Old Trucker's Big Day Out (2)

More from the day at Feilding.

A peak through the window of the Watchorn's B model Mack.

Gleeson's Transport of Pahiatua brought along their Mercedes 1418, dating from 1973.

1954 International AR110 looked superb in its period shade of paint.

1968 Kenworth must be one of the first of the breed in NZ.

Some more shots of the modern trucks in the parade......Volvo

Volvo FH from 2009.

2012 Freightliner Argosy.

2013 Mercedes Benz has big cab, big motor and BIGEST rego plate.

1993 Kenworth T600A.

1986 NissanCWA52 has done close to three quarters of a million kms.

This is Garrity's other Dodge. This one they purchased new in 1979 and has the Perkins 540 V8.

The International 3070 were plentiful on NZ roads in their day and were fitted with the big 903 cu in V8 Cummins.

Nice old 1968 Commer I thought had the TS3, but records list it at 4400cc so I'm not so sure.
As far as I am aware the largest TS3s were only 3520cc.

Max took this snap of the Watchorn Mack B615RS from 1960.
This unit was originally restored by Motor Truck Distributors (the Mack importers) for their own promotional use.

The 1980 Ford DT2412 was restored in my hometown and is an accurate
example of the many Fords of this model that Transport Wairarapa operated. 

Mark Moody attended with his 8 wheeler Mack Ultraliner

Max, who took some of the photos here,
cruised over from nearby Palmerston North in his original (except for a repaint) 1960 Jaguar 3.4  Mk II.

Old Trucker's Big Day Out (1)

The Old Trucker's Big Day Out was held in Feilding yesterday, starting with a parade which finished at Manchester Square with a static display and rides in trucks for kids.

Being Spring, the weather varied from warm sunshine to cold wind and pouring rain, but this did not deter the truckers. Though I suspect a few more trucks may have turned up if the conditions had been better.

1995 Ford Louisville LTS800 heads along Ferguson Street in the parade.

A wave from the passenger in the 1947 Chevrolet Thriftmaster.

Garrity Bros. from Greytown had both of their Dodge 900Ts there. This one is Detroit 6V53 powered, whereas the other example has the V8 Perkins as originally fitted.

Max, who has contributed many pictures to this blog in the past,
was there, and took this photo of a mixed make line up.

Max also snapped this one of Clive and Darren Taylor's 1954 Mack B41X.
This is somewhat of a rarity as only a couple of hundred of this model were made and as few as 5 examples are believed to still exist. 170hp and a 10 speed duplex transmission.

Reid's Transport's 1975 Kenworth has been on my blog before, still working
I sincerely hope Ray is in the cab somewhere, but in this photo it looks as if Ruby is driving..

C model ERF 8 wheeler looks like a worker with its load of packing cases.

the 1956 Chevrolet 1300 appears to have had a considerable amount spent on it.

There were some modern trucks too. This 2012 Kenworth K108 was one of the rigs giving rides.

Painted as a John Deere service truck this 1946 Chev certainly looks smart.....

....but I can't forgive the sign writer for the unnecessary apostrophe.

Will It Do a Million?

Last Friday a had to go to Mitsubishi NZ (MMNZ) in Porirua to pick up a Triton ute for the dealership where I work. As has happened previously I hitched a ride with Michael, who works there, but lives in Masterton, as I do.

I thought it must be time to do a blog on Michael's car.

Michael previously worked in parts for the same dealer that I now work for, but 16 years ago was offered a job with MMNZ. Michael decided he wanted to remain living in Masterton and would do the daily hour-and-half, 100km each way, commute every day.10 years ago he decided to buy another car specifically for the purpose and chose a 1993 Lancer with 240,000 kms on the clock. It had a slight judder in the clutch, but as a competent mechanic, Michael decided he would fix that when it became absolutely necessary.

