Pony Tracks Tank Farm

I never blog/have pictures from work, but this is the exception! This summer, I finally went on the Pony Tracks tour. What is that, you ask? A super rich man, Jauques Littlefield had a hobby when he was a little kid: building model tanks. Not too uncommon, except, he never grew out of it. When he became an adult, the puny little models ceased to satisfy his love of tanks, so he began to purchase and restore them. Cue a lifetime passion. He collected and restored over 200 tanks and other military vehicles before he died a few years ago. It's the largest private tank collection in the world, located in the Portola Valley. Anyway, they give tours to military and other defense people (maybe anyone?) so we got to go up one day and check it out!

1 of three warehouses full of restored, operational, minus the guns (there have to be some concessions made to legally build and arsenal larger than some countries), tanks. There were also about 50 tanks outside because he bought tanks faster than he built the huge garages.

One of the original tanks: from WWI, if it looks like a farm tractor, that's because it is. Some American farmers shipped them over and metal plates were riveted on them. Only problem was that it was crank start, so when it stalled right in front of the enemy...yeah....you were a goner

Pieter with the kitty. This cat lives in the garages and spent the tour leaping from tank to tank. MY highlight of the tour

SCUD missile (one of 2)

Tank that Mr Littlefield used to show off every 4th of July. He would buy 5-6 junker cars and line them up in one of his fields. He'd invite the whole neighborhood over for a party and then at the designated time, get into this tank with his kids and charge forward at 35-40mph, smashing all the cars. Apparently, it was quite a sight to see. You can still see the paint from the cars on the underside of this tank.