Full Monty Day - 30th September 2006

On the Friday before the big day things looked bleak, it chucked it down all day puddles became ponds and I knew it would be tough on the vehicles especially the Hagglunds. We had knackered the the auto gearboxes on two, on the previous event with Volkswagen and they had just come back from reconditioning with a bill that would choke a donkey. Nigel the coke monster with the help of Wayne the mars bar kid had done his magic and had managed to get them sorted, we were back to five again.

The big day arrived and all the people started arriving form all over the country must have been 150, some even the night before in caravans camping in the paddock, 6 vans in total, the word got round amongst the lads pikeys had moved in through the night SAS Colin ran of to find his explosives box so I thought it best to come clean and no one got nuked.

The sun came out for registration and the day soon got on its way loads of kids everywhere but luckily kept on a short rope by t! he mums. As always, the atmosphere was electric with big smiles everywhere and the ground was so wet the Hagglunds did fine, we never got that thick porridge like mud that just clogs them up, although we did have a little excitement when one young lady who will remain nameless managed to tip the front pod over at Margaret corner the tricky trench turn, but no harm done to crew or machine.

All the Abbotts, Lances and 432's handled the mud well and steamed round the courses all day with no problems, we had prepared 20 expecting to burn through machines big time ,but the reserves just weren’t needed another feather in Nigel the coke monsters beret. Some of the punters even recognised him from his television debut the previous morning on sky sports crushing hockey sticks with our chieftain! I'm hopeful we get a few more in his fan club (, Cheques made payable to TANKSALOT for £500 care of Coke Cola UK)

The day was won by a LEO CAO a modest chap who had alrea! dy taken his muddy overalls of before the debrief, now that did’nt impress his girlfriend. There was also much excitement amongst the instructors about the fast approaching nudie girl glamour shoot on the 14th of oct , a great opportunity for them to finally get to the bottom of this problem they have distinguishing the differences between men and girls, SAS Colin and my self keep explaining. the guys with the bumps on their chests are girls.

Which reminds me about our new instructor Zara, barking mad, rang me a week ago about taking her H licence and buying a tank to go to work in, people used to laugh at me when I bought my first tank, they don't laugh now. So along she came, drove like an expert and she is now on the next H test, confident she will keep our 100% pass rate. Soon got the hang of instructing on the 432 and Abbott and settled in real well with the lads god knows what they would think if they knew she was a girl not a guy with a powerful chest!!