Issaquah, WA April 13 SUNDAY:All mil vehicles invited.Triple-X Rootbeer Drive-In

[JH1]

This show is being put together by the North Cascades Military Vehicle Collectors www.ncmvcc.org We are a loosely bound bunch of collectors in the Seattle-Everett area (no set boundaries, though) who get together and put on displays or participate in parades.

Here we go again with a new season. First event in the area, this year.
Jose, the owner of the Triple-X Rootbeer Drive-In in Issaquah has
classic car clubs do shows at his restaurant every single weekend from
spring to fall. We are unique in that we are the only military vehicle
show in the whole lineup for the year. This show is for all eras of
military vehicles of any kind. Whatever you have; bring it. In fact,
wear period-appropriate uniforms to match the vehicles if you like!
Everyone always has a ball at this show. We won't know the weather of
course, but I can tell you that even in a downpour, we have lots of fun.
Been there; done that. Please be in place by 0900 and plan to stay until
2pm. For safety reasons, we prefer not to be moving vehicles once the
show starts.

The website for the Triple-X restaurant is http://triplexrootbeer.com/
Take a look at how extensive this thing is. All that is required to
bring in your vehicle is a current proof of insurance card. This is
Jose's request and it's imperative that we honor that. We will be
checking for them before you enter the parking lot.

Food: Oh man...... Best burgers, anywhere! Come hungry. Check out their
menu on the website http://triplexrootbeer.com/

If you are planning bringing a vehicle to the show, I would like to know
about it if possible. That helps organize the show, but it's not
essential. If you need to just show up unannounced, that's ok, too.

If your vehicle isn't totally museum-quality, that's ok. Bring it
anyway. Works in progress are good, too. If your vehicle is more of a
stylized military machine, that's fine. This is a fun show, not a test
of minute details of historical accuracy.

Ladies and gentlemen, START YOUR ENGINES!

Jim

 

[Storm 51]

I'll be there, Jim with the M-37. What is the earliest we can show up?

Storm 51

 

[JH1]

You can show up as early as you like, but if you go rolling in there in there before daybreak, some cop may ask you what you're up to. I know you like to travel when there's no traffic on the roads.

 

[JH1]

The weather forecast is cautiously optimistic for this Sunday the 13th at the Triple-X Drive-In in Issaquah. I have heard from several people now that are coming. A group of WW2 Jeep guys says they will have 10 Jeeps show up. There are 2 beautiful M37s, an armoured Saracen APC, a self propelled Abbot with 105mm gun on it, an M3 Scout car, even more WW2 Jeeps, Deuces, hopefully a halftrack, a Russian Ural motorcycle with sidecar, a CUCV ambulance, a M915 line haul tractor, and others.

You can visit the Triple-X Rootbeer site at http://triplexrootbeer.com/ to see pictures. This is the number one place for classic cars to display in the whole Northwest. They have classic car shows there every single weekend, from spring to fall, and this show is the only one featuring classic (and current) military vehicles. We are occupying a very special slot in their schedule, so let's make this one rock!
See you all there.

North Cascades Military Vehicle Collectors
http://ncmvcc.org/

 

[JH1]

Weather report is on our side. Full blown nice day! Even have a day or to on each side of the event that are sunny and dry. That means we have a good chance. Come hungry. Triple-X burgers are huge!
See you all there.
Jim

 

[JH1]

Here is a short video slide show of the event. It will be edited shortly. A couple of vehicles didn't show up in the video. Thanks to all who attended! It was a blast! Look for the same event next year at about the same time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1XmL_QzIdU This is a revised video from the one first published.
Jim

 

[REDROCKET]

This was a fun event and we couldn't have asked for better weather!

 

[hwcurtice]

That was great seeing so much history on wheels.

Still, what was the black 6x6 APC? Isn't there a real designation for it?

 

[JH1]

Thanks for attending, guys. The black APC is a British Saracen FV603 built in 1953. It has a Rolls Royce straight-8 gas engine in it. Weighs 10 tons. 6X6. First two sets of wheels steer. The Saracen, one of the M37 trucks, and the Abbot self propelled gun will be on display at the Washington Arms Collectors gun show in Puyallup, this weekend. There will also be a WW2 White M3 Scout Car and a 1942 Harley Davidson at the show. C'mon down! And look for us all again at the Triple-X next year, about the same time.
Jim

 

[hwcurtice]

I kinda figured it was British, considering the axles. Needs tires in the middle real bad...

Going to be at the WAC Show this weekend, most likely on Saturday.

 

[JH1]

Yes, it does need middle tires. A previous owner did some work on it and forgot to realign the wheels, so they dragged badly for a while. Interesting steering mechanism. The rear tires are fixed in place. The front tires steer as you would expect. The middle tires are controlled by a bar linked to the front tires, but that bar pivots 2/3 of the way back from the front tires, making the middle tires steer half as much as the fronts do. For instance, if the front of the bar moves an inch, the rear of the bar moves a half inch, and so on.

 

[datadawg]

Yes, it does need middle tires. A previous owner did some work on it and forgot to realign the wheels, so they dragged badly for a while. Interesting steering mechanism. The rear tires are fixed in place. The front tires steer as you would expect. The middle tires are controlled by a bar linked to the front tires, but that bar pivots 2/3 of the way back from the front tires, making the middle tires steer half as much as the fronts do. For instance, if the front of the bar moves an inch, the rear of the bar moves a half inch, and so on.

This steering linkage is engineered this way b/c if you imagine the vehicle doing a 360 degree turn, the front tires of the vehicle move across a larger diameter circle relative the middle wheels. So the fronts need to turn a greater angle in order to keep the turning circle uniform. The driveline uses output shafts, which run to each wheel station. As the shafts rotate, they transfer rotational energy to each wheel station via bevel boxes on each wheel. Essentially, all the wheels rotate in synch. There is therefore no differential (interior wheel rotates with same rpm as outer wheel in a turn). This causes stress on the driveline that must be relieved every so often, but it also makes the Saracen go through mud like it's driving on gravel. All six wheels are powered and there is no slip from the differential. To relieve stress on driveline, you have to go off road every once in a while.