You honestly make little things like this endlessly interesting. Don't ever stop making videos about quirky stuff you like, it really shows in the product.
When you first mentioned that it was an Australian creation, my immediate thought was, "Haha! Yeah! That's some Aussie Mad Max vehicle mashup right there!", only for it to come full circle at the end when you said its creator also worked on the movies cars. Feelin' some true blue Aussie pride after watching this amazing vid.
I swear the the best improvisors in the world ended up in Australia. Mix that with the locals, whod been making what they needed for quite a few years... no wonder they good at invention.
Thanks for tuning into another episode of "what will I mispronounce today". Had a blast making and drawing this, lets go find what happened to those mini tracs!
Dr. Mr calum I know where the yellow maybe mini track is the owner is a 72 year old man who has it rusting away in Manitoba moose jaw I've asked him and yes it's the same one I've got no more info on it unfortunately but I hope this helps somewhat
@@maxman1244 like I said I have no more info and I don't want to put our life's ar risk because of covid you best believe when it's over I'll ask him to film a short interview about the mini track
They're miles ahead of modern docs that show the same 3 images/clips every 5 seconds, use incredibly annoying, over dramatic orchestral music created by one guy on a computer who loves using industrial *clangs* in place of actual drums, and use the same off-angle "interview" techniques featuring enthusiastic actors pretending to be historians (not to mention the one military "expert" who used to be a man but is now a creepy looking/sounding "woman").
These mini documentaries of yours (no pun intended) are brilliant. I find it fascinating that a normal working bloke puts these great pieces together, for a hobby, that so many people can enjoy. Quite inspiring i must say. Very interesting, thanks.
Thank you Rich! It’s a really great creative outlet and one that has really surprised me by just how many folk have enjoyed it! Can’t wait to make more. With us used that mini-documentary pun in the video now though...
@@WojciechP915 How can you visualize it in PSI? :) I have no reference whatsoever to what that means. Pounds per square inch? That intuitively tells me absolutely nothing...
@@jfu5222 doesn't the engine do well around town aka short or stop and go shopping 🛒? as you don't really have to wight for the engine to warmered up or have problems with water
@@benjaminbuljevic7977 still a faster warming up period than water 🚿engines/are happyer ( and better 🤔 / quick tips/cycle time's or at least to me seems to be ) in cooler climate's. FWI never owned any VW bugs or porshas ect. car's 🤷♂ 🤔 so im not the best for ownership questions but did have a motorcycle/other thing's that was air-cooled but that makes me a ammeter 👨🔧 as i don't have enough experience with air fined ( or airo like a licoming/continent's ) engines to know all the in's and outs / operating parameters of mr.fin ( miss water 🚿i knowledge is much better as most / me professional auto-mechanics see them more often ) . as a jokester my BB v8's don't like being air-cooled only 😂10-out of 10 don't recommend it 😂
My brother owned a '61 Mini Minor Station Wagon (woodie) in the mid 60s. Indeed that 850 engine didn't have much power, and easily overheated. It was one of the first transverse engine configurations I'd ever seen. Amazing they made a Mini-Trac out of it. Wow, thank you for sharing this Calum and all research that went into it!
Your footage of you wi’ your wee grey Fergie at the end brings back memories of my own dad’s wee grey Fergie on the farm and the stories he would tell. As a youngster working for his father, the first tractor he worked with was a Fordson - 4mph, that was it!!! Then his father bought a Fergie! 25mph - my father thought he was in heaven!!! We emigrated to Australia when I was 5 and for the first 5 years we had a normal petrol Fergie. Afterwards we moved to Queensland where the farm he bought had a dual fuel Fergie - petrol/kerosene! It was started on petrol then run for the rest of the time on the cheaper kerosene. However for heavy work like plowing it would be switched back to petrol. My cousin’s husband had a book put out by Ferguson on the 50th(?) anniversary of their founding. One interesting fact was they wanted to exhibit the tractor in Kelvin Hall, but were refused at first because the administrators didn’t want oil on their wooden floors. Ferguson got around that by draining the tractor of oil and flushing it out. So they drove it into the hall completely devoid of oil and likewise back out when the exhibition was over. They took the engine apart to see if there had been any damage done to it, but could not see any discernible wear at all !!! I believe they even developed one to run on olive oil for their Middle East market.
Great video Calum. Im from New Zealand and hearing about the mystery mini-trac in New Zealand really fascinates me. Watching this in 2023 and I can't believe that over the two years since you posted this video no one has found the lost mini. I wish I could find it for you.
Living in harsh climate i could suspect that biggest mechanical problem was mini's body expansion from men trying to fit inside that cutesy thing in full winter gear.
There was definitely one of these track systems that had been put onto a VW limo. It used to take people up to the super swanky resort in the snow beyond Mt Perisher. We always wondered the story behind it. Makes so much sense now though. It was pretty much like a bus. Circa 2005.
Totally cool video Calum... I might actually build one in miniature, it shouldn't be too difficult to modify an existing kit. Also love that the 3rd vehicle could still be in use in Canada, where I live. Thanks, I love these weird arctic ATVs!
Hi Calum, just wanted to say that I've been a longtime fan since you made the Mindcrack animations and made the small but fun Minecraft let's play series. Actually I used to left questions for your minecraft let's play when I was kid and complain that I wouldn't have internet access to watch your videos when going to Lapland haha. It's great to see how you have managed to use your creativity and skills to create all these informative and well-edited documentaries! Thanks for producing these, It's so interesting what humans are capable to engineer when they need something to survive in harsh environments. Greetings from Finland, there's a ton of snow here this year and it looks beautiful.
