Historical information
Jean-Louis
Claessens is owner of a dodge WC 62
of 28 years old, many miles have been done
in Belgium, France (3 times Normandy), Great Britain, …
The vehicle has been completely refurbished in 2005. In 2006 his spouse
and his children have offered him for his 50 years old birthday
a nice gift: a Harley WLC from 1942 which has been operational from May
1st, 2008.
What is the origin of the Dodge Company ?
A couple
of friends (three people being the "CORE" units) used to meet other
friends but -as time went by- they soon lost contact with some of them
and their old military
vehicles
were
not
used
anymore
(worse, for
some of them vehicles have been even sold).
Why precisely Dodge
Company name ?
Each member of the "CORE" group owned a Dodge and they all shared the
same passion for fixing old mlilitary vehicles.
It all began in 2002 at "Masnuy Saint Jean", also named
"Bruyère Saint Pierre" part of the municipality of Jurbise.
There with the help of Mr André Druart and thanks
to his infrastructure put at their disposal,
the gathering of old military vehicles from WW2 could have been prepared
and finally drawn up.
Celine one of Mr
Claessens' daughters met Geoffrey Mahieu who became -along the years-
his right arm. He became even more passionnate than the organisation
founder himself so that Goeffrey managed to get his own father Rudy
Mahieu part of the association (Rudy is by the way a colleague of Jean-Louis,
a train driver). As a matter of fact the Dodge Company is a family
association.
The very first year
the association began with 6 vehicles,
now (in 2008) at the sixth year, the association counts 37 véhicles.
More and more friends and passionnate people join the team.
All of this would
not have been possible without the support of the spouses and children
who are all present during the preparation period (often many
months) and during "D-Day".
.The
Dodge Company also participates to other events organized by other
"sister companies", restoration associations of WW2 vehicles.
Location information
Rendez-vous for "base camp" had been given at the Municipality
hall and Police Department of Jurbise city.
Jurbise is located 12 kilometers away from Mons city where the famous Tanks
in Town activitiers are organized.
Itinerary June 28 and 29, 2008 |
JURBISE Rue de Soignies
Rue des Hauts Arbres
Rue de Ramson G.
Chemin de Soignies
Rue Lieutenant de ST Martin
Rue des Masny
Rue pietenvau
Rue du bois du rillas.
|
SOIGNIES Chemin de la brulotte
Rue de la gagge
Rue reine de Hongrie
Rue du château
Rue de la roche
Chemin de la barrière de Gottignies.
|
LE ROEULX Rue de la reine
Rue perleco
Chaussée de Soignies
Rue des Ecaussines
Rue petite Hollande
Rue Beghin J.
Rue Polart Léon
Rue des déportés
Rue Ferreau L.
Rue Blondiau H
Chemin ferme de la Planque ECAUSSINNES
On rentre sur le territoire de la commune par la
Rue du Pont Louvy
Chemin de terre vers le lieu dit "Delcourt"
Hameau de Malon Fontaine vers
Rue Plume-Cocq
Rue du Tunnel
Rue Arthur Pouplier
Place Cousin
PARKING during the visit of the Museum of Remembrance of the
Wars 1914-18 and 1940-45 - Ecaussinnes
Then, itinerary leading us to dinner:
POLYVALENT HALL
or
the PLAINE DE JEUX
|
MARCHE
LES ECAUSSINNES Plaine de Jeux
Rue de Nivelles
Rue Emile Vandervelde
Rue du Brabant
Rue de Familleureux
Chaussée de la Résistance
|
SENEFFE
FAMILLEUREUX Bois de la Rengaine
Rue de la Résistance
Rue de Courriére
Rue Aveau
Rue de la Station
Rue de Manage
|
MANAGE Rue du Long Tri
Rue Ste Catherine
Rue Delfosse
Grand Rue
Avenue de Landrecies
Avenue de Scailmont
Rue Delval
Rue de Longsart
Rue du Traineau
|
SENEFFE Rue du Rivage
Rue de la Marlette
Rue de Soudromont
Rue du Pont de l’Origine
Pont de l’Origine
Rue du Bois Roulez
Rue Lucien Plasman
Rue de Courcelles
Rue Félix Laurent
Rue du Rossignol
Rue de Courcelles
Rue Infante Isabelle
Rue des Roquettes
Rue de Renissart
Rue de Rosseignies
|
PETIT ROEULX Rue de Scoumont
Rue Grinfaux
Avenue de Petit Roeulx
|
ARQUENNES Chaussée
de Nivelles
Rue du Bon Conseil
Rue Omer Leon et avenue du vignoble
|
FELUY Rue de la samme et cour maitre paul
Rue du Petit Moulin
Grand rue de Feluy
Rue Victor Rousseau
Rue St Georges
Chemin Boullouffe
Chemin de la Tourette
Chaussée de Familleureux
Chemin Vert
Route Baccara
|
ECAUSSINNES Rue de Nivelles
Chemin de terre au lieu dit " La Guellerie"
Rue de l'Espinette
Rue de Scouflény
Rue des Stations
Rue J.Boulle
Rue de la Grande Ronce
Rue du Moulin
Boulevard de la Sennette
Rue Beaugrand
Rue des Carrières de l’Avedelle
Rue Noires Terres
Rue de Mons
Rue Delcourt
Rue Pont Louvy
|
Contact persons
Kek contact persons part of
the CORE team are:
Personal note
I was aware of this outing
thanks to the owner of the Museum
of Remembrance of the Wars 1914-18 and 1940-45 located in
Ecaussinnes (I shall never thank him enough). His museum was BTW visited
just before the dinner pause.
I asked Jean-Louis the permission to participate in exchange of a photo
reportage. I joined the adventure with enthusiasm since I wanted to visit
this "living museum".
The event was organised professionally, administrative, safety and logistical
aspects were properly taken care of (all authorizations from municipalities
crossed
by the vehicles were obtained, the motorcycles
blocked the circulation
everywhere and especially at roundabouts, and food was supplied three
times a day in exchange of small participation fees).
We were lucky with the weather
and the Dodge Company was applauded by the enthusiast civilians all
along the itinerary...
The circuit had an adequate level of variety (municipalities, forests,
small villages, ...) and a few pauses were provided to take some well
deserved rest.
The convoy remained cohesive and no straggler had to be waited for. Hopefully
there was no technical incident or anyone injured.
The second day a militaria
market was present at the base camp.
An event that deserves to be renewed...
Multiple cameramen were in action and their photos stand on this
website at different locations:
