As you may know, there has been a tremendous response and at the moment we already have a total of 35 Champs entered, and I know of at least another 20 who are planning to enter, so our total so far is about 55 in all. How many more can you persuade to join the fun?

With three months to go, I am hopeful that we can possibly achieve the magic total of 100 Champs in all, or at least we shall get near to this total. I was talking to another Champ enthusiast recently, and he said he thought that after the Jeep, the Champ was probably the next highest number of on type in preservation. I think he may well be right…

May I say now that whilst the area for our Champ Camp might have looked rather cramped on the Entry Form, we have been promised as much space as we need. This means that if we do achieve our entry of some 100 Champs, plus trailers, we can still have plenty of space for camping for those who wish to camp within our Champ Camp.

We have had lots of support and pledges of help. Our own Champ Camp toilets have been booked (3 male and 3 female with extra if required nearer to the time). Eddie Smith has kindly organised two 18ft x 24ft marquees, and we will erect these together to form one huge tent.

John Terrey has very kindly offered to provide the generator, lighting AND to run a barbeque each evening. Frank Robertson is arranging for tables and chairs. Please remember to "Bring and Buy" your surplus Champ-related spares and bits and pieces.

We plan to have a video running and we ask you to bring any Champ-related videos for us to run during the days.

Plans for the camp also include talk of a War Office "Driving Skills Course", which could make for a very interesting afternoon! There are also plans to erect a mast and have a working Champ Wireless and Radio presentation… more details of this soon!

Ivor Hodge is bringing his Wolseley Mudlark, Wally Duggan, curator of the Museum of Army Transport, is bringing the Nuffield Gutty- this will be on the stand of the National Army Museum for much of the time, but we plan to have a daily Champ Parade in the Arena, and plans this to be leade each day by the Gutty and the Mudlark as the Champ prototypes. There were only 2 Gutty prototypes, so this is a VERY rare appearance, and it is possibly the first time that the Gutty and the Mudlark will have ever been in the same field together. Do not forget to bring your camera and your video camera!

Malcolm Scott is bringing his rare civilian Champ and we are very fortunate to have the Champ Fire Engine which belongs to the National Fire Service Collection. This has been very extensively restored over the past three years by Fred Frewer and we are very pleased he will be bringing this very rare Champ to the show. See photos and find out more here!

The Champ and trailer on the Heavy Drops Platform will also be coming and we are hoping that a sectioned Champ will also be in attendance.

I am sure that you will all try to get the all the Champ owners you know to bring their Champs to Beltring this year. Malcolm Scott is planning a convoy of Champs starting out from Stockport on Thursday morning, 18th July. Already he has 7 and will probably start off with at least 10 Champs. Some of you may wish to join his convoy, which will "pick up" other Champs on the way. Malcolm is planning a Champ Get-Together at Marple, near Stockport on 18th May so you can have a good natter and make plans for the Convoy Run to Beltring.

His ambition is to sweep into Beltring at the head of at least 15 Champs. If you think you might like to join his convoy, then please give him a ring on (+44) (0) 1625 615738 or 615290 from 09.30 - 17.30. His planned route is down the M6, M1 M25, M20 and then on to Beltring. This is NOT a race! The plan is to cruise at 45 - 50 mph with well-proven Champs at the front and rear end, and "Tail End Charlie" carrying spares for "light repairs" only!

When you are canvassing other Champ owners to come, please stress that they do not have to be in mint condition. Champs can be towed, brought on a trailer, on a low-loader or even helicoptered in (!) so long as they get there! Remember, I have promised that if we achieve a total of 100 Champs at the show, I will personally buy everyone a drink at the bar!

Dale Johnson,
Champ Camp Co-ordinator

All news updates can be found in Champ News and on this website, on these pages, so do please bookmark them and come back regularly! To subscribe to Champ News, contact Keith Nicholson on 01252 842056 for further details, or send him a cheque for £15 to Keith Nicholson, The Old Stables, 1, Hartley Mews, Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, RG27 8NX.

To join the Beltring 2002 Champ Camp, please click this link and follow the instructions, or call Dale Johnson on +44 (0) 1202 577226.

To see photos of the Champ Fire Engine coming to the show, please click here!

The War and Peace Show 17th - 21st July 2002