I remember you very well, provided you’ve not changed that profile picture. It’s great seeing and hearing folks now that I’ve been doing this a decade (!) Luckily my old videos are just unlisted so they don’t clog up the channel. That way I can still watch for the nostalgia!
You are awesome! I love your videos and how humble you are when crediting the other authors and (under) crediting yourself. Your work is amazing and I can't wait to see more of your well researched videos! Thanks again for making these!
Absolutely brilliant video once again dude. Love seeing these projects of passion, props to Watto and Ian for doing the research and collecting those pictures, etc, and being open about it, and to you for publishing the story, and adding your touch. this type of work coming out of some niche curiosity and going on rabbit holes, etc is lovely to watch.
I appreciate the time you’ve taken at the end to give full credit to those who’d done the research that enabled you to make your vid. Also the illustration that you drew drawing the vid was rather cool, helped to capture attention and stopped it being just a video essay.
What a lovely, interesting, informative and entertaining video on this truly unique vehicle. I particularly enjoyed the superb artistry of the pencil drawing, and could very happily watch entire videos of this wonderful artist bringing vehicles to life, at least on paper.
Outstanding Job! I used to work for the US Antarctic Program and have been on Ice several times and I love the odd vehicles in use and that have been used down there. This is the first I'd heard of these amazing little mini's.
@@williamchamberlain2263 I thought you were nuts when you said “short wheelbase mini”… I thought the mini was about as short of a wheelbase as you could get… then I googled it… those mini minis must be the cutest car ever made… though I’d look ridiculous driving one as I’m quite a tall guy 😂
@@oligould8575 no kidding I saw a 6' guy get into one at a petrol station near London a couple of decades ago. Couldn't believe the car _or_ the driver.
what a cool ( sorry ) wee thing .. i can only imagine those 60's explorers looking at it & smiling .. and as always Calum's research is in-depth & interesting
Thanks. Very interesting video and very professionally narrated. The first thing I thought, when I saw the mini, with tracks, was; I hope they beefed up the clutch and drive train, and geared it somewhat lower. If the designer had done that, there is no telling how successful, useful, and popular it might have become, with the larger engine in it. The way it was steered, the brakes would have needed thicker, more durable shoes, and thicker drums, also. It was a great idea. It just needed a little more thought about the conditions of use, and the added strain on the drive train of the tracks, deep snow, and the brake steering.
Yeah I think probably fine and money constraints, as usual, really did in the Mini trac but as a first attempt it wasn’t too bad- I also think with the resources someone could probably build a replica without that much difficulty!
Very well put together video. Ive done a lot of research on the 4 Aussie Antarctic Beetles, but have always wanted to know more about the mini-trac as well, and now I do!
Thank you Calum great video. I'm reminded of being shown the rusted remains of a tractor/ sledge in a stony gully high up on a Borders sheep farm- I was informed it was being trialled for Antarctica - I'm afraid its a while ago and I cant recall any more detail!
With old fave TV channels like Discovery and History channel turning into reality TV channels, YT has allowed talent like yours to blossom. Super-Great vid and looking forward to future epics!!!
Your full of all kinds of surprisingly interesting things to enlighten everyone with, regardless of wherever they may be across the globe. NE Texas here, and I have found everything you've released to be of interest. Especially the overland train, and the many other vehicles from the Mad Scientist of Longview. I've lived in the state most of my life, definitely sort of a history fanatic. Yet I never remember hearing anything about the man to my knowledge, and I'm not all that far from his location. I'm not particular about whose history it maybe, if it's presented in a comprehensive manner. Even if the narrator has a little accent to his manner of speaking, it is easily understood even with someone whose accent is far different from his, and believe me. My east Texas southern drawl is as far from yours as there can possibly be, but you have a natural easy manner that is pleasant on the ears, and in the addition of always having a interesting topic . I have no difficulty whatsoever in understanding completely what your saying. Thanks once more for a pleasant insightful way to spend a few minutes in a place, and different types of vehicles or whatever, that I'll never have seen are knew of without your curious and knowledgable mind to take myself, and I am sure many others along for the end results of your research.
Your summary of how you _tracked_ down all the historical threads to this story was just as fascinating as the main video; and having a shiny grey Ferguson tractor as your desk top made it all complete in my opinion.
Well, an outback can be defined as a remote area with a little population. Obviously, most people only refer to Australia, but many places in Canada can fit this description
Back in the late fifties I was lucky to go to the Royal Festival Hall in London to attend a lecture by Vivian (later Sir) Fuchs on the Trans Antarctic Expedition. One of the highlights was to sit in a Tucker Sno-Cat used in the expedition and another vehicle which may have been a Weasel. Later in life one of my employers had a grey Fergie similar to the ones used to travel to the South Pole. Great video and thank you for sharing it with us all.
Thanks for sharing that, what an amazing story the Trans-Antarctic Ex. was and how lucky you were seeing that! Thats a whole video I'd love to make one day.
I liked all the footage showing M29 and M29C Studebaker Weasels. I had an '85 Mini Mayfair while stationed in Germany in the mid-90's. Totally dug the vid on the Mini-Trac.
Wonderful topic and video, thank you so much for you dedication to detail. I believe saw that little creature in Canada as a young boy transporting equipment with my grandfather, a discussion on price was made, but a deal was not struck- 1969-1972. too bad. he was an a mechanic Sargent 3rd armor, we both loved the design and it would have never left our possession and care. we were quite taken with its design ( at the time the clutch was out lol ) grand father had observed the little vehicle a number of times resting in the same place on our travels.
