9/20/2010 The Dixie Division is going to Talledega for the Fall Race!!!! 

OK, here it is, an opportunity for us to have a whole lot of fun.  The following e-mail describes what we need to do in order to participate in one of the biggest sporting events held in the US.  The Dixie Division is going to Talledega for the Fall Race!!!!  This is on October 31,2010 starting at 1300hrs (1:00pm) CST.  We will probably need to start arriving 0700-0800 hrs at the latest

Please read the following e-mail from Brent and send me your information ASAP.  One very important issue is that of leaking fluids.  Your vehicle can have NO leaks of any type.  The differentials, transmission, steering boxes and oil pan must be clean and dry.  Let's all get busy and take care of these maintenance issues and be ready for this major opportunity for our club and hobby. 

Let me know if you have other persons you would like to invite to bring their vehicle(s).

If you are interested in helping coordinate this event it would be a big help.  Ideally we will have a coordinator from at least north and south areas, but I will let you know as this develops.

This is a fantastic opportunity for us to have a lot of fun and be part of something really big.  I hope each of you will be able to bring your MV but if you don't have one road worthy or leak free, then work it out to come with someone else as a passenger.  Also, if you have room in your vehicle, please invite and bring local veterans with you.

I look forward to seeing EVERYONE at Talledaga!

7/8/2009 Transcontinental Motor Convoy 2009 UPDATE

Sonny Heath, Steve Stevenson, and Lamar and Jewell Roland have all completed the Transcontinental Motor Convoy 2009 in San Francisco California.  They were escorted through a great reception by no less than 32 Police Motorcycles!  Congratulations to each of you and thank you for representing the Dixie Division as members of the TMC 2009..

This is a tremendous personal achievement for these folks but they also represented the Dixie Division handsomely with their willingness and desire to take on this challenge, beiing active members and assisting with the convoy duties and having the "Can Do" attitudes to pursuit this adventure.  Julia and I were fortunate to be able to make the first part of the trip from Washington DC to Cedar Rapids, Iowa and had an experience of a lifetime.  We can only imagine what the rest of the trip was like as the Convoy travelled across the Western U.S.  We look forward to hearing first-hand what all happened when these guys get back.

When you get a chance give these guys a call since they still have several weeks of travelling before they get home and I know they would love to hear from each of you.

Steve Stevenson  205.602.5124
Sonny Heath        850.830.4905
Lamar and Jewell Roland   334.313.6040

6/25/2009 Transcontinental Motor Convoy 2009 UPDATE

The Transcontinental Military Convoy 2009 continues to move west!  My daughter Julia and I went with them from Washington DC to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  We have returned to Auburn under power and a bit warm from the rapid increase in temperature as we travelled south.

What a great adventure we had with everyone involved with the Convoy as well as all the wonderful people we met along the way.  If you haven't kept up with this event, please logon to www.mvpa.org and click on the 2009 convoy tab for updates on what is happening.  Lamar and Jewell Roland, Steve Stevenson, and Sonny Heath of the Dixie Division are still continuiing westward to San Fransisco, California.

The sights and experiences are unlike anything we expected.  I will not do this justice in an e-mail but I can assure you that the Americans we came in contact with are full of patriotic spirit, national pride, and are looking for our country to continue to be a world leader.  Their eagerness to meet the convoy, even though we were very late some days, give us words of encouragement, and displaying all types of patriotic gesture(flags, drapes, music,etc.)was humbling to say the least.

When we started out on this trip from Washington,DC across America, many of us discussed how we could get the message of this trip honoring our soldiers, veterans, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice across to the public.  We were naive to say the least.  The people we met across America showed us that they understood our mission, were appreciative of our efforts, and most earnestly conveyed to us that they believe in America and what we stand for.  Personally I was not prepared for their response to us and our efforts.

East Palestine, Ohio is a small rural community at the Pennsylvania border.  When we arrived there was a nice reception in town with a large flag flying from the fire departments' ladder truck and people along the streets with flags and signs.  We headed up a hill to the town park where it appeared that several thousand local people were there waving, shouting, and ready for us to park so they could talk with us and see our vehicles.  What a reception!!  They provided a feast for us to enjoy for lunch, and had an aerial demonstration with two vintage bi-planes while we were there.  After we formed the convoy up to leave our Terry Shelswell, Convoy Commander, stated it simply "Wow!  What did we do to deserve that?".

