Tank Ride Makes WW II Come Alive

2006 - Volume #30, Issue #1, Page #08

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This might be a great way to attract crowds to a farm-based pick-your-own or tourism business. Bob Bowman, Princeton, Minn., sells rides in his World War II T34 Russian tank. It's a business he has been operating without competition for the past 7 years.
    "As far as we know, this is the only operating World War II tank in the world that is available to the general public," says Bowman.
    Customers are given authentic military uniforms to wear and receive a 20-min. crew training. Then they climb aboard the tank. The ride includes firing on and being fired upon by two enemy positions and riding around a 40-acre quarry with woods, hills and a pond.
    "One member of the crew is the loader, another the commander and a third is the main turret gunner," says Bowman, who drives the non-hydraulic tank. "It's all controlled by hand and foot and a strong back."
    The crew operates by the rules with the commander directing the loader to load the tank cannon. The gunner cranks the turret into position. When the round is fired, Bowman says it rocks the entire tank with the explosion. Blank rounds are filled with an oxygen, propane and diesel fuel mix.
    After the 30-minute ride, Bowman escorts his guests to the machine gun range. Once they have put on bullet proof vests and eye protection, they are given 25 rounds to fire in their choice of several vintage, restored machine guns. Extra rounds are available for 50ó a round. As anyone knows who has ever fired a machine gun, 25 rounds burn up real fast.
    "People come for the tank ride, but most leave liking the machine gun range best," says Bowman. "We had a group of teachers, some of them anti-gun, come for the tank ride, but before they left, they shot up a 250-round belt."
    Bowman says the ride attracts mostly guys, often to celebrate birthdays. While on the one hand he is surprised no one else has set up a similar business, he admits maintenance can be expensive. When a rear hub bearing went out, it cost him $2,000 to replace it. He knows of a Panther tank that is being restored in California at an expected cost of $2 million.
    The original engine was the first successful aluminum block diesel engine. It had a split block with the bottom third cast iron, but the sleeves and head were aluminum.
    "When it went out, it was a blessing, as it was very difficult to find parts," says Bowman. "I replaced it with a Cummins 250-hp engine used in five-ton army tractors."
    Although the track and pins have had to be rewelded and bushings rebuilt, most of the tank is still original, including the aluminum transmission and the original rubber tires on the bogey wheels.
    "Maintenance never ends," says Bowman. "I will spend 4 to 6 hours per week on preventative maintenance because I can't afford a breakdown when people have paid for rides."
    Rides sell for $125 per adult and $115 for veterans and children. He grosses $2,000 to $3,000 per weekend between May and October.
    "It has been very profitable, but it takes a person who is able to fix things themselves," explains Bowman. "I couldn't have made it if I had to turn over maintenance to a diesel mechanic."
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bob Bowman, Princeton, Minn. (ph 866 888- 8265; tankride@prodigy.net; www.tankride.com).

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Tank Ride Makes WW II Come Alive FARM HOME Novelty Items This might be a great way to attract crowds to a farm-based pick-your-own or tourism business Bob Bowman Princeton Minn sells rides in his World War II T34 Russian tank It s a business he has been operating without competition for the past 7 years As far as we know this is the only operating World War II tank in the world that is available to the general public says Bowman Customers are given authentic military uniforms to wear and receive a 20-min crew training Then they climb aboard the tank The ride includes firing on and being fired upon by two enemy positions and riding around a 40-acre quarry with woods hills and a pond One member of the crew is the loader another the commander and a third is the main turret gunner says Bowman who drives the non-hydraulic tank It s all controlled by hand and foot and a strong back The crew operates by the rules with the commander directing the loader to load the tank cannon The gunner cranks the turret into position When the round is fired Bowman says it rocks the entire tank with the explosion Blank rounds are filled with an oxygen propane and diesel fuel mix After the 30-minute ride Bowman escorts his guests to the machine gun range Once they have put on bullet proof vests and eye protection they are given 25 rounds to fire in their choice of several vintage restored machine guns Extra rounds are available for 50ó a round As anyone knows who has ever fired a machine gun 25 rounds burn up real fast People come for the tank ride but most leave liking the machine gun range best says Bowman We had a group of teachers some of them anti-gun come for the tank ride but before they left they shot up a 250-round belt Bowman says the ride attracts mostly guys often to celebrate birthdays While on the one hand he is surprised no one else has set up a similar business he admits maintenance can be expensive When a rear hub bearing went out it cost him $2 000 to replace it He knows of a Panther tank that is being restored in California at an expected cost of $2 million The original engine was the first successful aluminum block diesel engine It had a split block with the bottom third cast iron but the sleeves and head were aluminum When it went out it was a blessing as it was very difficult to find parts says Bowman I replaced it with a Cummins 250-hp engine used in five-ton army tractors Although the track and pins have had to be rewelded and bushings rebuilt most of the tank is still original including the aluminum transmission and the original rubber tires on the bogey wheels Maintenance never ends says Bowman I will spend 4 to 6 hours per week on preventative maintenance because I can t afford a breakdown when people have paid for rides Rides sell for $125 per adult and $115 for veterans and children He grosses $2 000 to $3 000 per weekend between May and October It has been very profitable but it takes a person who is able to fix things themselves explains Bowman I couldn t have made it if I had to turn over maintenance to a diesel mechanic Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Bob Bowman Princeton Minn ph 866 888- 8265; tankride@prodigy net; www tankride com

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