Driving Military's MRAP: I Own the Road

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Driving Military's MRAP: I Own the Road

Wednesday January 16, 2008 10:46 PM

By RICHARD LARDNER

Associated Press Writer

LADSON, S.C. (AP) - I asked my guide in the back seat
where to park as I swung my 19-ton “MRAP” by the plant
where the massive military trucks are made.

“Anywhere you want,” said Mike Aldrich, a vice president
at Force Protection, Inc., the company that builds the
vehicles.

That's right. I own the road.

The truck is called a Cougar. The initials MRAP - pronounced
M-Rap - stand for a mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle.
The military is buying them by the thousands to guard troops
in Iraq and Afghanistan from deadly roadside bombs.

-snip-

Given the chance and a bit of coaching, I found the Cougar
easy to operate. It has an automatic, push-button transmission.
The steering wheel tilts to whatever angle you prefer. Confined
to Force Protection's property, I didn't go faster than 20
miles per hour. But the Cougar accelerates quickly and handles
well. They say it will do 65 mph.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-7231969,00.html

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

1. We had a "68 Cougar once !!! Great little car.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

2. Shore does make me proud to a american.