Ute repairs

Fiona has breifly touched already on the repairs required, it is now time to give a more detailed report. Max (my brother) and I have owned the ute for several years now and have done many trips with it. The ute has been in roadworthy condition and registered the whole time we have had it. Therefore, it was not anticipated that any major repairs would be needed for this trip of approximately 5000km through 7 countries in Europe. One of the first things that had to be done was to set it up for camping with a bed and canvas cover. A major expense was to fit 4 new tyres, hopefully alleviating any tyre problems on the trip. On a test run trip in November last year to Nowra's Air Show, we did encounter problems with the rear tyres not matching the rims hence further work had to be undertaken.

One of our major concerns was the brakes, having seen photos of the Simplon Pass between Italy and Switzerland. More scary than the Clyde and Brown Mountain, Kangaroo Valley and others on the east coast of Australia. This is when the real mechanical work began. Thanks to Steve (ex Air Force engineer) and his right hand side kick bush mechanic Max, the brakes were overhalled. When washing the vehicle underneath, Steve noticed that the gear box mount was broken in half, this was 2 weeks out from shipping. As a good second hand one could not be found, urgent repairs were required and undertaken. The new mount was finally fitted. Many other smaller defects were detected and rectified along the way. Now we feel comfortable that the vehicle is up to everything we are going to put in it's path when we leave Istanbul on 1st May.

Fiona is still not happy about the quality of the seat she will have to travel on for the trip, she asked for quality extended leg length foam with canvas cover and at least got another covering of foam, no extra leg length and vinyl covering (she will get used to it).

Warren, our cabinet maker friend, did a great job of creating the cupboard in the rear of the ute camping area. This is where the clothes and food will be stored.

Bob in our car Club did a first class job with the canvas cover & Fiona's seat.

Thanks to everyone who assisted in the preparation of the vehicle, without your help we could not have been ready in time and we hope you enjoy our updates as they occur. I promise to look after the old girl (no not Fiona) and bring her back in good shape.
John

The Vehicle has left the Country

What an upheaval to get the ute to Melbourne. At one point we were told the ship was early and we had to have it in Melbourne 5 days earlier than expected, ie 28 Feb. Unfortunately in the interim, my brother had passed away and his funeral was scheduled for 27 Feb. No way were we missing the funeral of course and I was madly packing gear in anticipation of an early shipping from Yass without John going with the vehicle. We managed to see John's Dad (Charlie) before the vehicle left Yass.

Fortunately we were then informed that the ship was on it's original timetable for loading on 3 March for sailing on 7 March. Mission achieved with much work between John and Dave Mottram.

We know the vehicle is not on the ship going through Cyclone Hamish thank goodness. I have tried to resize photos but obviously that's not working.

Will keep on trying and by the time we leave Australia all will be well.

We have begun

[Photo][Photo]

John and I are off on the trip of our lifetime. In March 2008 we learnt that some like minded people wanted to travelf rom Australia to the 65th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy. John and I looked at each other and nodded "YES" we're in. My brother David Brown did it for the 40th in 1984 and now I'm bitten by the WII military vehicle bug because of my marriage to John. We had a fair idea of the vehicle we would take with us, our 1941 Ford Utility.

Well, the organisation then began and thanks to wonderful organisers in Brisbane we have learnt about shipping, heritage clearances, export and import, customs, itineraries, containers, shipping yards, customs agents and shipping agents, ad nauseum.

John had the role of getting the vehicle ready, I had the paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, gear to take, pack, airline bookings, campervan bookings for the UK, B&B for the UK, emails, emails, pack if you get my drift.We have learnt that this vehicle is one of a kind in Australia and must be brought back to Australia and not sold overseas - rats. That could have paid for the trip. But we have given the Department of Heritage and Arts our promise it will come back, unlike others on the trip.When preparing the vehicle,

John created a bed base for a most comfortable inner spring mattress to sit on top, a cupboard inside the tray at the back and brackets for the fridge to sit in. Oops, sorry about the dolly bird in the left side of the picture and will try and place pictures where they should go later. Anyway, then John decided to do a great big steam clean on the engine block and found the next problem, 2 weeks out from shipping. the gear box housing was busted!! along with other issues. Thanks Fiona for running around bearing and engineering places in Canberra!!

This program isn't letting me add any other images at this time so will continue.

Cheers
Fiona