What is this event
about ?
This US vehicles
convoy is an initiative of BMVT group. However this is not a re-enactment
event with an organized convoy at pre-defined time schedule.
Participants were free to start and to come back whenever they wanted
provided they completed the itinerary.
This event must be compared
with an old cars rally, participants had
a road book to be fulfilled at their own pace.
After the morning
ride in the neighbourhood of Houffalize, a visit of the Museum
of the "Battle of the Bulge" - Clervaux (Luxembourg) has
been organised, then the ride could keep going on.
The following day
a new ride took place.
The Belgian Military
Vehicle
Trust
This Belgian Group is focused on the restoration of military vehicles.
The BMVT has an official
website, however more information about the Winter Rally were found
here.
The BMVT (webmaster) can be contacted here
Location
Event address:
1, Ol Fosse d'Outh
6660 HOUFFALIZE
From E25 highway
from Liège:
Take exit 51 "Houffalize"
From "Houffalize" Just
follow the "BMVT" arrows.
Coming by car is
mandatory due to the location of the event.
Your GPS will display that the
hotel is located on a one way road.
Key contact person
to get additional information is:
André WITMEUR (phone
nr 04/379-73-25)
Personal note
The Jeep ride on
Saturday was an interesting experience.
I was lucky enough to meet two
old friends from Mons, one of them being owner of a Jeep so that I was
allowed to occupy the rear seat during the convoy.
We all ate (even pancakes cooked "on real time") in the middle of the
forest and had a drink with our French comrade in arms (they discovered
the famous Belgian beers while I was -also- drinking fish soup). We
crossed the city of Houffalize where we saw the famous Panther of the
116th German Panzer Division.
I had already visited the Clervaux "Battle of the Bulge" museum and
no changes were observed since its last visit in 2007.
Unfortunately
a few vehicles got technical problems at the end of the day.
We came back
to the camp in the dark at 19.00 PM.
The next day was another jeep ride, thx to the roadbook all vehicles
gathered in the middle of another forest where we ate hot meat
-once again thx to the generosity of Frenchies who had all food supplies on
board of their GMC). There was a big puddle at the forest entrance,
many drivers used this water area to wash their vehicles by driving
at
fast speed. This was a great opportunity to make photos.
I also discovered
the M 38 US Jeep with black leather seats.
I had just one regret: the absence of MPs regulating traffic prevented
me from making photos of each participating vehicle but this was due
to the nature of the event (free ride based
on roadbook) instructions). However this was a great experience and an
opportunity to meet new people.
