Three tankers dream trip.... European Tour 2012

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thecommanderNJ NEAD
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Three tankers dream trip.... European Tour 2012

Post by thecommanderNJ NEAD »

When the Bovington Tank Musuem announced the "Tiger Day" event and the Premium Acess Pass last fall, Brett (BennyB) and I got to talking. We both really wanted to see this Beast runing. We knew others were talking about it too. But who would be REALLY SERIOUSLY interested? We spread the word around of a "tankers dream trip". Soon a few of use who met at the AAF Tank Musuem in Danville, Virginia, put our heads together and decided that was the chance of a lifetime. Steve, Brett Dennis & I were commited (or should be commited...). We have been lucky indeed to see live fire of weapons and running tanks in action care of the Gasser Family at Danville for years. I even extended a personal invitation to them to join us. It was just too close for their Tank Extravagana to even consider. It seemed like the least I could do for all the excitement and fun they have shown to us. But to go see the Tiger run first hand and meet more of our UK tank buddies....we just couldn't miss it. We already knew Martin (Ex-Pat tanker) from last years Tank Extravaganza. And he offered to meet us if ever we traveled "Across the Pond". And if the rest of his tank buddies in the UK were like him we knew we would all have a fantastic time sharing the event with them. We secured our Premium tickets last fall before the sold out, luckily. The staff at Bovington, Sue & Jannine, were so friendly and easy to deal with. Brett had time constraints but Steve (Shark27) and Dennis (DJLaPalme) and I had more time to spend abroad. We three decided to stetch our trip to a full week and take in the German Tank Mus at Munster and the Fench tank Mus. at Samur. What the hell....we are already 95% there already. I had been to Bovington in'09 on my trip to Normandy for the 65th Aniversay of D-Day but there were so many events & Veterans there I decided Samur & Munster would have to wait.

And wait three years they did. Steve, Dennis and I tried to talk Brett into coming along for the week but he has a new baby and so much going on that even this weekend trip to Bovington was pushing it. We all understood and plane tickets and reservations were made over the winter. As the date drew nearer things changed for Brett as well. He had a great oppourunity to buy his dream house in PA for his wife and newborn baby. He made the right decision and would have to skip Bovington this time. We have seen the pic of his dream workshop and all realize that his priorities are spot on. Whereas he will be sorely missed, we will bring the action to him and our fellow RCtankwarfare tankers, vicariously, via this forum. I've never done or read "Twitter" but we will try to bring you the story of three "Yanks" from the Colonies traveling abroad to see a rare piece of a German war machine that the British have preserved and revived to its former glory. We three also look forward to meeting all our tank buddies in the UK and maybe a few in Germany and France if we could be so lucky. It would be great to put faces with the names and RC forum handles. I would love to share some of what I call "Choir Practice" at a pub or restaurant with an International group of RC tankers. Perhaps we can have a Ad Hoc meeting ot the International RC tankers at this event. I also have a bunch of parts from Dave (Forgebear) that Martin has been holding for me.

So here it goes... we hope you enjoy it as it unfolds. Steve, Dennis and I will post pix and commentary as we can. I'm sure Martin and Gorehound and whomever else is attending will post as well.

Please feel free to chime it with any hints, suggestions or "Must see" sights or tanks that you can think of along the way. If you have any subjects you would like some extra detailed pix of a tank, please lets us know and we will try and accomodate your requests.

Our rough itenerary is as follows:

Thursday, Friday & Saturday: Bovington (Steve & Dennis will be there on Thursday, Maritn and I arrive on Friday)
Sunday: Portsmouth UK to Cherbourg FR
Monday: Samur then up towards Normandy
Tuesday & Wed: work our way west thru Normandy hopefully via Bastogne towards Munster (Taking in whatever we can...any hints??)
Thurs & Friday: see as much as we can including Munster before flying out of Hamburg Friday evening
Saturday: Fly out of London having checked of three things on our Bucket Lists

PS I had to rejoin this forum with a new handle since my laptop is ont he fritz and couldn't log in or contact administration. I have been very busy with the NEAD tank club I run here in the states and have been missing from here way too long. I just couldn't make this trip without reaching out to all our tank buddies in the UK & EU. Is anyone else going to Bovington this weekend for the Tiger Day???

Thanks, Bob Held NEAD CO thecommandernj
Last edited by thecommanderNJ NEAD on Thu Mar 29, 2012 6:01 am, edited 2 times in total.
thecommanderNJ NEAD
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Re: A tankers dream trip.... European Tour 2012

Post by thecommanderNJ NEAD »

UPDATE 3-28-12 11:40 PM

Steve and Dennis are airborne en route to London. I hope they both get some sleep on their overnight flight. But I stongly doubt it. I know I won't either unless it is a result of pure exhaustion. I wish them a smooth and quiet fight filles with dreams of the coming week. I'll be asleep when they arrive in the UK (about 8AM local time). I hope Steve and Dennis will pick-up the tread from there and give us a timely update.
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maxmekker
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Re: Three tankers dream trip.... European Tour 2012

Post by maxmekker »

Will follow this road trip both here and on rcu. Maybe start saving for the 2015 show off. Not so fare from Norway.
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pottsb
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Re: Three tankers dream trip.... European Tour 2012

Post by pottsb »

If the opportunity presents itself you need to get over by Sinsheim, Germany. Not far from Frankfurt/Heidelberg. Great museum if you are into tanks, aricraft or anything mechanical. Twenty years ago you couldn't have a military museum in Germany so they put all the military vehicles in "mechanical museums" with cars and trains... Haven't been to Munster yet but I doubt if it's any better than Sinsheim.
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Andy in Cheltenham
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Re: Three tankers dream trip.... European Tour 2012

Post by Andy in Cheltenham »

Makes me feel guilty for living 2 hours away.
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