The Hawk fixes it
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In this vale of tears we call life it is not often that cherished dreams come true, but one did for Norfolk lorry driver Les Gaskins when he revealed to the Hawk his heart's desire... 2 ast month the Hawk published a picture of King's Lynn lorry driver Les Gaskins' 50th birthday cake, fashioned in the shape of Les's favourite truck, a Renault Magnum.
Although Magnum fanatic Les was delighted with the splendid cake—baked by his wife Jean—he wrote longingly: "After 27 years on the road I hope this is not as close as I get to my dreams."
Earlier this month, with the aid of the Hawk's magic wand and Renault's goodwill, Les's dream came true when he was presented with a brand new Magnum for the day. His wife and daughter Christine, 21, kept the secret from Les till the big day, Tuesday 1 February.
For unsuspecting Les the day began as usual when he took out his Renault G290 24tonner for a series of routine drops for his employer Favor Parker of Stoke Ferry— funnily enough Les won the G290 for a year in a CM competition in 1988 and Favor Parker subsequently bought it.
While Les got on with another day's work his wife Jean was being chauffeur driven to Favor Parker's depot to join directors Peter Burgess and Derek Marrows, the men from Renault, and
CM's photo
grapher. A
message was sent to Les to return to the depot urgently—to be presented with the keys to the L-reg Magnum. The day's work was not going to be too arduous: a collection of soya meal from Bunge UK in Kings Lynn to take back to Stoke Ferry leaving the afternoon free to pose for CM'S lensman.
Once Les had got used to the idea and was comfortably underway in his dream truck, aided by a Renault demonstration driver, the Hawk put through a call to the Magnum cab.
By now it was lunchtime and Les was supervising the loading at Bunge while walking round the vehicle with a mobile phone ("I'm a glorified truck driving yuppie). He marvelled that his wife and daughter had kept the secret from him and was relishing his day with the Magnum. "There's nothing like it," he said "It's out of this world to drive, sheer luxury: you've got space, power and prestige."
Les doesn't expect his boss to buy one for the short haul work in which the firm specialises, but there's no harm in dreaming:"All drivers are striving to get something a little better," he says, "but you've got to convince the governor."
Les reckoned the Magnum's high-tech features would take a little getting used to—"It would take you at least a week to work out what everything does"—but he made the most of his special day, despite the Norfolk drizzle: "1 think I'm still in bed and dreaming,"