Best in the business!
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Of course Truckfest was fun. For anyone remotely interested in road haulage and the tools of the
trade, nothing else comes close. .:n.
Of course the displays and stunts in the main arena were a magnet for the many thousands of visitors to the East of England Showground.
But what started out in 1983 as a straightforward celebration of trucks and trucking has evolved into a hugely successful open-air business show. Away from the fun and games in the arena hauliers and drivers found plenty
i of hardware to check out, including the UK preview of Leyland Daf's 95XF tractor.
CM staffers, as well as meeting readers on our stand, were kept busy prowling round the many hundreds of trucks entered for the vehicle competitions, including our own Best Kept Working Truck, which represent the cream of British haulage.
As the pictures show, Truckfest just gets better and better. Here's to Truckfest '98!
44/04
Regular Truckfest visitor Colin McKay, boss of Sittingbourne-based McKay Freight, brought five of his contract-hire fleet to Peterborough, including a Volvo FL7 so new that there hadn't been time for the tyres to get dirty: "We picked it up on the way." The firm does a mixture of international and UK work, including _ gra beer deliveries for Faversham brew
er Shepherd Neame. And what WWI appeals about Truckfest? 'It's a good weekend out, the kids love it and it gives us a chance to see the new equipment." like many hauliers the break was short-lived: "A couple of the vehicles came up from France yesterday and some of the drivers will be shipping out tomorrow." Everyone pitched in to polish the wagons; pictured here are Steve and James Ockenden and Amy McKay.
• As usual, the Commercial Motor stand was a hive of activity with a non-stop disco and bags of spot prizes for Truckfest visitors. And our advertising team were kept busy selling an expanded range of regalia. Blustery weather with the odd shower made our baseball caps and sweatshirts particularly popular but certainly didn't dampen the traditional Truckfest atmosphere. • Driver Terry Beasley (pictured) was enjoying his first outing to Truckfest and polishing his Scania, awaiting the judges for the Best P-reg class. His reaction to the athmosphere at the East of England Showground? "Amazing— bloody good!"
THE WINNERS
TRUXSURANCE
BEeT1KsEtPT. IvOaWo KNeEeRti-DinRg 2nd: Murray IVER VEHICLE IGrant — 3rd: Steve Palmer Tiansport
MAYWOOD ONOARD
BEST1.(sE,F,IMRJIChiDristopber5., & Son 2nd: FG Bond 3rd: John Fletcher
T&G
BEcT1st iphAi Ni O0Wo oNsE D VEHICLE I 2nd David Gill 3rd: 1NM Armstrong
SONY
BEcT1st: Neil NeSir BloOrtRieWttORKING TRUCK I 2nd: .1 Nichols/Sues Tyres 3rd: C.1 & CA Hill
DRIVER HIRE
BEcT 1BsESt.TyePo-mREaGos
2nd: Kelvin Parker I 2nd: Kelvin Parker TRUCK 3rd: Danny Murphy 2nd: Kelvin Parker 3rd: Danny Murphy
INTERNATIONAL FACTORS
BEST11(stE:irI PIShFlEeyns Transport 2nd: Osbournes
3rd: WM Armstrong
P&O
BEcT 1WOt RJKIhNGN.CUhSTIOM TRUCK IArmstrong Steel/Philip Jones 2nd: 3rd: Danny Murphy BEcT 1WOt RJKIhNGN.CUhSTIOM TRUCK IArmstrong Steel/Philip Jones 2nd: 3rd: Danny Murphy
LE SHUTTLE
BEcT litiTt':LPSUP1 EsR TRUCK CHALLENGE IMagnum 2nd: (Dolphins) 3rd: Fred de Boer
CORGI CLASSICS
BEcT 1RsEtST. PVIaNTAIGHEam&RmES0TOnRdEDpiCc11 I2nd: GE-BE Transport 3rd: Knowles Transport / 'dards
SPEEDLINE
BEST PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD 1st: Danny Murphy
2nd: Osbournes
— 3rd: RD Gill — 3rd: RD Gill
DAILY STAR COMMERCIAL MOTOR
BET ler: Steve YEAR FBIRNIATAL:INCIMBrsETRKCIAMOTORW SWORKING 3rd: Danny Murphy — 1st: MJ CHRISTOPHERS & SON 2nd: PHILIP JONES 3rd: IVAN KEEPING • Bulk tipping specialist Dave Clarke was happy to make it to Truckfest this year—last time he had to pull out at the last minute after another truck hit him while he slept at a truckstop. His Scania 143 has clocked up more than a million miles on the same engine in its eight years on the road. Dave uses Iwo trailers—one to carry animal feed and the other carrying steel, stone or coal.