Well, to date, the Lancer has covered 686,000 kms without any attention to the engine or transmission including that clutch which still has a slight judder on take-off. Oil and filter changes have been performed every 10,000 kms and 5 cambelts along with numerous sparkplugs and one water pump have been replaced. The radiator has required attention twice, but both times were accidental damage. The first from a flying stone and the second by Michael accidentally leaning on the top hose, while working on the car, causing a crack where the inlet pipe joins the top tank. Michael's access to second hand Mitsubishi parts has enabled him to do some up grades, namely the fitting of Recaro seats and the addition of the firmer suspension of an Evo model. The route to work takes in the winding Rimutaka Hill road which rises to 555m and both modifications certainly show benefits here. Although the car has some small internal rattles, the engine and gearbox are quiet and Michael keeps the car moving smoothly and swiftly without encroaching into the illegal territory.

Recently a small oil leak has developed from the head gasket and Michael would like to at least get to 700,000 before he removes the head. Then he will have to decide whether to do anything else while it is off the road. Maybe look at that juddering clutch, but then it would be good to see just how far it would go before it slips or its behaviour becomes unbearable.

More UK Photos

Silcock Express car transporter towed by MAN.
I'm intrigued by how low the trailer is. I'm sure in NZ a trailer this low would leave a lot of scars in the tar macadam.

The driver of this Leyland DAF 85 360ATi is still snoring by the look of the drawn curtains.

Mercedes Powerliner with 2 axles pulling a 2 axle trailer with single tyres suggests a relatively light load.
G.T. Mandl from Denmark specialize in the manufacture and distribution of coffee filters.

This little Saviem with "cherry-picker" hails fromValenciennes in France.
Notation on the back of this photo identifies the snapper as Ch Baron.

Twin steer FL10 Volvo hauling cider for Bulmers from Ireland.

Scania P113m working for the ASDA shopping market chain.

Neatly tarped load on this 6 wheeler C series ERF of R.Parsons & Son from the village of Aylesbeare, Exeter in Devon.

LHD Iveco of MJL from Tourcoing in France.

Scania P113m of Excel Logistics hauling for the Tesco supermarket chain.
Note the lift axle on the trailer.
Although some single drive rigids use a lift axle on the non-driven axle in NZ, it is rarely used on trailers.

Bright yellow DAF 2500 for Snow's Timber of Glastonbury, Somerset.

280hp Scania P93m of Glass Glover Distribution hauls for the Littlewoods Shopping Group.

Brightly decorated MAN 22.361 B.R.Langdon & Son, Devon.

Scammell Scrapbook

A few Scammells from my UK collection. Mostly unknown snappers, but again some carry the name of Pat Crang.

I'm no expert on Scammells, but I believe this is a Highwayman with the cycle front guards which I think were an option.
S.Harrison & Sons of Sheffield were avid users of the brand. The forward control model in the right hand foreground uses the same basic cab as the Highwayman.

Another Highwayman. This time employed in the fairground business as a ballasted tractor.

Churchill's Handyman has appeared on my blog before. Another angle of it,  pulling a fairground load, with its fibreglass Michelotti designed cab.

Another Harrison & Sons Highwayman. This example has a non-steering single tyred axle ahead of the driving axle and the full guards.

Early cabbed Highwayman with the flat glass windscreens and rigged as a ballasted tractor..

Michelotti cab again. This one is an 8 wheeler, known as the Routeman MkIII.
Personally I think the Mk II, with its 4 round headlamps (similar to the Churchill's Handyman above) , looked better than the Mk III.

Pioneers were produced as a military vehicle. Although they were developed as 6x4 and 6x6s, most were 6x4s like the one shown.This example has had the cab rebuilt as originally the windscreen was two piece.
They were renowned for their enormous axle articulation and pulling power from extremely low gearing. Many found new lives as recovery wagons after their service with the forces.

Ballasted Highwayman again.

8x2 restored Scammell Rigid 8.

The Showtrac was a ballasted tractor for the fairground trade, using a generator as the ballast.
There were many 4 wheeler Scammells converted privately to the Showtrac concept and at one stage there were apparently more "Showtracs" on the road than Scammell had actually produced.