Back to the Track

I am setting off next week from Brisbane to go to Alice Springs for the 75th Anniversary of the end of WW2 Convoy (should have been last year but covid!)

Unfortunately the idiot politicians are madly closing State borders so looks like I am forced to go on that boring drive up through Mount Isa and Tennant Creek then south to Alice Springs (and return from Darwin the same way) instead of the more interesting Broken Hill/Port Augusta route. Of course the Plenty Highway through Boulia cuts off a huge amount but my little camper trailer would fall apart on the corrugations.

There are about 150 restored WW2 vehicles travelling to Darwin including many trucks.

Here is the event link www.backtothetrack2021.com/

I will do regular updates with photos as it will be the slowest convoy ever taking two weeks to get from Alice to Darwin but with something happening every day. Departing Alice Springs 01 August.

My old mate Sam Scholz from Childers got there yesterday after a long slow trip in his 1943 Diamond T wrecker. Looks like he has put it on 1100 singles to try to gear it up a bit (and save his very expensive original pattern 9.00 bar treads for show) Everybody is camping at the Transport Museum and they have the early birds cleaning up the place and a couple of restorations being completed.

Bev and I will be in our 1940 Chevrolet staff car.


We will be traveling with John Neate from Brisbane in his genuine ex-army early Chev (with a V6 motor!) Sorry about John's blurry photo.


Lang

I see from the list we have 4 of these International K5 semi trailers coming.


And a few more on their way to the start taken from the Back to the Track event Facebook page.


This is the current list of vehicles. Most are on the road at the moment coming from all over Australia heading for Alice Springs.

4 x Motorcycles (3 X 1942 WLA Harley and 1942 Indian Chief)

3 x 1942 Slat Grill Willys Jeeps MB

27 x 1942-1945 Willys MB Jeeps

31 x 1942 – 1945 Ford GPW Jeeps

1 x 1943 Ford Amphibious Jeep - GPA

3 x 1942 International K5 Prime Movers with single axle semi-trailers

1 x 1942 International K3 Truck

1 x 1941 North South Ford Prime Mover with single axle semi-trailers

1 x Chevrolet Gun Tractor towing Limber and QF 25 Pdr cannon

1 x 1945 General Motors C60X Blitz 6x6 Truck

2 x 1942 Chevrolet Lend Lease Truck

6 x 1944 Studebaker US6 G.S.Trucks

1 x 1942 Yankee Joe G.S. Truck

1 x 1943 Diamond T 969 Tank Transporter

1 x FWD HARI Cargo Truck

1 x 1943 GMC 6x6 Truck

1 x 1942 Dodge WC51 Ambulance

1 x 1941 Chevrolet CMP 305 Ambulance

1 x 1942 Chevrolet Lend Lease Truck

2 x 1940 Chevrolet 1 Tonne Truck

3 x 1941 Chevrolet C15 Blitz Trucks

2 x 1940 Chevrolet Staff Cars

2 x 1941 Chevrolet Long Range Desert Trucks

2 x 1942 Chevrolet G.S. Trucks

1 x 1942 Chevrolet Radio Van

2 x 1941 Chevrolet Maple Leaf Trucks

1 x 1942 Chevrolet 11/2 Tonne 4x4 Blitz Truck

1 x 1942 White Armoured Scout Car M3A1

1 x 1944 QL Bedford Communications Truck

1 x 1941 Ford Utility IIY

1 x 1939 Ford Roadster Utility

1 x 1941 Ford Marmon Harrington Gun Tractor

3 x 1942 Ford Blitz Trucks

4 x Ford CMP F60L Cab 12 Blitz Trucks

1 x 1942 Dodge ¾ Tonne Command Car

5 x 1942 Dodge Weapons Carrier WC52

5 x 1943 Dodge Weapons Carrier WC62

2 x 1942 Dodge ½ Tonne Trucks

1 x 1941 Dodge WC16 Radio Command Car

3 x 1942 Dodge Carry All

1 x Diamond T 980 and 1944 Workshop Trailer

​and over 30 post WW2 military moderns

​

Confirmed over 160 military vehicle participants

Enjoy the trip, send heaps of photos and I must add, I recon you and Bev will be traveling in the most comfort and style.

Lang, have you considered the Strez to Lyndhurst, then across to Coober? The Strez should be in good nick but I don't know about the last leg. I could make enquiries if you're interested.

Safe travels Lang and most of all both you and Bev enjoy the trip.

Good luk Lang

eye don't think U gunna make all the road trains etc travelling up the center very happy
with 150 vehicles dawdlin along

sounds like it gunna B a few close calls

cya

I don't think it'll be a 150 vehicle long convoy and the blokes on that route have a bit more patience and good manners than the tear-arses in Melbourne.

What an entry list! Looks like the 6X6 Reo project didn't make it as the gas trailer that belongs to it is still in my yard.

V8Iron

RE: tear-arses in Melbourne

eye'l have U kno

Eye represent th@

LOL
cya

V8

That way is good but my little Cub camper would fall apart on any off-road run like a drive across a newly mowed football oval.

Lang