Militracks German Vehicle Show 2012 (Overloon, Holland)

[earlymb]

Hi all,

the 'Militracks' German Vehicle Show will be held for the third time on May 19 & 20, 2012 at the Liberty Park Museum in Overloon, The Netherlands (about 40 km under Nijmegen). This event will feature a selection of original WW2 German vehicles in restored, fully operational condition that will drive around the off-road course about 1mile in lenght that is specially set out in the museum park.

Visitors will again get the opportunity to buy a ticket for a ride around the course in a vehicle of their choice (if available). At previous events all participating vehicles did that, and it was great fun for public and owners alike!

On both days there will also be a militaria market, and on sunday there will also be an in-door military modellers' show.

Opening hours on both days are 10.00 - 18.00; entrance is €10.00/pp per day and includes access to Militracks, the militaria market and the entire museum itself.

Participation is on invitation only, but all visitors are welcome of course! They already have a good selection of Type 166's, 82's, motorcycles and Kettenkrads, but if you have a special vehicle that you think would be something for this show drop me a line and I'll see if something can be arranged. I'm not in the organization but I do know them. The museum offers good facilities for participants.

For an impression of the past events just do a search on 'militracks' on youtube, or on this forum.

Greetz

David

[Sonnenwende]

Hi David,
went there last year - IT WAS GREAT!!!! - tried the Hetzer , SdKfz 251, SdKfz 10 , Schwimmwagen, Kettenkrad, Zündapp ks 750 ect. Missed the T34, but perhaps this year?

Also a very interesting museum you have in Overloon , of special interest (to me at least) was the knocked out Panther. And, if you´re into american armour & vehicles I cannot think of a better museum in Europe...

Thank you for arranging this exeptional event and rare opportunity for enthusiasts to see and ride so many rare german WW2 vehicles.

No complaint, but perhaps something to work on: the wait to ride in the Hetzer (and some of the other tracked vehicles) was very long (as I recall over 2 hours), and communication from the staff to the waiting visitors, of which many were foreigners, about how long it would be ect. was not very good (nonexisting), but I fully appreciate the need to cool the engines down of course.

Any idea which Panzers / Halbkettenfahrzeuge will take part in 2012?

Regards Sonnenwende

[earlymb]

Thanks for your comments!

I would like to point out though that I am not involved in the organization of this event, I just know some of the people that are, so all credit should go to them.

Regarding the waiting time for the armoured vehicles, this type of slow driving on soft soil heats the engines quite a lot and really requires them to cool down after each run, which is the reason the hoods are open on almost all pics of the vehicles parked. That combined with the fact there were only 2 drivers for 3 HT's and the Hetzer means a long waiting time. This is however something the organization has no control over; it is fully to the owner to decide which vehicle will run when.

Most people understand this if explained, so I agree the communication can improve there.

This is the official website (which I forgot to add in the first post): http://www.oorlogsmuseum.nl/militracks/

Greetz

David

[earlymb]

A (preliminary!) list of participating vehicles:

7 Zündapp KS 750
3 BMW R 75
1 DKW RT 100
1 DKW N2 350-1
12 Kettenkrad
1 Anhänger Kettenkrad
1 Motorwärmer 38 Anhänger
1 Mercedes Benz 170 V
4 Kübelwagen
3 Schwimmwagen
1 Schwimmwagen Trippel
1 Opel Olympia
1 Peugeot PKW (Wehrmacht)
3 Horch 901 Typ 40
1 Opel Blitz
1 Opel Blitz Wekstattwagen
1 Opel Blitz Feurwehrwagen Allrad
1 Ford V 3000S
2 Steyr 2000A
1 Einheitsdiesel
1 Halbkette SdKfz 250
1 Halbkette SdKfz 251
4 1-Tonner Zugmachine
1 5- Tonner Zugmachine
2 8- Tonner Zugmachine
1 Panzer Hetzer
2 Panzer 38T

There will be an official record attempt to get as many Kettenkrads driving at the same time!

[zundappuk]

There will be an official record attempt to get as many Kettenkrads driving at the same time!

All being well I will be driving one those Kettenkrads! We took the Camo Steyr 1500 last year, but have had no time to rebuild the engine.

David

[sdkfz181]

You really have to see that show its amazing !!!! I have been there to
One in a life time thing you have to do

[earlymb]

I just heard the Crompton Collection will try to take their SdKfz.250 as well, so there might be 2 of these very rare vehicles present at Mlitracks! The other one belongs to a Russian collector.

The Crompton Collection will also bring their SdKfz.251, SdKfz.7 cargo, Hetzer, VW 166 Schwimmwagen, 2 Kettenkrads and if there is enough space left a BMW or Zundapp with sidecar. The Wheatcroft Collection's Bugatti Trippel will also travel in this convoi.

A the moment there are 62 vehicles scheduled to come!

[zundappuk]

Hi David,

Not to mention the 17 Kettenkrads due to appear, it will be a record not matched for a long time!

Oh, I will be there with one of those Kettenkrads

David

[earlymb]

[Luca Ongaro]

Hope to see pictures soon
Luca

[MG-Freak]

Here is a movie of the Hetzer, driving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q-r9ZzSCHk

[Varsity]

I have had a very good show on both day's.
The Saturday was however by far the best day.

And the vehicles were just lovely
We have had a lot of fun.

Be sure you will be there next year!

Here one photo:

[Etienne B.]

I went on sunday with my wife and kids.Got a chance to ride along on the kettenrad of Willem/tarnmilitaria and to sneak in the Hetzer.

[Etienne B.]

more

[zundappuk]

I was there too.

But I took part with a Kettenkrad this year. We were part of the world record drive of 17 Kettenkrads.

Here I am off to the fuel point.
<a href="http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f274/zundappuk/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_1564.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f274/zundappuk/IMG_1564.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Then later in the day taking passengers for a 1 mile ride on the off-road track.
<a href="http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f274/zundappuk/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_1680.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f274/zundappuk/IMG_1680.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Photos courtesy of Walter Schwabe.

David.