Thread: Army unleashes 6wheel burnout king (a landrover of course)

ARMY UNLEASHES ITS STREET MACHINE

The Australian Army officially launched its latest recruitment and training initiative - a specially prepared Kenworth truck and trailer and a concept demonstrator of a street machine at Summernats 18 in Canberra, the Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy announced today.

"Construction and operation of an Army Street Machine provides an opportunity for trainees to gain experience in a technical project that complements their formal Army training," LTGEN Leahy said.


"The trainees will be part of a project to construct a uniquely Army modified vehicle as a "Street Machine". The vehicle is based on a 6x6 Landrover with extensive high performance modification to the engine and drive train. The cabin has been modified and painted in a distinctive pattern while the tray is entirely custom built by Initial Trade Trainees."

"The Street Machine will travel around the country later this year and appear at major community events to highlight the variety of trades and apprenticeships that are available as careers in the Australian Army."

"The Army is widely recognised as providing excellent skills, training and nationally recognised qualifications across a broad range of careers. I believe this project will raise the profile of some of the technical trades available as well as promoting the Army as a varied and interesting career to a key target market – young people," LTGEN Leahy said.

Its easy to find information on a career in the Army – either visit the www.defencejobs.gov.au web site or contact 13 19 01.

In its original form, the street machine is an Army six wheel Land Rover but it will be heavily modified to significantly improve its performance. When fully modified the street machine will include:


Custom differential and axle assemblies. All drive shafts will be to V8 Supercar specification.


Iron block, LS1 5.7 litre V8 engine bored and stroked to a capacity of 7 litres.


Forced induction provided by use of a supercharger and water to air intercooler.


Custom mapped electronic engine management system.


An upgraded two speed powerglide automatic transmission.


Braking is by racing standard six wheel disc brakes. A brake isolation system will allow for different braking configurations.

Originally posted by weeds
Hey Guys

Don't be fooled by the artical, I was talking to a couple of Trainees that were being trained when this rig was being built. The Trainees were supposed to do all the work however to Workplace Health and Safety, litigation and so on the ARMY outsource 90% of the work (including engine, gearbox, diffs, electronics, suspension, steering) to civilian contractors. The trainees mainly strip/prepared the vehical before each modification was done. The two trainees I worked with indicated that most of the trainees avoided the project due to the lack of technicial jobs they could do and that it held up there training as they were not achieving any outcomes towards there trade papers.

Sounds like a typical government job, the ideas there, pity about the execution.

Training people on an interesting project goes a lot further towards people learing as it holds their interest. Pity something as regimented and set in its ways as the military cant grasp that simple concept.