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Villiersdorp / Lambertsbay

Abel's picture
10 August 2009 - 4:56pm — Abel
What a great weekend for biking it was. I don’t have much time for writing and was thinking about just sharing a couple of photos. On Saturday morning I left Saldanha at around 0730, driving via the West Coast Park and Darling I met, by incident, the Swartland Club from Moorreesburg in Malmesbury. Mostly farmers with an assortment of bikes – Beemers, KTM and African Twins. Asking them where they were heading they said Francehoek. I said – OK, well I’m going via Francehoek to the old tractors show in Villiersdorp. They just laugh, because that was precisely where they were heading. I sort of suspected that when I saw their bikes and the number plates! I had a very enjoyable ride with them. We then return via Worcester to the West Coast. Look at the wheels!Look at the wheels! They called it the Bulldog LanzThey called it the Bulldog Lanz Its a Beemer from WW2Its a Beemer from WW2 Rommel had one of these in North Africa!Rommel had one of these in North Africa! I like the colour!I like the colour! I took this photo because the guy just looks like a typical farmer – and the position is also good! FarmerFarmer Someone has invested a lot of time in her!Someone has invested a lot of time in her! On Sunday morning Lizl and I left home at around eight. We invited my in-laws from Clanwilliam for an early lunch in Lambertsbay. The ride via Dwarskerbos and Elandsbay to Lambertsbay was done in dense fog. Arriving in Lambertsbay, the weather started to clear. The return ride was without any wind in the kind of weather that all bikers dream of. Lizl and meLizl and me The bikesThe bikes It was cold when we arrived in LambertsbayIt was cold when we arrived in Lambertsbay Malkop bayMalkop bay
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10 August 2009 - 7:10pm
#1
Neil Terry
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Joined: 2007/07/01
Thanks Able, a nice one! These meander trips are always good.
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11 August 2009 - 3:40pm
#2
GeelKameel
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Joined: 2007/06/21
What a fascinating show, at least for those who are interested in tractors and oldie engines. Jammer ons het julle ouens misgeloop! A friend of mine invited me at very short notice and we spent the morning at the Villiersdorp tractor show. Very nostalgic in many ways. The Lister engines took us back many years to the different pump-installations and generating sets on our own farm and on neighbouring farms. The Fordson "Bloubottel" on our farm was the first steering wheel on which I learned to steer a vehicle. Later the Massey Ferguson 35 and 135 followed. Nonqumpe Kwajinto, the official driver on the farm was my hero at the time - he could handle this huge amazing machine like a toy. He allowed me to steer the tractor while sitting on his lap. The Bloubottel was (crank-) started on petrol and then switched to parafin when warmed up. My learners vehicleMy learners vehicle A restored "Bloubottel", bit later model than "our" tractor War veteran replicaWar veteran replica There was a surprisingly large collection of WW2 vehicles and equipment. Some detail on the VBMWSome detail on the VBMW Watching the (1938) Lanz Bulldog running is fascinating. The huge single axial cylinder causes the entire tractor to bounce rythmically.Watching the (1938) Lanz Bulldog running is fascinating. The huge single axial cylinder causes the entire tractor to bounce rythmically. Check that exhaust extension. And note the gas cylinder in the picture. The Lanz had a great starting procedure. First, you used a blow torch to heat up an exposed "hot bulb" under the engine's cylinder head. You keep the flame on it until it was a glowing red. Then, you unclip the steering wheel, put it in a socket in the flywheel and heave to turn it over. Phut, phut, phut, phutta phutta phutta... The Bulldog Lanz is of German origin and later copied by some overseas tractor builders. 'n Stoomtrekker uit die laat 1890's'n Stoomtrekker uit die laat 1890's Very silent when running. Power steering par excellence!Power steering par excellence! Note the steam from the power steering drive.
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