Thanks Calum , really enjoyed that , your doing a great thing by putting these together , lovely editing , beautiful diction , thoughtful from beginning to end , thank you .
Well done Calum, I love your videos, they are well done and I find myself getting intrigued because you are intrigued. Thanks for putting it out there!
You are correct about the Canadian one being Bombardier, it is actually a JW67 with a butchered up mini shell directly on the chassis, it’s not related to the actual mini track. The chap who built it did a few with different small car bodies when the original Bombardier bodies rotted out from road salt damage and also a few with just roll cages. Same gent also built a hybrid Ford 8N/Volkswagen tractor using the same method.
I love these antarctic vehicle videos. It's always super interesting to see what they kit bashed together to see if it would work in those icy conditions. You also always make them super interesting. Keep up the good work
I love your studies of some of these random engineering feats, fascinating and great fun! Plus the drawings add a nice touch. Keep these coming please!
That was awesome. I loved it. I always love unique vehicles if the were cool in some way and I've always like mini's especially manual transmission versions from back from when I first saw that movie of clip you showed. I saw a remake that had those mini's but with brush bars with lights on them too. The coolest part of both movies were those cars. Second I love tracked vehicles, like snow cats. Not so much tanks, but lighter snow track vehicles. Put the two together makes pure awesomeness. I'm disabled on low income, so I can't afford a mini these days more less a tracked vehicle that would have to be hauled to a place to drive it. But that story hit those two favorite things I like to think about. Great piece of history from around the time just before I was born. I loved your pencil drawing without the color. You should sign it and frame it. Thank you for sharing the video with us. 😎👍
Volkswagen supplying Beetles for the Antarctic crews reminds me a *lot* of Chevrolet using stock Corvairs to trek across the Darien Gap in Panama. There's plenty of footage of those regular 4-door sedans making it across the jungle and fording rivers with water up to the windows, as if they were always meant to be there. Might be an interesting video there, since I've never seen anyone ever mention these cars or the expedition they were on.
9:15 - I was wondering as my H-reg Mini 1000 wasn't all that warm in winter. 4:50 - Wow, brings back memories. While the early Minis looked a little different, they look almost the same as mine.
Cool video! Btw, here in Sweden we refer to the Snow Trac as the "snövessla" (i e snow waesel). I have been towed by these while skiing when I was a kid (it towed a group of 10-15 people on skis at the same time).
Haha no way! It’s tempting to follow what you think is the most successful, but I feel it’s a perfect way to sicken yourself of the subject. I’ll be keeping my videos as random as ever!
Cracking video!...masses of interesting information presented in quick fire delivery, excellent...and can draw like that...and has a fully restored 20 to lean on! 🚜
I for one would welcome a video about the Ferguson, given your knack for research. I had both the 9N and 8N Fords in earlier times, and have some knowledge of the history of Ford and Ferguson, but I reckon there’s a lot more to know. Neither tractor was in such good condition as yours, by the way. Looks good!
Your Antarctic videos are fantastic. Quality of the highest level. The Drawing skills too are insane. Thank you for another great interesting and funny video
Hi, Have to tell you, it was very interesting to hear about it! I remember being a kid and seeing those pictures: it's hard to believe that years later I would be watching a RUclips video about it! Thanks, keep up the good work 👍
Nice video Calum. I used to have 2 of the Swedish SnowTrac st4 ,with Volkswagen aircooled flat four. Cool machine,but great at throwing tracks,especially on the heather! ( I live not far away from Raaasay) also have an old grey Fergie on the croft,not quite as tidy as yours tho! 🤣🤣 I’ve also owned and used a couple of Snowtrac ST 4. , great machines on snow,but useless on heather and rocks.
Great tractor! I have a 1951 TO-30, little torque monsters. You make some great vids. If you have the time please do one on the tractors and other vehicles that used to run drive screws or augers. Genius concept and always wonder why it faded out besides tracks being more universal.
Another very interesting video from you... 👍😎 Props for properly crediting your contributors, not everyone does that, it shows you have integrity. Would love to see a video on your little grey Fergie in the future.... Keep doing what you do, keep doing you. 😎👍❤🕊
Thank you! Yeah the real credit goes to Iain White on this, he did some amazing work and really I hope that sharing this story I might be able to get him some answers as to what happened to these cool wee machines! But yeah maybe a Ferguson tractor story one day, I've already filmed plenty about it!
Oh man! I owned 3 mini's when I was much younger, 76 and 79 clubmans and a 69 Cooper. The latter being my dream car. Too bad the one I bought was literally a lemon (it was even painted lemon yellow 😆). My only complaint, living on the prairies of Canada, was the heater. I can't even imagine the heater core they had to use to keep them functional in those temps. And of course now I want one!
The missing one is probably covered with cobwebs and sitting forgotten in the corner of a large dank customs warehouse waiting for someone to pay the import tax. My first impression was Mr. Beans snow mobile. LoL, sure enough, a mini Cooper. Love it.
Another really informative video on these fascinating vehicles, I look forward to the next one. Have you thought about doing a video on the original tracked landrover (probably a Series 2, 110) which I think was built in the west Highlands in the late 60s? Fairly sure it was used by the Hydro Board to get to remote 11 and 33kV lines and intakes in Argyll/Perthshire. It was parked at at Lix Toll garage until about 15 years ago - I asked what happened to it and they said they sold it to Landrover UK who wanted it and sent it to Mexico. No idea why, it can't be to cross peat bogs. There's a replacement Defender vehicle at Lix Toll now, also yellow but the tracks are much smaller. It doesn't cut the mustard like the original.
