Military Vehicle Preservation Association
The Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) is pleased to announce 97 historic military vehicles are registered for the organization’s 2012 convoy on the famous Alaska Highway. MVPA members will honor the 70th Anniversary of the building of the Alaska Highway by traveling the Alaska Highway in historic military vehicles.
The convoy will launch from Dawson Creek, British Columbia on August 4, 2012 and travel approximately 4,100 miles in 27 days, returning to Dawson Creek on August 30.
Military vehicles were the backbone of the Alaska Highway construction project. Building the road would not have been possible without more than 7,000 pieces of military equipment.
“This will be a convoy of historic military vehicles of all eras, from WWI through current-issue,” said Convoy Commander Terry Shelswell. “The military vehicles are privately-owned and restored by individuals who have an interest in preserving these vehicles and the important roles they played throughout our military history.”
The convoy route covers 4,100 miles in 27 days. Participants are excited to drive some of the more rugged roads in the Yukon and Alaska including the Campbell Highway, the Top of the World Highway/Taylor Highway, the Hatcher Pass and the Denali Highway. HMV (historic military vehicle) collectors love gravel roads! Top speed for the convoy will be about 35 mph or 56 km/h.
This August 2012 calendar shows how many miles the convoy will travel every day and where it will spend each night. Information about lodging and campgrounds was gathered over the past few months by a team of volunteers and recently sent to convoy participants. Everyone is busy making motel and campground reservations, in addition to working on their trucks. If you are interested in welcoming the convoy to your town or would like more information, please contact Wendy Rowsam, Public Relations Volunteer.
What We’ll Be Driving on the Convoy
Our AC’12 Convoy (we are calling it AC’12 – short for Alaska Highway Convoy 2012) will include a wide variety of historic military vehicles — from a WWI truck to WWII vehicles, to trucks used in Desert Storm. Some of the vehicles are the same as those used when the Alaska Highway was built 70 years ago. All our vehicles are privately owned by collectors who have an interest in preserving the vehicles that have played a critical role in our military history. Many of our participants are veterans or relatives of veterans. All have a deep respect for the men and women who have served and continue to serve in the Armed Forces. Convoy participants always take every opportunity to say “thank you for your service” to veterans along the way.
Contact Us
Wendy Rowsam,
Convoy Public Relations
warowsam@centurytel.net
920-863-8656
Military Vehicle
Preservation Association
1-800-365-5798
www.mvpa.org
Find us on Facebook
“MVPA 2012 Alaska
Highway Convoy”
My father, Robert Craig, worked as civilian on the Alaska Highway. At that time the
bridges they put in were only temporary. His stories were enlightening about the views of wildlife and varied beautiful mountains & streams. I would love to participate
if any place needs an extra! Robert L. Craig