George Hopkins of Linthicum climbs aboard his 1964 Czech Tatra OT-64 amphibious armored fighting vehicle. Hopkins is currently trying to get the 15-ton behemoth in working order for upcoming events that feature old military vehicles. He’s a member of a regional club called the Washington Area Collectors/Blue & Gray Military Vehicle Trust.
The next time George Hopkins backs out of his driveway, he should consider selling tickets.
by Shannon Lee Zirkle — The Capital
Unfortunately, that was quite a while ago. The vehicle has been stranded for a couple years now with a bum engine, but the 61-year-old Hopkins hopes to have it in working order again fairly soon.
“You never know what’s in your neighbor’s backyard,” the Howard County computer animation teacher quipped while gazing up at the 9 1/2-foot-high, 8-foot-wide and 24 1/2-foot-long vehicle that rides on eight tires that are each more than 3 1/2 feet tall. “I’m just a big kid.” More…..