1st Mogfest at 2005 Astwood Bank Vintage Gathering
Report on 2005 Mogfest by Stuart Lamb (as originally submitted to Unimog-uk Group)
Personally speaking, I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, particularly as Unimog-uk@yahoogroups.com Group members Stephen Silvester and Andrew Sharrett joined us for Saturday and part of Sunday. Stephen brought his ex-Rolba snowcutter 411 on a trailer hauled by his very tidy 406. Andrew brought his awesome 1300L "trans-Africa" motorhome conversion. I had my newly roadworthy ex-Schmidt VF1 snowcutter 411 and my second 411 drivable chassis.
On Saturday morning I displayed the drivable chassis in the ring with the tractors. Later after a cable snapped in a display whereby a Fowler ploughing engine attempted to haul a steam roller, as a fill-in for the visitors I offered to recreate and event in early Unimog history when, on returning from the first trial in front of the American military government of Germany, they convinced them of the power and versatility of the Unimog prototype by pulling a steam roller. No such luck this time as my 411 just couldn't get sufficient traction to pull the roller slightly uphill (which had sunken into the grass) particularly as my diff locks were inoperative. Nevertheless, it gave something for the visitors to watch!
On Saturday afternoon we each drove one Mog in the display ring with the tractors, and were generally very well received. Andrew's 1300L dwarfed just about everything else! Then in the early evening Stephen and I in the 406 and Andrew and Chris in the 1300L went on a road run around the "Archers Country" of N Worcestershire ending up at the Old Bull Inn at Inkberrow (The Ambridge Bull in The Archers). On the way I led Stephen down an old byway at Moreton Underhill. It was fine at first then the vegetation got very tight. Finally, we met a fallen tree bough which, though just above cab height, butted straight up against the 406's HIAB crane. Stephen got the crane in action then lifted the bough up and over to the other side of the crane and we were underway again. It was an anxious moment for me though! We then took a circuitous route through all three fords on Bow Brook near Droitwich. Afterwards we returned to the rally for a few more beers whilst I subjected my guests to an illustrated presentation "The Unimog Story".
On Sunday Andrew left for Swindon at about 0930 with Stephen leaving for Cambridge at about 1300. Fortunately, an old friend turned-up and we were therefore able to display both my 411s in the main event of the weekend: the grand tractor parade on Sunday afternoon. This was great: two mogs in the middle of more than 100 tractors of all sizes, all packed in very close proximity.
Overall, the event seemed to go very well. The Unimogs attracted loads of interest, particularly my drivable 411 chassis which, as a static exhibit, received much close scrutiny from the mechanically-minded. As a result I got a number of offers to turn up at other rallies and, importantly, to "...bring your mog friends too"!
In conclusion, if the opportunity presents itself again next year, and I can see no reason why it won't, then I will certainly organize this meet again. I hope that we can get an even greater number of mogs present. Meanwhile, I would like to give my personal thanks to Stephen, Andrew, Chris and Simon for traveling considerable distances to be with us, and for triggering such enjoyable and informative discussions on all things Unimog.