CorowaSwim-in.org

More Corowa History – Mitch Holland

The following is an edited reprint of a story originally written for the WW2 Jeeps NSW Newsletter – Jeep News on the 2002 Corowa Event – “The Year of the Blitz”

It’s the story on the history and participation of one particular Blitz at that event.

I originally submitted it to Jan as “rev up” for the upcoming YOB2  last March, however, left it too late.

KVE still want to print it in this issue, so … Why not!

Everyone knows what a successful, record breaking event that Corowa 2009 – (YOB2), with a great rollup of not only CMP’s, but most other popular Marques, as well. We did not make it in our Blitz, but certainly were there in a few other vehicles. We are all looking forward to 2010. See you there! - MITCH

Getting there’s, half the fun!

A personal account of the week by Mitch Holland and Anthony Shorten.

Co-Owners of Blitz No.12 of 34.

Since the inception of the “Swim – In” in 1980 as detailed in the last KVE Newsletter by Ian Grieve, interest in the event, simply known as “Corowa” has grown steadily to become the biggest single gathering on an annual basis held in Australia for Military Vehicles.

Since 2002, the event has had themes to highlight a particular marque or vehicle type. In that initial year, the organisers hoped to gather the largest gathering of Blitz vehicles, officially known as Canadian Military Pattern, (CMP), trucks. Over 350,000 units were produced and or assembled worldwide in many variants by both Canadian manufacturers Chevrolet and Ford. Similar in body appearance but very different in mechanicals and some body appointments, the Blitz became the backbone of many Commonwealth Countries in WW2 and then went on to serve their economies with distinction, after their Army duties for years to come in the hands of its citizens. Locally in Australia, our own vehicle plants operated by General Motors Holden and the Ford Motor Company produced and assembled a great number of them. They were used subsequently for every conceivable task that one could dream up with a motor lorry and can be found today in just about every farm or station yard in varying states of decay.

Our destiny with the event for that year started way back in 1989, when on a Simpson Desert Trip with an old 1950 Series One Landrover and a 1942 Willys Jeep, (reference story “Living in the Past” 4X4 Australia Magazine No.98 July 1990). Many a campfire dream was fuelled by discussions on the next adventure: to do the Canning Stock Route! It was thought that a bigger vehicle would be required to act as a fuel and supply truck for the smaller vehicles and wanting to keep the old banger theme, what better than an old Blitz? Plenty of spares on every farm or station remember!

We got our baby from an advert in the Trading Post later in 1989. A F15 (4X2), we thought with a few modifications could do the job we wished. Perhaps the addition of a two speed transfer case, the bigger 20 inch wheels and a front diff, possibly even an engine swap or conversion to diesel? Only once you own one and look at it a bit more closely, that these ideas are just that on a F15– dreams. Probably better to start with a 4X4 F15A variant in the first place!

History compiled from the 2002 event with the many Blitz experts on hand and prior to our travels, revealed that it was a 1943 model, locally assembled and was sold by the Australian Army sometime after military duties, when it became the Cowra Motor Garage – (NRMA depot) tow truck. Tel. No.116, as found under the Bushfire Brigade red on the drivers door. It was later sold / donated to the nearby Wyangala Dam Bushfire Brigade around 1963 and after 26 more years service with them, sold to us, when they acquired a 6X6 International fresh from the Army. We paid the Captain $1200 and drove it back to Sydney. The Fords came with a 95 horsepower side valve V8, but we learned quickly that it was no speed demon! It was so sloooow and blew off plenty of steam on the long uphills and this was a trait, well remembered in subsequent interviews with old staff of the Cowra Motor Garage. Plenty of “Beer o’clocks” on that run home!

The Canning trip never eventuated, with marriages and mortgages getting in the way and the old girl was tucked safely into a shed with the occasional local run for the next 12 years. It even survived the Christmas 2001 bushfires, however other trucks subsequently acquired for parts that were not shedded, did not. Anyway, with the 2002 Corowa event being planned it was time for a bit of work. The radiator was cleaned, new hoses and thermostat fitted, some leaking brake wheel cylinders replaced, new engine and diff oil, grease into every moving part, some wiring and addition of some old lounge cushions for padding and she was ready for the trip. Since she was still bushfire red, we became the “Gunnadoo and Sinkatinny Downs Campfire Brigade” traveling under a motto – “Have Esky, will travel!” A quick pack of our swags, camping gear, supplies and sustenance for the hot cabin conditions and some extra jerry cans for fuel, we were off.

The shakedown run was the 120 kilometres over to Wentworth Falls on the Tuesday evening preceding the main Corowa weekend, to overnight before the formal departure early the next day. The intended route was to be back roads avoiding the main highway. The Hume is boring enough, never mind at 30 MPH! May as well have dirt roads, out of the way pubs and scenery to look at. That day, we traveled via Hartley, Hampton, Oberon, Burraga, Tuena (a couple of quenching ales in the Goldfields Pub) thence Binda, Rugby to Rye Park for an overnighter with fellow Blitzer – Bay Kelly. A great meal of Chinese Spaghetti and we set off again the next morning in convoy with Bay in his F60 via Harden, Boorowa, Cootamundra, Junee, Wagga Wagga, The Rock, Pleasant Hills to Walbundrie were the lure of a fine bush pub at 5:30pm was too great to resist. It must have been “Beer o’clock!” The final 60 odd kilometres can be undertaken tomorrow, besides the Campfire Brigade had not had a formal campfire at that stage and were unlikely to get one in a Caravan Park, once in Corowa.

We arrived bright and early into Corowa on the friday morning ready for the road run out to Lake Mulwala to meet the amphibians coming down the mighty Murray. After a long “Beer o’clock in Normy Deans Mulwala Hotel, waiting for them, (they got confused in the myriad of channels that flow into the backed up waters of the lake and pulled out early), the convoy regrouped and made its way back to Corowa.

Saturday was the main day and commenced with a street parade over to Rutherglen in Victoria and back to Corowa and the official line up to count the Blitz’s for the World Record. The day ended with the Auction and formal dinner that has become legend for all future events.

Our return trip was much the same route with a few detours to other great pubs for “beer o’clock” stops. We overnighted on the Lachlan River, east of Rugby. All in all, a great trip and the old girl had no problems what so ever. For the record, we covered the 1014 miles at a max of 30 mph, got an average of 12 mpg, used 80 gallons of juice and about 1 and a ½ gallons of engine oil. (Don’t ask the quantity of Beer!!). Attending vehicles numbered 34 Blitz’s, 36 Jeeps, 3 Dodge Weapons Carrier’s, 3 GPA’s, 2 DUKW’s, 3 Landies, 1 Studebaker 6X6, 1 Marmon Herrington, 3 Inter’s, 2 WLA’s, 1 Ford 1940 Ute, 1 Dodge Power Wagon, 1 Forward control Landy, 1 austin 10 Staff Car, 1 Tojo FFR, 1 Dodge Command Car, 1 Chev Cinesound Van, 1 White Scout Car, 1 Indian, 1 Ural, 1 FWD truck and 6 trailers of various models.

A DVD of this event and all the other events since, is available from Image Control, as advertised within these Newsletters. Look out for the Campfire Brigade, who naturally attracted a lot of attention on that!