Mi Christophers & Sons' superbly presented 230hp G-reg Scania P93M pantechnicon scooped the prestigious "Best Kept Working Truck" award at CM Truckfest. The Newquay, Cornwall-based domestic anc international removals compary also won the best rigid prize at the show. Michael Christophers lint.) was on hand, along with the family, to receive the CM trophy and c £750 cheque from editor Brian Weatherley. Who says removals vans can't be glamorous?
• Iveco's top-of-the-range EuroStar demonstrator is booked solid for this year's show season hence the very expensive £6,000 pearlescent paint job. It's powered by a 520hp vee-eight engine with SAMT transmission and has full air suspension on both front and rear axle making it an ideal continental touring machine. Two operators with twin-steer versions are George Askew of Great Dunmow in Essex and Fenland haulier Richard Laud. lveco offers both Eaton and ZF gearboxes but there are indications that the 470hp engine with ZF Eurotronic gearbox could become the more popular choice.
• Cumbrian haulier William Armstrong celebrates 70 years in haulage this year. Scania's stand was filled with vehicles in Armstong's distinctive green livery. Newest addition was this R144 460 Topline, while the oldest was the company's yard shunter, an LB111 250 first registered in 1978. Cost new was £14,300! Another 111, a 280, has covered 1,886,000km since it was registered in 1980.
• Local Mercedes-Benz dealer Fengate Commercials was running the company's stand. Actros models dominated—the truck's first appearance at Peterborough. Every cab and most engine variants were there and centre stage was a vee-eight 570hp 1857 with Megaspace cab. The 1835 is likely to be a fleet favourite and this long-distance cab model was painted an eye-catching metallic green and silver.
• Leyland Daf's FT 95XF is catching on with UK operators; more than 220 have been sold to date without any actually appearing on the road yet and on the Continent it was 4,100. Here, 92% of sales have been at 430hp or 480hp. The first right-hand drive model goes to Mike Beer while this 480 version with its ZF 165221 gearbox is for Arthur Spriggs & Sons of Gloucester. Only 4x2s are available just now but 6x2s with twin-steer or lifting tag axles are due in a couple of weeks. * This Foden 4525 6x4 for Aberdeen haulier Donsicle Transport is one of 30X1 high-roof tractor units sold since its introduction last August. Donside will run it alongside a 425hp Cat-engined Foden 6x2 on paper deliveries to the South and waste paper backloads. The supplier, Charles Lawie of Aberdeen, has sold three of this type to date, all with double-drive and one with the 455hp Cat engine. Cummins' 525hp engine is the most powerful option but a 550hp Cat 3406E engine is rumoured to be on the way. • Beneath the skin the Canadian-built Western Star Constellation's driveline is similar on any ERF artic: 525hp 14-litre Cummins, Celect/Road Relay package, Fuller 16-speeder, Jake brake and Rockwell bogie. The cab and rear sleeper pod is real American Pie though. Interested buyers take note of the price back home of around £90,000. Western Star ownership has given ERF the confidence to throw the gauntlet down to rival truck manufacturers to beat the fuel efficiency of its M11-engined tractive units. There are 30 such artics dotted around its dealerships waiting for operators to test them. They're a mix of 4x2s and 6x2s with 340, 380 and 405hp engines. Fuel returns are variable but ERF believes they can still beat any comparable chassis on fuel efficiency in a head to head "fuel duel" • How do you transport portable buildings and lift them into place on site? With this Renault Magnum, operated by IF Jackson of Buxton. The project began as a Saturday morning hobby for boss Jackson but it's big business in its own right now. Onboard kit includes a 26tonne/metre Bonfiglioni crane and stabiliser legs. The tractor pulls a semi lowloader and can handle portable buildings from 10m to 60m. Other kit includes a 7.5-tonne front axle. • We spotted this rarity