PDA

View Full Version : Military Vehicle Transcontinental Convoy in 2009


Colin Rush
08-17-2008, 10:29 PM
I found out about this at the MVPA National Convention, and felt that this was worth posting.

In 1919, the US Army decided to plan and execute a motor convoy of various vehicles across the country, on the newly-formed Lincoln Highway. The route began at the White House in Washington, DC, and ended at Lincoln Park in San Francisco, CA. Total distance was 3250 miles, and the time was 62 days. This was the first organized convoy across the US, ever. The convoy was comprised of 81 Army vehicles with 31 officers and 258 enlisted men. Included in the vehicles were 46 trucks, 5 ambulances, 11 passenger cars, 9 motorcycles, 1 Maxwell tracked vehicle, 2 ambulance trailers, 4 kitchen trailers, 1 pontoon trailer, 1 mobile searchlight, and the MILITOR. One of the officers on this convoy was a young Lieutenant Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower. The convoy started on 7 July 1918, and ended on 6 September 1919. The average daily speed was 6 MPH, and average distance was 59 miles per day.

The MVPA is preparing for a 90th Anniversary convoy retracing the first military convoy across the United States. This new convoy could be considered a cross between the Hot Rod Power Tour and the Oregon Backcountry Discovery Trail. While the convoy will cover the entire breadth of the US, locals that wish to jump in and ride along for a portion of the trip are invited to do so. You don't have to ride the entire route, and can just drive that portion that you can budget time or money for. If you are worried about not being able to keep up, consider that everyone else will be driving vintage miltary vehicles with their own limited top speed. This should be an easy but slow drive.

The convoy will be leaving Washington, DC on 13 June 2009, and arriving in San Francisco on 8 July 2009. Along the way, a visit will be made to the Lincoln Highway Association's 2009 National Conference in South Bend, IN on 19 June 2009.

I think this could be a fun event for the BB folks who own some of the rarer military trucks.

For more information, visit the MPVA website (http://www.mvpa.org/?addr=http://www.mvpa.org/convoy/convoy.htm).

To register for this event, contact:
Rick Leenstra
MVPA 2009 Convoy
14555 Olympic View Loop Road
Silverdale, WA 98383
360-981-0109 Phone
360-698-7200 Fax
Rick Leenstra's E-mail (rick.leenstra@atsid.com)

Rob Peterson
06-07-2009, 06:45 AM
This is great stuff - Are any of you BP members participating in this event? The proposed route will be passing very near my house in Wheaton.

Theoretically, my Metro is a 'military vehicle' as it was originally owned by the USAF and still has the brass nomenclature tag above the windshield.

denubilo
07-28-2009, 05:37 PM
I talked to a guy who made the last part of the trip.
Said it was a blast an 82 year old guy rode his military Harley all the way.
There is stuff on YOUtube I on this.
Anyhow There is preliminary talk of a 2012 up the ALCAN.
I hope I have my windshield by then!!

Paul

deafdrummer
07-28-2009, 08:37 PM
If you find anything about this in the future, I might want to do something like this (hint! Paul M). Take a month off and drive across the country!

Stephanie

P.S. The older man on the motorcycle, was that Bob Harris? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu9wzpAMFVw I'm referring to the man with his helmet on up close in an interview.

I don't think that was him. It might have been Bill Kreider.

denubilo
08-08-2009, 10:38 AM
I will post anything I hear about a potential ALCAN trip here.
I am sure if anything comes up the MVPA will announce it also.
Paul