|
| |
|
| |
| 9th June 2010 |
| Classic Car Run; and Debach |
Myself, Howard & Martin turned to at Debach airfield this morning before 0800, to man the first control for WSMC's South Suffolk Classic Run.
Debach was the home of the 493rd Bomb Group: USAAF B24's, then B17's during 1944 & 45.
Richard opened up the gates to his farmland around 0730 and let us in; now Richard White had conducted me round this airfield at speed in his MGZR a year ago when we were on CMC's Endurance, event, but it took a few moments for this realisation to crystallise into true recognition!
The work Richard and the volunteers have put in to create the most tangible experience of a wartime bomb group is wonderful, and amongst the memorable bits are...
- Nissen hut - the nursing display is excellent, and (may I say) the ARC (American Red Cross) wore the most attractive uniform you're ever likely to see.
- Hangar10 - vehicles, delightful V1 model (which rolls, rudder moves, and has sound, including that silence when the engine cut out), Anderson shelter and other displays
- Control Tower - feels like the staff have only left recently: if not days ago, certainly within the past month - the pipe rack with ash knocked into the tray, 1st floor has the map, radios, approach pattern board, and on top they've just rebuilt a glasshouse.
And to top it all, I got to drive Richard's 6wheel truck - sad to say I can't tell you any more details of the vehicle, except to say that his Plymouth Staff Car, Ambulance and the 6wheel all run the same engine.
- To start, toggle the ignition on, into neutral handbrake on, then squeeze (if you have size 12 feet) your foot above the throttle to press down the starter plunger, whilst using your heel to dab the throttle.
- Into 2nd car and pull away.
- Up into 3rd and 4th fairly quickly to hit the 45mph mark
- It's an easy double declutch to get back to 3rd, but you must leave it very late to drop into 2nd
- I can't say I was comfortable, since I just seemed to be 8" too tall for the driving position; which ties in nicely with the volunteers' observation that modern mannikins do not work in the museum since they're all too broad across the chest for the uniforms. To which I said "even Americans?" and the answer was yes, even Americans were much smaller frames than modern Europeans it would appear.
Brill Sunday, in spite of the drizzle.
Oh, and what of the classic car run?
- I have a soft spot for the V8 Aston, in spite of Emma's dislike of the styling (she still wants a 2/4)
- The Rolls Royce was intriguing, having (what I assume was) a rare short body on the chassis
- Lotus 11 replica
- Very unusual early '60's 2dr Morris Minor, with 3 wiper blades and some other "differences"
- Blue P1800ES complete with gorgeous wolf hound! Even 200m away, tethered to the control tower it looked like a small pony.
Time to go for dinner...
|
|
|
|