on the MAN stand, an M2000 4x4 18.224. This model is clearly aimed at the emergency services but MAN is pitching for the utilities companies too. The cab is fitted out in durable tipper trim suitable for its harsh working environment. Power comes from MAN's 220hp 6.8litre six driving through an eight-speed rangechange box. Drive is split front/rear by the centrally mounted transfer box. Heavy-duty steel suspension front and rear gives added ground clearance, while a front anti-roll bar should keep the handling taut. The rear brake chambers are mounted well clear of flying rocks too. • Seddon Atkinson's StratoCruiser is now a fixture on the Seddon price list with Cummins M11 380 power. Standard kit includes fifth wheel and Cummins RoadRelay onboard driver information system in Seddon's ready for the road promotional offer. Other exhibits included Stroto 340 and 380 models. Laughton haulier J Huddleston showed his P-registration Strato 380 alongside a 20-year-old Cummins powered P-reg Borderer 6x2 with tog axle, still earning its keep. Another Borderer, one of the last 4x2s, was also there in JA Leach livery,
• Fitter Andy Pinder brought this 1981 Volvo F7 belonging to F Knowles & Son down from OuIton near Leeds. The 4x2 210hp unit works half the year pulling containers around the country and the other half shunting trailers at the firm's yard. Because of its age it is not speed limited and overtook a good many younger trucks on the way to the showground.
• Truckfest comes at a busy time of year for Paul McGown of McGawn Bros Maybole. Its main contract is delivering plastic bags for Anaplast. The work is seasonal but as farmers are cutting their silage at the moment the firm's pretty busy. Paul works with his father and uncle on a fleet of 12 Scania 112s and 113s and have been coming to Truckfest for the past eight years.
• These three skip loaders belonging to Shaw's Skip Hire were working until Saturday lunchtime before making the trip down from Barnsley. Owner of the company Robert Shaw buys tractor units and stretches them to accommodate the skip carrying bodies. According to driver Mick Bywater, this results in loaders with plenty of pulling power. Shaw runs three immaculate Dafs and a MercedesBenz.
• General haulier Frank Hudson Transport from Toadpool, County Durham brought four out of his 14 trucks and a three-wheeled Reliant van to Truckfest this year. The company runs a mixed fleet including Scanias and MANs and does plenty of miles each year. Geoffrey Plews, who drives one of the company's tractor units, has covered 117,000km in eight months.
• Irish haulier John O'Neill brought this Leyland Daf 95 all the way from Brittas, County Dublin. The 6x4 tractor unit has a 60-tonne crane mounted between the cab and the fifth wheel for moving containers and other equipment. Driver Darren Valentine brought this unit along with one other.
• This is Chris Brailsford's second Mack Ultraliner imported from the US by Western Trucks. He describes driving the 350hp 6x4 as "unusual" but praises it as a great workhorse—it's already done 500,000km, mostly on low-loader work. The Chesterfield haulier does all his own maintenance and says he wouldn't drive anything else.
• This is Dutch haulier Lb Vankoert's first Truckfest and a perfect opportunity to show off his recently painted Scania 420. He's a bit of an expert on Indians so when it came to deciding on the artwork it was the obvious choice. Lb hauls vegetables from Amsterdam to the UK about three times a week. His son Michael is the other half of the business and also drives an "Indian" &cilia. • Last year's winner GL Jones was back again with some improvements to its Scania 113. Driver Philip Jones has added a walnut dash, a new steering wheel, a toolbox and leather upholstery although the latter had to be borrowed from Kelly Trucks in West Bromwich imany thanks) as the original supplier let them down. The Knight theme on the livery comes from their client Armstrong Steel's emblem. They got the idea after watching the Richard Gere movie First Knight.