Great vid, very interesting. Worked on a orchard not long back that used old red fergies. Great workhorses. Simple & effective. The only problem was lack of maintenance and braking capacity. Three full apple bins plus trailer weight and steep grass hills. Bad combo. Still love em but! Cheers.
We had a few beetles and my father had some of those minis. In winter the beetle has to be one of the most uncomfortable cars ever. It handled well and generally did not get stuck but it was bitterly cold and you needed one free hand scraping the windshield constantly. There was a gasoline heater, but all ours ever did was reduce fuel efficiency and fill the cabin full of carbon monoxide so you opened the windows.... Yeah, not a good system at all. Admittedly it probably was ok when brand new, but none of the ones I ever had ever worked and I am glad I didn't die from asphyxiation using it!
I worked for the nz Antarctic program and some of the old snow tracs are still tucked away at some of the old outposts but we had 70 series Toyotas and hagglunds re-engined with Mercedes 5cyl diesels. We also had an electric Polaris ranger for use on base. The road to McMuffin station or even to te airfield in winter could be done in most family cars!
@@CalumRaasay yeah one of the mechanics from about 1990 uploaded some of his photos of old vehicles, there were some weird and wonderful contraptions! There was some sort of half-track van but I can’t remember what it was based on but it was made by (or called) ASV
9:45 "...quite successful apart from Minor problems" There, I fixed that quote :D What a fabulous video about a fabulous little machine! I'll take one of those as well as a 4WD, lifted V8-powered Miata on knobby tires.
You honestly make little things like this endlessly interesting. Don't ever stop making videos about quirky stuff you like, it really shows in the product.
Thanks! Always a pleasure.
Agree!
@@CalumRaasay yes please keep this stuff coming, loved Harkavonka I think it was called
Definitely agree!!
don't you mean "Mini-things", also agree
When you first mentioned that it was an Australian creation, my immediate thought was, "Haha! Yeah! That's some Aussie Mad Max vehicle mashup right there!", only for it to come full circle at the end when you said its creator also worked on the movies cars.
Feelin' some true blue Aussie pride after watching this amazing vid.
I swear the the best improvisors in the world ended up in Australia. Mix that with the locals, whod been making what they needed for quite a few years... no wonder they good at invention.
Thanks for tuning into another episode of "what will I mispronounce today". Had a blast making and drawing this, lets go find what happened to those mini tracs!
Dr. Mr calum I know where the yellow maybe mini track is the owner is a 72 year old man who has it rusting away in Manitoba moose jaw I've asked him and yes it's the same one I've got no more info on it unfortunately but I hope this helps somewhat
@@GreenTheScreen123 in Manitoba or in Moosejaw? My brother lives in Moosejaw and I'm in Manitoba, would love to find out more about this
@@maxman1244 like I said I have no more info and I don't want to put our life's ar risk because of covid you best believe when it's over I'll ask him to film a short interview about the mini track
Hotham is pronounced hoth'm, despite my schoolyard attempts to name it Hot-ham.
-Sincerely, a Melbournian.
@@RandomSime noted!
Awesome job. It's inspiring when youtubers really do a proper job on their research.
Thank you! Ian White who did the original research deserves most of the credit though, he did an incredible job!
Dude, you could make a career out of these documentaries,they beat the hell out of any others I've ever seen.
the style reminds me of Qxir, Mustard, and Wendover Prod.'s.
They're miles ahead of modern docs that show the same 3 images/clips every 5 seconds, use incredibly annoying, over dramatic orchestral music created by one guy on a computer who loves using industrial *clangs* in place of actual drums, and use the same off-angle "interview" techniques featuring enthusiastic actors pretending to be historians (not to mention the one military "expert" who used to be a man but is now a creepy looking/sounding "woman").
@@ArmpitStudios Who are you referring to?
@@bennylofgren3208 I don’t know its name because I refuse to watch the “history” shows it’s on.
@@ArmpitStudios Do you know the name of the show?
These mini documentaries of yours (no pun intended) are brilliant. I find it fascinating that a normal working bloke puts these great pieces together, for a hobby, that so many people can enjoy. Quite inspiring i must say. Very interesting, thanks.
Thank you Rich! It’s a really great creative outlet and one that has really surprised me by just how many folk have enjoyed it! Can’t wait to make more. With us used that mini-documentary pun in the video now though...
Well said Rich...
I really like that you show both metric and imperial units on screen. It’s really handy especially for less common units like PSI!
Yeah I always mix between the imperial and metric so I figure it might be handy to others!
How can you visualize pressure in something other than PSI?
@@WojciechP915 pascalls or bars
@@WojciechP915 How can you visualize it in PSI? :) I have no reference whatsoever to what that means. Pounds per square inch? That intuitively tells me absolutely nothing...
@@metallicman711 This aging Canadian is metricified as far as centigrade goes but all else is imperial. Pascals and bars may as well be Latin to me.
The Volkswagen beetles in Antarctica made me smile. They look so out of place. Never gets old watching you talk about Antarctic transportation.
With next to no heat or defrost they suck in Minnesota, I can't imagine how terrible they would be in Antarctica!
