ED4 Trip report - Military Vehicle Technology Foundation March 17thGÇÖs ED4 excursion to the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation was awesome. Carol and I rendezvoused with the club at the Alpine Inn in Menlo Park shortly before 10. The group waited a short while here to see if any last minute stragglers would roll in, then Dirk, our Trail Boss, gave the order to roll out.
We headed up to the MVTF in our small convoy and after a short drive, less then 15 minutes, made it to the main gate of the facility. Once inside, our first stop was the main workshop/garage for the facility where our tour guide, Michael Green laid down the ground rules for the tour, and introduced us to Keith Boles, one of the full time mechanics on the premises.
The workshop is loaded wall to wall with the machinery and tools that are used to restore the vehicles in the collection. An example of the impressive tools on-site would be the 15 Ton hoist used to raise & lower the heavy tank turrets. One of the tanks currently being restored in the workshop was a WWII German Panther tank that was recovered from a river in Poland.
After our tour of the workshop we followed our guide down to the parking area for buildings A-C. We started in building A which by itself would have been worth the trip for the USM3A1 Scout Car alone. Picture a display of 15 + fully restored fighting vehicles assembled in one large display area GÇô awe inspiring. Here are some of the other mechanized vehicles in building A: US Sherman US M3A1 Soviet T34 / 85
The next part of our tour took us to building B. We didnGÇÖt need to drive as buildings A through C are all connected. Once through the door you are treated to an even larger assortment of items ranging from tank engines to shoulder fired anti tank weapons to a humongous Soviet scud missile launcher. Among the items in this building that I got a kick out of were the German Kubelwagen, which is essentially the 4×4 predecessor to the Thing and a Schwimwagen, which is a small amphibious vehicle that has more character then any sandrail or 4×4 sold today. Also on display here is the large German transport vehicle driven by Lee Marvin at the end of The Dirty Dozen.
Next we moved on to the final building for our tour, building C. By this time Mr. Green was accompanied by a feline assistant that resides at the facility. This building was very similar in layout to Building A except for the inventory. Some of the items here that intrigued me were a large armored tank recovery vehicle nicknamed GÇ£Haulin AssGÇ¥, a GBR anti-aircraft rocket launching vehicle called the Rapier (this was the catGÇÖs favorite), and a 60GÇÖs era British Chieftain Mk 6 Main Battle Tank that was fitted with a large bulldozer attachment.
After finishing up with thanking our tour guide the club regrouped back at the Alpine Inn. Carol & I really had a great time and would like to thank Dirk once again for being trail boss on this run. Richard Young
Notes:
Web Link = http://www.milvehtechfound.com
Trail Boss = Dirk Martin
Special Note: Our tour guide Michael Green is an author that has written several books on tanks and other military vehicles