• Shane Jones delivers logs for his father's business HH Jones and Sons. He does a lot of forest driving and assures us the bull bars are there for a reason: "On one job we drive 10 miles into the forest and we've hit all sorts of things!" They have their own cranes to load the logs and the Volvo FH12 runs on super singles to negotiate the forest tracks. Shane has been in the business for 10 years and is joined by his brother and father who started back in 1961. They also have seven other employees driving a mixture of Volvos, lvecos and MANs. • The £1,800 that father and son team Gilbert and James Richardson spent on customising their Volvo FH1 2 was recouped in the first year in the prize money they won at several shows. James, 26, says: "We ordered it factory black and the paintwork was put on that. Tigers just seemed like a good idea and the guy did a really good job." The truck doesn't always look so spotless however; it's more usually seen carrying turf and potatoes near its Yorkshire base.
• Simon Hartley is "The Box Man". His father, Stuart, who has been trucking for more than 20 years is the owner-driver of the Huddersfield business. They mostly carry waste paper and cartons. Hence "The Box Man" nickname. This truck was entered in the Senior Working Truck competition at this year's festival. Simon travels throughout the UK and does a large number of jobs in Wales. They also run a multi-lift wagon. • Stewart Pilkington of Stewart Pilkington and Son is an owner-driver from Blackpool who set up 18 months ago. He does work for companies including P&O and Pandoro. Stewart finds it hard to make time to visit other truck festivals and exhibitions but he does make time for Truckfest. "It's the biggest one around," he says.
• Tony Knowles is the owner of Knowles Transport based in Wimblington, Cambridgeshire. This is one of his eight vintage trucks which are renovated in his own workshops. He has 70 trucks in his fleet. They travel nationwide and are involved in warehousing and distribution.
• Truckfest is a show for the drivers as much as anyone else. David Deans and Jim Fowler of Midlothian-based McBean Transport had brought several members of their families and were happy to share a beer with CM and enthuse about the show: "We enjoy the competitions and the friendliness," said Jim Fowler.
• Ken Tolhurst, who runs Motward, has been handling pallets for the best part of 25 years and is a regular at the East of England site. The fleet's all Volvo at present, but he's currently evaluating a Scania demonstrator. Pictured, from left, are Jason Tolhurst, Steve Fennell, Billy Condron, Robert Scrafton, Steve Goulden, Billy Condron's sons Tony and Sean, and Daryl Jeffries. The fleet also enters Truckfest South-West but the wagons aren't only spruced up for shows; the drivers are out polishing them every Saturday ready for the next week's work.
• Kevin Parker started out as an owner-driver back in the seventies; the KT Parker logo graces a fleet of 13 Leyland Dafs, Ivecos and Fodens on general haulage. The company has been entering the Best-Kept Fleet competition for the past four years, picking up a number of highly cornmended awards. Would this be the company's year for an outright victory? "We're hoping for it," said one of the drivers, busy polishing his wagon which, like so many immaculate concours entrants, was out on the road earning its keep until the night before the big event. Drivers Lee, Stuart, Gary and Rob all had loaded trailers on the site ready to get on the road first thing Tuesday morning.
• Truckfest is a fun day out, but for operators entering the various classes of the concours competitions, awaiting the judges can be a tense time. Away from the show in the main arena, the real heart of Truckfest has always been the trucks themselves, and they don't come better than this. The judges' job seems to get tougher every year—and the vast majority of trucks on show are working wagons, leaving their drivers precious little time to polish them up for the big day.
• Vanessa Perry, transport manager of Pauline Edwards Transport, was at Truckfest to enjoy a good weekend. But she also hoped the show might bring in some extra business for the operation launched by her mother, Pauline Edwards, in 1995. Perry was also hoping to meet existing subcontractors who had just been a voice on the phone.The firm, which specialises in express deliveries of car components, had entered its 10-year-old Scania 112 in the Senior Best-Kept Working Truck category.