@@jfu5222 add an external heater and they are glorious still
@@jfu5222 doesn't the engine do well around town aka short or stop and go shopping 🛒? as you don't really have to wight for the engine to warmered up or have problems with water
@@richardprice5978 it still takes a moment to warm up
@@benjaminbuljevic7977 still a faster warming up period than water 🚿engines/are happyer ( and better 🤔 / quick tips/cycle time's or at least to me seems to be ) in cooler climate's. FWI never owned any VW bugs or porshas ect. car's 🤷♂ 🤔 so im not the best for ownership questions but did have a motorcycle/other thing's that was air-cooled but that makes me a ammeter 👨🔧 as i don't have enough experience with air fined ( or airo like a licoming/continent's ) engines to know all the in's and outs / operating parameters of mr.fin ( miss water 🚿i knowledge is much better as most / me professional auto-mechanics see them more often ) . as a jokester my BB v8's don't like being air-cooled only 😂10-out of 10 don't recommend it 😂
My brother owned a '61 Mini Minor Station Wagon (woodie) in the mid 60s. Indeed that 850 engine didn't have much power, and easily overheated. It was one of the first transverse engine configurations I'd ever seen. Amazing they made a Mini-Trac out of it. Wow, thank you for sharing this Calum and all research that went into it!
"The Canadian outback"
I'm using this phrase from now on.
The "Ootback" surelky?
Your footage of you wi’ your wee grey Fergie at the end brings back memories of my own dad’s wee grey Fergie on the farm and the stories he would tell.
As a youngster working for his father, the first tractor he worked with was a Fordson - 4mph, that was it!!!
Then his father bought a Fergie!
25mph - my father thought he was in heaven!!!
We emigrated to Australia when I was 5 and for the first 5 years we had a normal petrol Fergie.
Afterwards we moved to Queensland where the farm he bought had a dual fuel Fergie - petrol/kerosene!
It was started on petrol then run for the rest of the time on the cheaper kerosene. However for heavy work like plowing it would be switched back to petrol.
My cousin’s husband had a book put out by Ferguson on the 50th(?) anniversary of their founding.
One interesting fact was they wanted to exhibit the tractor in Kelvin Hall, but were refused at first because the administrators didn’t want oil on their wooden floors.
Ferguson got around that by draining the tractor of oil and flushing it out.
So they drove it into the hall completely devoid of oil and likewise back out when the exhibition was over.
They took the engine apart to see if there had been any damage done to it, but could not see any discernible wear at all !!!
I believe they even developed one to run on olive oil for their Middle East market.
Great video Calum. Im from New Zealand and hearing about the mystery mini-trac in New Zealand really fascinates me. Watching this in 2023 and I can't believe that over the two years since you posted this video no one has found the lost mini. I wish I could find it for you.
Please keep your research coming - love the snow cruiser docs esp. Suggest history of biathlon?
Thank you! I'll try to keep folks guessing on what I'm working on next, I swear it's not always Antarctic vehicles!
I just found your channel and am genuinely excited to dive into your catalog of videos. Great stuff!
Would love to see a photo of 4 scientists in full Antarctic cold weather clothing stuffed into the mini. Thanks for another great video.
Great stuff; would love to see more of your research on obscure snow vehicles and also the story of your beautiful-looking tractor!
Thank you! Keen to do more- plenty to come!
It looks very much like a Ferguson TE20.
I only know that because I live a kilometer away from a tractor musem that has like 10 of them at it.
Living in harsh climate i could suspect that biggest mechanical problem was mini's body expansion from men trying to fit inside that cutesy thing in full winter gear.
I am almost two meters tall, I can relate to that.
THIS is the content I came for, weird vehicles, engineer drawings, mad inventors
Hey, you fixed the Kharkovchanka pronounciation! Cheers from a Russian extreme cold vehicles fan!
Knew I’d get there one day 😅
There was definitely one of these track systems that had been put onto a VW limo. It used to take people up to the super swanky resort in the snow beyond Mt Perisher. We always wondered the story behind it. Makes so much sense now though. It was pretty much like a bus. Circa 2005.
Totally cool video Calum... I might actually build one in miniature, it shouldn't be too difficult to modify an existing kit. Also love that the 3rd vehicle could still be in use in Canada, where I live. Thanks, I love these weird arctic ATVs!
Fantastic! Do get in contact if you ever make one, I fancy making one myself!
Awesome as always, can't get enough of these videos about the engineering challenges for early exploration.
Hi Calum, just wanted to say that I've been a longtime fan since you made the Mindcrack animations and made the small but fun Minecraft let's play series. Actually I used to left questions for your minecraft let's play when I was kid and complain that I wouldn't have internet access to watch your videos when going to Lapland haha.
It's great to see how you have managed to use your creativity and skills to create all these informative and well-edited documentaries! Thanks for producing these, It's so interesting what humans are capable to engineer when they need something to survive in harsh environments.
Greetings from Finland, there's a ton of snow here this year and it looks beautiful.
I remember you very well, provided you’ve not changed that profile picture. It’s great seeing and hearing folks now that I’ve been doing this a decade (!) Luckily my old videos are just unlisted so they don’t clog up the channel. That way I can still watch for the nostalgia!
You are awesome! I love your videos and how humble you are when crediting the other authors and (under) crediting yourself. Your work is amazing and I can't wait to see more of your well researched videos! Thanks again for making these!
Absolutely brilliant video once again dude. Love seeing these projects of passion, props to Watto and Ian for doing the research and collecting those pictures, etc, and being open about it, and to you for publishing the story, and adding your touch. this type of work coming out of some niche curiosity and going on rabbit holes, etc is lovely to watch.
I appreciate the time you’ve taken at the end to give full credit to those who’d done the research that enabled you to make your vid. Also the illustration that you drew drawing the vid was rather cool, helped to capture attention and stopped it being just a video essay.
What a lovely, interesting, informative and entertaining video on this truly unique vehicle.
