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• Europe's top trucking event sweltered under cloudless skies and shimmered in the heat as the potent brew of soaring temperatures, spectacular trucks and top celebrities combined to make Commercial Motor Truckfest '90 the biggest and best to date.
One of the highlight's of this year's show was the amazing Le Looping Camion of French stunt driver Patrick Bourny. Crowds packed the Truckfest arena to see Bourny's new truck completing its amazing rollover somersault.
Taking a run-up from outside the main arena, Le Looping CaMI.011 held a steady 50Iun/h until it reached an aluminium mat in the centre of the arena. The speed was critical but compatriot Michel judged their runups to perfection. At the appointed moment they locked the front brakes and Le Loop ing Camion dived forward, red smoke pouring out to form a perfect parabola in the sky as the vehicle bounced back on to its wheels.
Meanwhile, the sky over the main arena was busy with helicopters bringing celebrities into Truckfest. Page 3 lovely Maria Whittaker chose Truckfest to unveil her new image, which will feature on the cover of her first pop single which is due to be released soon.
On the Iveco Ford stand stars from top-rating television series The Bill also attracted big crowds of autograph hunters. For Christopher Ellison (Det/Inspector Burnside), Nub Conwell (WPC Viv Martella) and Tony Scannell (Det/Sgt Roach), Commercial MotorTruckfest '90 was the ideal way to meet thousands of their fans.
Record-breaking crowds marvelled at Truckfest's most impressive display of Europe's trucking finest. From four Treg Dodge 300s, immaculate in the livery of hardwood specialist Burgoynes of Lyonshall, to the fabulous scarlet gull-winged Biondi Scania custom truck from Sweden, every single rig sparkled in the unprecedented Bank Holiday temperatures.
Hard working tippers, from operators like Neil Bartlett Haulage of Biniey near Coventry, shone in the sunshine, with glorious paintwork and faultless chrome, their appearance giving no clue of the arduous job they handle every working day of the year.
The excellence of the trucks on display was not all on the surface. Operators also take considerable pride in their trucks' interiors — none more so than owner-driver Kay Phillips whose vee-eight-powered Scania 142M is graced with lace curtains, ribbons and sheepskin.
The competition for top Truckfest awards is intense and, though there is a terrific camaraderie between the entrants and exhibitors, people will move heaven and earth to get their vehicles to the show in top form. This was most clearly marked on the Seddon Atkinson stand this year, where Clifford "Shaggy" Batley's 6x2 Strato gleamed beautifully in its stylish sky blue and blood red livery. What visitors did not see was the effect of a collision just two days previously involving a Renault Extra van.
The incident caused extensive nearside damage to the Strato-Cruiser, leading Batley to send out an emergency call to his local Seddon Atkinson dealer, Trumbar of Diss. Trumbar ordered replacement panels while Batley nursed his stricken Strato to Diss.
The panels were specially painted and lacquered by Shire Commercials at Watton, who completed the job in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Most special visitor to Truckfest this year was newlywed Tracey Bruce, whose long-held ambition to be driven in a truck to Tnickfest on her honeymoon was fulfilled by a white knight in the form of one Mr Robinson from Peterborough, who offered his Peterbilt's services for the day. Here's to you, Mr Robinson. • Yet again Commercial Motor's Truckfest was heavily over-subscribed and entries had to be turned down because all classes were full weeks before the event.
The quality of entries climbs every year and the main arena at the East of England Showground was packed with spectacular trucks doing battle for the six coveted trophies.
Entrants from all over Europe included some familiar faces who have been coming to Britain's longest-running truck show since it began, but firsttimers were also among the award winners. Truckfest award to add to the growing collection on his mantlepiece when once again he romped home with this year's top prize — repeating his success last year with the same immaculate Volvo rigid, which is now 11 years old.
Jackson deserved his award: he told CM that he washes the vehicle every day.
He runs the Volvo, which is now on its second engine having covered over 1.6m kilometres, for ARC Conbloc of Bourne, Lincs.
Runner up Matthew Robinson with a W-reg Leyland FL7 Roadtrain from Noel J H Robinsons of Horncastle, Lincolnshire. Matthew, son of the firm's founder and a company partner, was especially delighted to have picked up two prizes on his first entry in Truckfest; he also won first place in the qualifying heat for Best Company-Owned Vehicle. The firm, which has been in business for six years, concentrates on container freight.
Third came Craig Ward who takes meticulous care of an Freg Volvo FLIO for Robert Hymas of Burton Leonard of North Yorks. He secured his place in the final by coming second in the Best CompanyOwned Vehicle class.
Andersons Bulk Haulage of Wisbech, Cambs snatched the Bandag Best Kept Fleet award with its trio of Volvos.
J A Hutchinson of Stibbington near Peterborough, came second in the fleet competition for the second year running, with four ERFs.
This year's third place was taken by an impressive line up of seven bright red Volvos run by Marley Transport of Burton on Trent.
Owner-operator Graham Cordiner won the custom trophy with his magnificent G-reg Scalia 143. He is based in Peterhead, Scotland.
John Phillips of Stourport, Worcs-based Armstrong Stells followed closely behifid with his F-reg Scania 143, and Paul Willis of Northampton-based Binns Haulage completed the hat trick for Scania with yet another 143.
Shell Supertruck Challenge
Dutch haulier Leo Van Tiel strolled into first place with his unusual Peterbilt 359.
This was his first Truckfest entry, but he regularly enters Dutch shows in Holland and uses the vehicle at weddings.
The truck was bought four years ago from Houston, Texas, and is the showpiece of a more mundane fleet of 35 Volvos, which operate as far afield as the Soviet Union.
Swede Leif Johnsson came in second with his bright red truck Blondk with appropriate number plate BLOND1.
Third place was taken by Andrew Hitchings of Ross-onWye-based D & J Hitchings: his company also exports tractors and diesel engines.
Best G-reg Truck Competition
Peterhead-based owneroperator Graham Cordiner came first with his Scalia 143; runner up was Kevin Creighton of Kevin Creighton (Haulage), Harold Hill, Essex, with his Mercedes-Benz 814.
Steve Passoni took third place with his Volvo FL7 tipper, which he operates from Winsford, Cheshire.
Best Vintage Commercial Vehicle
Tony Knowles from general haulier Knowles Transport of Wimblington, Cambs, won first place with his 1956 ERF.
This was the first vintage award for the ERF, which took three years to restore.
Knowles says he bought it in "a derelict state" with the idea of renovating it for competitions.
He stripped it down to its chassis for a complete rebuild at his company workshops.
Knowles is a member of the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society and has eight vintage vehicles, two have been renovated with a third due to join them in September.
Second place was taken by Ken Thomas of Guyhirn, Cambs, with his 1944 Atkinson which won first place last year.
Ian Cunningham of G & D Cunningham was third, he came down from Ayrshire to compete in his 1957 Albion Reiver.