The winners' gallery
Page 28
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All around was the steady throb of diesel engines set to a backdrop of air horns, disco music and the beat of helicopter rotors as the more adventurous chose to view Truckfest from one of the joy-riding choppers.
Meanwhile, back in the main arena the audience was being treated to a steady stream of wheelie trucks, jet wagons, custom vans, tank transporters, snow cats, skydivers, "impish" motorcyclists and guest celebrities including Page Three stunner Sue Simmonds, Little and Large and Britain's newest hero "Eagle" Eddie Edwards who was more than happy to exchange his usual ski jumper's helmet for a Commercial Motor cap for the bank holiday weekend.
Above all else, however, Truckfest is, and always will be, for operators and drivers, and the assembled throng of working trucks in all shapes and sizes were testimony to the dedication, and class of the UK haulage industry.
overiding spirit
Each year the entries grow — but the overiding spirit remains the same. Typical of the driver's we spoke to was 24-year-old David Wakefield, a Class 1 driver from Deal in Kent who brought his boss's Scania tractive unit up to Peterborough and entered Truckfest "for the fun of it".
From the other end of the country came three entrants from Carlisle-based F A Drayson. Drivers Tommy Masterton, Doug Taylor and John Fitzpatrick stopped off on their way down south, dropped their trailers and got stuck in with the spit and polish. Come Tuesday they were back on the road again. What did they think of Truckfest? "Fantastic. . wouldn't miss it for anything" — but could it really do the oftenmaligned haulage industry some good? "No doubt about it, we're letting folk see what we can really be." Gentlemen, you said it . . .
El by Brian Weatherley and Richard Scrase