I particularly enjoyed the superb artistry of the pencil drawing, and could very happily watch entire videos of this wonderful artist bringing vehicles to life, at least on paper.
Outstanding Job! I used to work for the US Antarctic Program and have been on Ice several times and I love the odd vehicles in use and that have been used down there. This is the first I'd heard of these amazing little mini's.
Oh amazing! I think the US probably has some of the best old equiptment lying around just because of how much they took out there!
I'm so glad you decided to follow up the ATTs and Charkovchankas. These vids r beyond interesting. Can't wait for the next.
Thanks! Been keen to get more made whenever I get the right time or subject!
Fantastic Calum - absolutely love your enthusiasm, presentation style and content.
Another brilliantly researched and enjoyable short documentary.
those little minis are such a loveable little car... I can only imagine the smile the drivers must've had on their faces when jumping in one of these
Have you ever seen a short-wheelbase mini?
@@williamchamberlain2263 I thought you were nuts when you said “short wheelbase mini”… I thought the mini was about as short of a wheelbase as you could get… then I googled it… those mini minis must be the cutest car ever made… though I’d look ridiculous driving one as I’m quite a tall guy 😂
@@oligould8575 no kidding I saw a 6' guy get into one at a petrol station near London a couple of decades ago. Couldn't believe the car _or_ the driver.
what a cool ( sorry ) wee thing .. i can only imagine those 60's explorers looking at it & smiling .. and as always Calum's research is in-depth & interesting
Great video - your enthusiasm for uncovering these obscure bits of history is truly infectious!
Haha thank you! It’s always fun being able to share these wee things!
Thanks. Very interesting video and very professionally narrated. The first thing I thought, when I saw the mini, with tracks, was; I hope they beefed up the clutch and drive train, and geared it somewhat lower. If the designer had done that, there is no telling how successful, useful, and popular it might have become, with the larger engine in it. The way it was steered, the brakes would have needed thicker, more durable shoes, and thicker drums, also. It was a great idea. It just needed a little more thought about the conditions of use, and the added strain on the drive train of the tracks, deep snow, and the brake steering.
Yeah I think probably fine and money constraints, as usual, really did in the Mini trac but as a first attempt it wasn’t too bad- I also think with the resources someone could probably build a replica without that much difficulty!
Very well put together video. Ive done a lot of research on the 4 Aussie Antarctic Beetles, but have always wanted to know more about the mini-trac as well, and now I do!
Thank you Calum great video. I'm reminded of being shown the rusted remains of a tractor/ sledge in a stony gully high up on a Borders sheep farm- I was informed it was being trialled for Antarctica - I'm afraid its a while ago and I cant recall any more detail!
Interesting! I imagine there was actually a fair number of experimental vehicles that were tested over the years. I'd love to find more!
Brilliant, nice little bit on the Land Rovers I was talking about before.
With old fave TV channels like Discovery and History channel turning into reality TV channels, YT has allowed talent like yours to blossom. Super-Great vid and looking forward to future epics!!!
Your full of all kinds of surprisingly interesting things to enlighten everyone with, regardless of wherever they may be across the globe.
NE Texas here, and I have found everything you've released to be of interest.
Especially the overland train, and the many other vehicles from the Mad Scientist of Longview.
I've lived in the state most of my life, definitely sort of a history fanatic.
Yet I never remember hearing anything about the man to my knowledge, and I'm not all that far from his location.
I'm not particular about whose history it maybe, if it's presented in a comprehensive manner.
Even if the narrator has a little accent to his manner of speaking, it is easily understood even with someone whose accent is far different from his, and believe me.
My east Texas southern drawl is as far from yours as there can possibly be, but you have a natural easy manner that is pleasant on the ears, and in the addition of always having a interesting topic .
I have no difficulty whatsoever in understanding completely what your saying.
Thanks once more for a pleasant insightful way to spend a few minutes in a place, and different types of vehicles or whatever, that I'll never have seen are knew of without your curious and knowledgable mind to take myself, and I am sure many others along for the end results of your research.
Your summary of how you _tracked_ down all the historical threads to this story was just as fascinating as the main video; and having a shiny grey Ferguson tractor as your desk top made it all complete in my opinion.
Thank you! Yeah need to get a video about this Ferguson out one day...
considering the overheating problems the beetle's air cooled engines had I bet they were very happy with their antarctic conditions.
the Canadian outback... I've never considered us as having an outback, but I love it.
makes sense
Well, an outback can be defined as a remote area with a little population. Obviously, most people only refer to Australia, but many places in Canada can fit this description
Well the Aussie outback is basically desert & scrublands, so in Canada it could be the tundra.... a frozen outback! ❄
loving your antarctic videos. It's a really fascinating subject which you dont see talked about all too often
Thank you! I’m somewhat obsessed so glad to see others are interested 😂
Back in the late fifties I was lucky to go to the Royal Festival Hall in London to attend a lecture by Vivian (later Sir) Fuchs on the Trans Antarctic Expedition. One of the highlights was to sit in a Tucker Sno-Cat used in the expedition and another vehicle which may have been a Weasel. Later in life one of my employers had a grey Fergie similar to the ones used to travel to the South Pole. Great video and thank you for sharing it with us all.
Thanks for sharing that, what an amazing story the Trans-Antarctic Ex. was and how lucky you were seeing that! Thats a whole video I'd love to make one day.
@@CalumRaasay Check out Dutch girl Manon Ossevoort, 38, who drove her Fergie tractor to the South Pole.
