I have received an e-mail from J-C Fillon, President of the French Federation
of MVCG and here is a (loose) translation of what I got: it applies to the
French MVC groups only, and I will try to get more info from MVT and others
later...
For the MVCG (France)
Camping site in VIERVILLE-sur-MER, Just above Omaha Beach, on a spot which was
a German AA battery. 420 registered participants.
June 4th and 5th: Welcome the participants Saturnay night 8:00pm: dinner and
party with orchestra on the theme: "the shortest night"...:)
June 6th: 6:30 am: Ceremony on the beach (walking access only). Coffe and
sandwiches served at 8:00am... I think the official French Government ceremony
will be held in the afternoon. At 10:00am, convoy movement of 200 vehicles
towards BAYEUX. The French contingent will then be joined by 50 english
vehicles and 30 Italian vehicles and parade through town from 2:30pm to
5:30pm.
June 7th: morning is open. Afternoon is dedicated to veterans of the 29th
("Blue & Gray"), with the operation "Liberty Cabs", where Jeeps will take vets
to places where they fought. 50 are expected. "Colonel Rudder" boat will take
65 people on board.
June 8th: morning open. from 3pm to 11pm(?) Friendship Commando for 100
vevicles invited by the city of ISIGNY with dinner and concert by a US Army
band (Kosovo permitting).
June 9th: all day: militaria swap meet at VIERVILLE, in a farm and open doors
to the MVCG camp. Dinner for the French contingent.
June 10th: one or more "small convoys" towards OUISTREHAM and CAEN. Tours
organized and guided by MVCG Normandy. back to the camp at 7:45pm for the
closing dinner.
Ok, guys, this is what I hacve so far... These things start on a formal note,
always, but when you are there, co-mingling is much easier than it looks...
I hope someone will have additional info from the MVT and the other groups.
Convoys of Vehicles in city streets will be more regulated by the French
Gendarmes than in the past, due to the "unfortunate encounter" between a
Sherman Tank (MVT, I think? someone correct me If I am wrong) and a city
sidewalk 5 years ago...
That's all for now... I will be camping at the VIERVILLE location in a platoon
tent shared with my fellow Harley riders. Our spot is easily recognizable by
the bikes parked inside a roped-off perimeter with a "Military Police"
sign...
I am still waiting to hear more about my Willys Jeep. Latest news is that it
starts OK, but runs on three cyclinders, anywhere past idle, or very slow
speed, with no acceleration. also apparently one of the valves makes a really
strange noise: maybe it is a valve spring broken? Any suggestions? I don't
know
aboutthe roadworthiness of the brakes. Humidity out there has shown that very
often I have to change the wheel cyclinders which inside gets too corroded for
the rubber cups to work properly...
I have had several bona-fide enquiries about the Jeep. I am asking Interested
parties
to find their answers here, until further notice, and until we are able to
determine whether this whole idea is workable or just too complicated...
The last thing I need is to have to deal "on the spot" in Normandy with
mechanical problems when all I want to do for a week is to ride with my pals
that I have not seen in 5 years...
On the other hand, if all can be fixed, and if I feel comfortable with a
potential "taker" then, why not? this Jeep needs to be driven! I just don't
want to deal with it on the day!
Regards to all
Antoine
I will post pictures of the jeep in the near future on:
http://www.freehomepages.com/antoine/
for the moment it only has pics of my Harley 42XA.
Antoine
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