he retired properly, I hope that he is still going strong.
Best regards,
om15
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here 'n' there.
Age: 53
Posts: 33
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That looks like the G-Wagon 18sqn had at Gutersloh, I remember trying to get spares for it from the local Mercedes garage but as the Argies hadn't actually paid for the wagon the chassis numbers were blacklisted!!
The moggies were replaced by JCB Fasttracks...Moggies were more fun though, used to bury them till the tops of the tyres where hidden by sand, stick it in crawler gear,climb out and watch them chug they're way out then bimble across the bondou.
The moggies were replaced by JCB Fasttracks...Moggies were more fun though, used to bury them till the tops of the tyres where hidden by sand, stick it in crawler gear,climb out and watch them chug they're way out then bimble across the bondou.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: I give in. Wandering around my alter ego.
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My claim is for 2 vehicles - both LWB Landrovers.
First - an open driving cab/enclosed rear half kitted out as the sigs vehicle for the Sharjah Mountain/Desert Rescue Team. We were going out into the local area for a 'famil' drive. As I had just arrived I was keen to get out and see the said local area. No seats in front so I volunteered to go in the back. Colin Pibworth, the team leader, voiced his concerns but I convinced him it was no problem. It wasn't. Until we hit the first bit of off road when a particularly rough piece of road turned the back into something approaching a Zanussi front loader. After the dust had settled and the blood had been staunched I completed the trip squashed into the front on the "third" seat.
Second - expedition to North Wales on the way back to sunny Scampton. If one switched off the ignition on a descent and then switched it back on again it would give a very satisfying backfire and the sheep for miles around would leg it like their backsides were on fire. First few times was OK then we hit a long straight descent. BANG! Sheep ran but the Landie sounded like a tank thereafter as the silencer box had been blown apart. Got some funny looks as we passed through the various towns on the way back.
First - an open driving cab/enclosed rear half kitted out as the sigs vehicle for the Sharjah Mountain/Desert Rescue Team. We were going out into the local area for a 'famil' drive. As I had just arrived I was keen to get out and see the said local area. No seats in front so I volunteered to go in the back. Colin Pibworth, the team leader, voiced his concerns but I convinced him it was no problem. It wasn't. Until we hit the first bit of off road when a particularly rough piece of road turned the back into something approaching a Zanussi front loader. After the dust had settled and the blood had been staunched I completed the trip squashed into the front on the "third" seat.
Second - expedition to North Wales on the way back to sunny Scampton. If one switched off the ignition on a descent and then switched it back on again it would give a very satisfying backfire and the sheep for miles around would leg it like their backsides were on fire. First few times was OK then we hit a long straight descent. BANG! Sheep ran but the Landie sounded like a tank thereafter as the silencer box had been blown apart. Got some funny looks as we passed through the various towns on the way back.