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Hcammell represents the best of British engineering, reckons Paul Badger, a founder of the Scammell Owners and Enthusiasts Club, explaining why the club has picked up 300 members worldwide since forming in 1987.
So infectious is the members' enthusiasm that the Hawk was tempted to desert his lair for a brief flight to the club's summer rally, assembling on a Sunday morning outside the Post House in Crick.
But before the first Scammell rumbles into view, former lorry driver John Mitchell introduces himself: "Am I at the right place?" he asks anxiously, peering across a deserted Department of Transport layby.
Mitchell travels hundreds of miles to vintage events and says he has just completed rebuilding a fairground roundabout for taking to shows. 'Most of the lorries I drove in the sixties are collectors items now," he says.
Then Brian Freer draws up in an ex-showground tractor, named Sid after his father who died the week he bought it. "I saw Pickfords use them as a boy and when I was about 50 I got round to buying my own," he says.
For a while Freer's fine little wagon remains the only attraction for the camera-clicking fans who have gathered on an unusually breezy morning.
Eventually the layby fills — assembly perhaps delayed by too much of a good thing at the club's barbecue the previous night. The plan now is to drive to Market Harborough, have a pub lunch — then split up until the next rally at Easter.
Club organiser Julie Mitchell, husband Steve and girls Hayley and Clare arrive in a 1960 Seddon Atkinson — lust to be different", explains Julie, who produces three newsletters a year. "We've got members in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Holland and one in Italy," she says, "The Italian's a long-distance driver so he gets to some of the events."
Steve Mitchell is clear why the Scammell name is worth preserving: "They always stood for quality and strength," he says, pointing out that the army used them for heavy haulage.
In a manner befitting a slightly eccentric gathering, Jim Rochester chooses not to accompany his three-wheel brewery Scarab to the rally — leaving the driving duties to pals Peter Fiske and self-styled "co-pilot" Ivan Titmus. "Jim's been a member of the club since it was formed," says Fiske, "but he doesn't usually drive the Scarab because he prefers steam engines."
Over to Paul Badger, sunglasses reflecting a misplaced optimism for what has turned out to be a dull morning_ "Ever since I was a kid I've loved Scarnmells, it's a sad fact that it's all gone by the wayside now."
His tally of Scammells
includes two Handyrnans, a chaindrive, an Explorer, a Crusader and a pair of three-wheelers which are up for sale. bought the chaindrive in February, worked on it, and was showing it at rallies in May," he says proudly.
Badger steers the Hawk in the direction of Peter Skinner, club chairman, who has begun glancing at his watch in the manner of one who must soon lead his convoy into action, crying "wagon ha!". He has a 1945 model pulled by a 150 Gardner engine. "It's a plaything really," he says, "but it needs little maintenance — you just have to keep it clean,"
Skinner says Leyland Daf has promised to retain the name Scammell, although no vehicles are planned under the marque.
Tony Coelho, driving his father-in-law's vehicle, Jacqueline Ann, reckons the Scammell bug is a costly one to be bitten by: "You spend a lot of time hunting for spare lights."
And off they go — a mixed bunch including a former US army ambulance and a sprinkling of British ex-military vehicles, all polished and shining.
Before departing Julie Mitchell tucks three copies of the club's 1992 calendar under the Hawk's wing to give to the first three readers who can name the ship of the desert — also famous for its reliability — which lives within Scammell. Answers on a postcard by 14 September.
The Scammell Owners and Enthusiasts Club is on (0933) 626166.
by the Hawk