Well done Calum! Thank you so much for preserving these little known dusty corners of technology. Delightful! Keep up the good work.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thats for watching!
I liked all the footage showing M29 and M29C Studebaker Weasels. I had an '85 Mini Mayfair while stationed in Germany in the mid-90's. Totally dug the vid on the Mini-Trac.
Another great video!
Thanks for putting in the time and effort to research and produce these little gems 💎👍
Your series of videos on Antarctic land vehicles are really fantastic. Thank you.
Glad you like them!
These random vehicle talks are what this channel should be. Actually amazing hearing you talk about these failed Antarctic vehicles
Well luckily It IS what my channel is! It's also the other things I want to make, funnelling your content and interest down one narrow path is boring.
Wonderful topic and video, thank you so much for you dedication to detail. I believe saw that little creature in Canada as a young boy transporting equipment with my grandfather, a discussion on price was made, but a deal was not struck- 1969-1972. too bad. he was an a mechanic Sargent 3rd armor, we both loved the design and it would have never left our possession and care. we were quite taken with its design ( at the time the clutch was out lol ) grand father had observed the little vehicle a number of times resting in the same place on our travels.
Thanks Calum , really enjoyed that , your doing a great thing by putting these together , lovely editing , beautiful diction , thoughtful from beginning to end , thank you .
Thank you Garry!
Well done Calum, I love your videos, they are well done and I find myself getting intrigued because you are intrigued. Thanks for putting it out there!
You are correct about the Canadian one being Bombardier, it is actually a JW67 with a butchered up mini shell directly on the chassis, it’s not related to the actual mini track. The chap who built it did a few with different small car bodies when the original Bombardier bodies rotted out from road salt damage and also a few with just roll cages. Same gent also built a hybrid Ford 8N/Volkswagen tractor using the same method.
Oh wow some fresh information! Really appreciate this - a shame that it's not the original Mini-trac but I guess it was a long shot anyway!
Thank you for another video, I am always looking forward to them.
Thank you Lars!
I never heard of these cool lil machines. Thanks for sharing!
Love these documentaries, hope you make more!
I love these antarctic vehicle videos. It's always super interesting to see what they kit bashed together to see if it would work in those icy conditions. You also always make them super interesting. Keep up the good work
Thanks very much friend I appreciate it! I’d love to make more about different vehicles, especially ships used out there!
@@CalumRaasay I'd love to see that :)
I love your studies of some of these random engineering feats, fascinating and great fun! Plus the drawings add a nice touch. Keep these coming please!
In 1969 I put the sub frames from a 1961 Mini, close together to have a 43” wheel base. Lots of fun. I was 14.
10:05 sooo cute!
Great job Calum . This was well researched , very informative
and professionally presented .
Thank you Philip! Had a blast making it :)
This is one of my favorite of your films.
Cute little thing, isn't it?
That was awesome. I loved it. I always love unique vehicles if the were cool in some way and I've always like mini's especially manual transmission versions from back from when I first saw that movie of clip you showed. I saw a remake that had those mini's but with brush bars with lights on them too. The coolest part of both movies were those cars.
Second I love tracked vehicles, like snow cats. Not so much tanks, but lighter snow track vehicles.
Put the two together makes pure awesomeness.
I'm disabled on low income, so I can't afford a mini these days more less a tracked vehicle that would have to be hauled to a place to drive it.
But that story hit those two favorite things I like to think about. Great piece of history from around the time just before I was born.
I loved your pencil drawing without the color. You should sign it and frame it.
Thank you for sharing the video with us. 😎👍
Well done! I was interested throughout. Thanks for the education on this.
What a brilliant video. Superb narration, a true masterpiece. First time visitor to your work, instant subscriber, thanks.
Volkswagen supplying Beetles for the Antarctic crews reminds me a *lot* of Chevrolet using stock Corvairs to trek across the Darien Gap in Panama. There's plenty of footage of those regular 4-door sedans making it across the jungle and fording rivers with water up to the windows, as if they were always meant to be there. Might be an interesting video there, since I've never seen anyone ever mention these cars or the expedition they were on.
Wow, never heard of that story! Going to have to look that up
You are such a talented documentarian. I love your style and narration and the dedication to smaller details. Keep doing them, I’m hooked.
Thank you! I will continue!
9:15 - I was wondering as my H-reg Mini 1000 wasn't all that warm in winter. 4:50 - Wow, brings back memories. While the early Minis looked a little different, they look almost the same as mine.
This whole video is making me want to buy a mini. Really dont need more project cars 😣
Cool video! Btw, here in Sweden we refer to the Snow Trac as the "snövessla" (i e snow waesel). I have been towed by these while skiing when I was a kid (it towed a group of 10-15 people on skis at the same time).
You are now officially an Antarctic transportation channel. Can't wait for the Ferguson video
Haha no way! It’s tempting to follow what you think is the most successful, but I feel it’s a perfect way to sicken yourself of the subject. I’ll be keeping my videos as random as ever!
Cracking video!...masses of interesting information presented in quick fire delivery, excellent...and can draw like that...and has a fully restored 20 to lean on! 🚜
haha a man of many talents!
Fascinating. A great era of Antarctic work and of boffins in sheds having the potential to change the world
I'd love one of them! Love a good zippo
Fantastic! I really enjoy watching your videos, they are really informative and engaging! Please keep it up!
Thanks so much for sharing 👌👍
I for one would welcome a video about the Ferguson, given your knack for research. I had both the 9N and 8N Fords in earlier times, and have some knowledge of the history of Ford and Ferguson, but I reckon there’s a lot more to know. Neither tractor was in such good condition as yours, by the way. Looks good!
