Tanks a lot!
Julia and Jim Hossack fix up demilitarized vehicles and bring them as attractions to local parades. Their British FV433 Abbot 105 mm self-propelled gun rode in the Rathdrum Days Parade. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)
CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press
Julia and Jim Hossack brought their British FV433 Abbot 105mm self-propelled gun to the Rathdrum Days Parade Saturday. The couple have been fixing up demilitarized vehicles for about 20 years and moved to the area about three years ago.
Julia Hossack gets out of the driver's seat of the self-propelled gun that she owns with her husband, Jim Hossack. The couple recently made an appearance with the vehicle at the Rathdrum Days Parade. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)
Julia and Jim Hossack fix up demilitarized vehicles and bring them as attractions to local parades. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)
Julia and Jim Hossack, of Rathdrum, refuel their self-propelled gun at a gas station. The couple have been fixing up demilitarized vehicles for about 20 years and moved to the area about three years ago.
A "Tank Crossing" sign is posted on the Hossack property in Rathdrum. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)
Julia Hossack maneuvers a self-propelled gun around her property in Rathdrum. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)
Jim Hossack rides on the top of a self-propelled gun on his property in Rathdrum. Jim and Julia Hossack fix up demilitarized vehicles and bring them as attractions to local parades. Their British FV433 Abbot 105 mm self-propelled gun was featured in the Rathdrum Days Parade. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)
A Snoopy cutout of the classic Peanuts character dressed as his WWI flying ace persona sits on a demilitarized vehicle owned by Julia and Jim Hossack. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)
Jim Hossack directs Julia Hossack as she drives a self-propelled vehicle on their property in Rathdrum. The couple fix up demilitarized vehicles and bring them as attractions to local parades. Their British FV433 Abbot 105 mm self-propelled gun rode in the Rathdrum Days Parade. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)
Julia and Jim Hossack use their demilitarized vehicle to stop for a roadside treat. The Hossacks brought their fixed-up British FV433 Abbot 105 mm self-propelled gun to the Rathdrum Days Parade.
RATHDRUM — Some families bond over board games or hosting a movie night.
Battling the norms, the Hossack family bonds by fixing up demilitarized vehicles, such as the British self-propelled gun that appeared Saturday in the Rathdrum Days Parade.
Julia and Jim Hossack originally latched onto the idea at the behest of their son about 20 years ago when he was getting ready for college.
“Our son and I thought it would be neat to get one and fix it up and sell it for college money,” Jim said. An old personnel vehicle from England was the family’s first purchase.
Ever since, they’ve been learning how to repair and maintain them and either trading or buying their next dream vehicle, which brings us to the retired British FV433 Abbot 105 mm self-propelled gun that drove in the parade last week.
“The movement is different than you’d expect. They sort of slither,” Jim said.
While Julia drove from the driver’s seat inside the hull of the vehicle, Jim grinned from ear to ear as he held an example of the ammunition the main gun would have fired while the vehicle was in service. On the body of the gun is a cutout of Snoopy dressed as his WWI flying ace persona.
Because it’s a British vehicle, the driver is based on the right side of the vehicle, but other than that, Julia said it’s not challenging to operate.
“I like driving. Why should the guys get all the fun? It’s actually not that hard, it’s just two sticks and a gas pedal. I also play violin in a symphony, so you really can’t pin me down,” Julia said.
When they lived in Washington, the couple often used to bring along their friend, Jim Greimes to parades. Greimes was at the Battle of the Bulge and would ride on the self-propelled gun with Jim and then answer questions and talk about his experiences in WWII. Greimes has since passed away, but for the Hossacks, it was a joy to see Greimes connect with veterans and pass on stories of what he had seen to the next generation.
“We just enjoy going to parades. My wife, Julia, usually drives, and I’m just there for looks. This is just sort of our passion,” Jim said.
It’s a two-person job to load up the gun and bring it to events, so the couple are used to taking the vehicle on the road as a team for about six occasions a year.
When they moved to Rathdrum in 2020, they gave the neighbors something to marvel at as they took the vehicle for a spin. The Hossacks have also posted a “Tank Crossing” sign, partly as a joke, partly as a reminder about their hobby.
The United States doesn’t sell demilitarized vehicles of any kind to civilians, so the vehicles that the Hossacks have acquired originally were usually of British or French origin and don’t fire.
Among their future projects, the Hossacks have a WWI amphibious duck that they’re currently trying to restore. If they can get it ready to be unveiled, it might be the next project that they can bring out during a future parade season.
Their son is pursuing his own career in Seattle working on nuclear fusion as a nuclear physicist, but Jim and Julia have fully embraced the family pastime of restoring demilitarized vehicles and making it their own. Jim has a degree in physics and Julia has a geology degree, but currently, the couple run a business that deals with medical equipment. Julia wound up becoming a technical writer in the medical industry, so they have since tailored their skills to their business.
“I deal with the widgets and she deals with the paper. I couldn’t do her job,” Jim said.
The fun distraction of driving in local events or talking to other hobbyists through the Spokane Motor Pool poses for some great conversations around the area.
“Word gets around and people get to see these interesting machines. It’s really fun to hear from the veterans when they see these vehicles,” Jim said.
The self-propelled gun has a 100-gallon gas tank, but the Hossacks never need to fill it up much before taking it to an event. The vehicle can use regular gas or diesel and gets about 3 miles per gallon. When the couple tows the vehicle to local gas stations to prepare it to ride in a parade, people at the gas station tend to be amazed by what appears to be a tank being brought in to refuel.
“Being able to share it with people is what keeps us going. My favorite part is the little kids responding to them,” Julia said.