In Lowden, Iowa we made our way through town to moms and dads waving flags, boys saluting us, little girls with their dolls waving shyly.  We passed the last main street and started easing up a slight hill towards the town cemetery on the dirt road much like the original Lincoln Highway.  We could see the flags flying from town.  Small American flags at the graves of the towns veterans, American flags in the hands of the local veterans waving as we approached, and the large red, white and blue American flags on 20 foot poles that soared above their quaint cemetery, blowing in the breeze, majestic in the messages they conveyed to each of us.

This is not only a great adventure that we participated in crossing America, it has been a reawakening of appreciation for what our country is about and the common values we share.  America is OK.  We are going to continue to lead our world.

God Bless America.

Johnny and Julia

4/06/2009 - Successful Gulf Coast Rally 2009

  We had an outstanding event in Mobile this weekend at Battleship Park.  Many thanks to Jeff Smith for his hard work in preparing for this event.  Jeff once again put together a great event and we had a great response from members of the Dixie Division, Mississippi Coast Watchers, Deep South, First Florida, and the new kids on the block from Loisianna, Military Motors Museum, founded by Sean Carrigan.  Thanks to everyone for their efforts in attending this event and for spending their time and money to make this successful.

   We had 20 vendors who provided a wide range of goods, services, and advice on many aspects of our hobby.  It was great to see familiar faces again at our show with special thanks to David of WeeBee Webbing and Kevin of Star Electric Ordnance for making the long southern trek to join us.

   There were also 20 various military vehicles on display including a wide assortment of jeeps of various types, military mule, Vietnam Dulce gun truck, halftrack with a quad .50 mount in it, and High Speed tractor.  Thanks to all of these collectors for their willingness to bring their equipment to our show.  We also had a WWII display tent set up compete with reenactors that certainly gave an added dimension to our rally.

   Again many thanks to everyone who attended the show and to those who made sure the show was prepared to be a success.  We have several area shows coming up, please check EVENTS PAGE for info on these events.  I look forward to seeing each of you at our next "major" event which is at Tannehill State Park the first Saturday in November, 7 November 2009.

Thanks,

Johnny Lawrence

MVPA ANNUAL CONVENTION

Evansville, Indiana - August 6-8, 2009

DOWNLOADS: Convention Flyer - Inside Vendor Layout - Outside Vendor Layout

INFORMATION: Meals and Tours - Vehicle Registration

PLEASE NOTE: Vendors should contact MVPA HQ at 800-365-5798, 816-833-6872, email hq@mvpa.org, or fax at 816-833-5115, for up-to-date information and available locations and pricing.
Evansville, Indiana is the sight of the 2009 MVPA Convention, to be held August 6-8, with vendor setup on the 5th. Evansville has a rich history of supporting wartime efforts, on the battlefield and the homefront. It was the largest inland producer of the Landing Ship Tanks (LST) and is now home to the only operational LST. The Evansville community also produced .45 caliber ammunition, the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter and is now home to the largest VFW post membership in the world. Come to the MVPA Convention and take a voyage on the LST 325, or a tour filled with the area's wartime history. CLICK HERE for registration.

The 34th Annual MVPA Convention will be held at the Vanderburgh 4-H Center& Fairground, located at 201 E Boonville-New Harmony Road. This is an outdoor event that will allow us to put our MVs into action, at the Doughboy Arena and the Convoy through Downtown. The entire fairgrounds will be ours for the event, affording us ample parking and multiple concessions, all within easy walking distance of the swap meet and vehicle displays. We have 13,960 sq ft of inside air-conditioned vendor space, 22,800 sq ft of covered vendor and vehicle space, plus additional blacktop and grass vendor spaces. We also have a living history encampment area, where reenactors are invited to set up displays and share their history. The Seminars & Meetings, BBQ & Auction, Awards Banquet & Dance, will be held in air-conditioned buildings at the fairgrounds. For your convenience and comfort a tram will circle the fairgrounds and a motor coach will continually shuttle between the Marriott (host) Hotel, Holiday Inn (overflow host hotel), LST325 and Fairgrounds.

Amphib USA 2009 will follow the MVPA Convention: One of the first and most exciting events for military vehicle owners will be the opportunity to load your vehicle on the LST 325, which will be beached on the Ohio River. In addition, the Captain and crew have full intentions of loading DUKW's and other amphibious vehicles while at sea (Ohio River). Amphibious vehicles will continue with other activities including daily swims to local sights, lunches, and evening gatherings. Event details and registration form are available on the LST website under upcoming events at www.lstmemorial.org or the Evansville MVPA chapter website www.rivercitythunderboltmvcc.com or call Kenny Adams at (937) 418-7000.

Click here for more information...