Your Antarctic videos are fantastic. Quality of the highest level. The Drawing skills too are insane.
Thank you for another great interesting and funny video
Thanks so much! Love making these, their so much fun to research
Absolutely fascinating video - beautifully produced & narrated as usual! Very well done for finding this stuff out & sharing it!
That is so cool! Excellent documentary my friend
Great clip.
Love your Fergy!!!
Hi,
Have to tell you, it was very interesting to hear about it!
I remember being a kid and seeing those pictures: it's hard to believe that years later I would be watching a RUclips video about it!
Thanks, keep up the good work 👍
Thanks for sharing! I'm so glad you enjoyed watching.
Nice video Calum. I used to have 2 of the Swedish SnowTrac st4 ,with Volkswagen aircooled flat four. Cool machine,but great at throwing tracks,especially on the heather! ( I live not far away from Raaasay) also have an old grey Fergie on the croft,not quite as tidy as yours tho! 🤣🤣 I’ve also owned and used a couple of Snowtrac ST 4. , great machines on snow,but useless on heather and rocks.
Great tractor! I have a 1951 TO-30, little torque monsters. You make some great vids. If you have the time please do one on the tractors and other vehicles that used to run drive screws or augers. Genius concept and always wonder why it faded out besides tracks being more universal.
I think there is still a promotional film video on RUclips by the Fordson tractor company. From 1923 it was quite amazing!
Another very interesting video from you... 👍😎
Props for properly crediting your contributors, not everyone does that, it shows you have integrity.
Would love to see a video on your little grey Fergie in the future.... Keep doing what you do, keep doing you. 😎👍❤🕊
Thank you! Yeah the real credit goes to Iain White on this, he did some amazing work and really I hope that sharing this story I might be able to get him some answers as to what happened to these cool wee machines! But yeah maybe a Ferguson tractor story one day, I've already filmed plenty about it!
Love the topic, keep going.
I will!
Excellent. Thank you for sharing. Have a blessed day.
Cheers Calvin 👍🏻
Happy I found your channel. This was another great video.
Oh man! I owned 3 mini's when I was much younger, 76 and 79 clubmans and a 69 Cooper. The latter being my dream car. Too bad the one I bought was literally a lemon (it was even painted lemon yellow 😆). My only complaint, living on the prairies of Canada, was the heater. I can't even imagine the heater core they had to use to keep them functional in those temps.
And of course now I want one!
The missing one is probably covered with cobwebs and sitting forgotten in the corner of a large dank customs warehouse waiting for someone to pay the import tax. My first impression was Mr. Beans snow mobile. LoL, sure enough, a mini Cooper. Love it.
Another really informative video on these fascinating vehicles, I look forward to the next one. Have you thought about doing a video on the original tracked landrover (probably a Series 2, 110) which I think was built in the west Highlands in the late 60s? Fairly sure it was used by the Hydro Board to get to remote 11 and 33kV lines and intakes in Argyll/Perthshire. It was parked at at Lix Toll garage until about 15 years ago - I asked what happened to it and they said they sold it to Landrover UK who wanted it and sent it to Mexico. No idea why, it can't be to cross peat bogs. There's a replacement Defender vehicle at Lix Toll now, also yellow but the tracks are much smaller. It doesn't cut the mustard like the original.
I know the one you mean! Quite close to me, seen a couple pictures floating around. Need to see if I can find more info
Great vid, very interesting. Worked on a orchard not long back that used old red fergies. Great workhorses. Simple & effective. The only problem was lack of maintenance and braking capacity. Three full apple bins plus trailer weight and steep grass hills. Bad combo. Still love em but! Cheers.
Love these antarctic vehicle documentaries!
Thank you! I enjoy making them!
Fantastic video! Hoping that the original Mini Trac resurfaces in Canada at some point.
We had a few beetles and my father had some of those minis. In winter the beetle has to be one of the most uncomfortable cars ever. It handled well and generally did not get stuck but it was bitterly cold and you needed one free hand scraping the windshield constantly. There was a gasoline heater, but all ours ever did was reduce fuel efficiency and fill the cabin full of carbon monoxide so you opened the windows....
Yeah, not a good system at all. Admittedly it probably was ok when brand new, but none of the ones I ever had ever worked and I am glad I didn't die from asphyxiation using it!
Thanks Calum great video
I worked for the nz Antarctic program and some of the old snow tracs are still tucked away at some of the old outposts but we had 70 series Toyotas and hagglunds re-engined with Mercedes 5cyl diesels. We also had an electric Polaris ranger for use on base. The road to McMuffin station or even to te airfield in winter could be done in most family cars!
That’s amazing! Saw some great photos of the New Zealand based with Land Rovers and Land Cruisers around those bases, love it!
@@CalumRaasay yeah one of the mechanics from about 1990 uploaded some of his photos of old vehicles, there were some weird and wonderful contraptions! There was some sort of half-track van but I can’t remember what it was based on but it was made by (or called) ASV
9:45 "...quite successful apart from Minor problems"
There, I fixed that quote :D
What a fabulous video about a fabulous little machine! I'll take one of those as well as a 4WD, lifted V8-powered Miata on knobby tires.
If BMC rereleased this I feel like it would actually be super popular
"Canadian outback", I've never heard an aussie's view of northern Canada
Haha though it might be a nice Aussie/Canada parallel 😂
You're a fantastic artist! That drawing is great.
Thank you so much 😀
Loved this. Thanks!
You make really well made videos, truly great stuff. Also, your dialect is very nice to listen to.