Sun smiles on Scottish 'fest
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Scotland's summer, noticeably absent for so long this year, finally came out from its hideaway to welcome the opening day of Scottish Truckfest, held at the Royal Highland Showground, Ingliston on 1-2 August. Revellers,
many proudly displaying their sun-kissed saltires (St Andrews flags) were keen ' to follow the advice of one haulier who called the show "the best chance to chat, laugh and wet the whistle with drivers anywhere". From the trucks and motorcyclists performing outrageous stunts in the showground, to the joy of a small bairn seeing his favourite 38-tonner for the first time, Truckfest Scotland truly managed
to make summer smile at last. by David Craik
Stuart Walker and Mike McDonald both drive for Aberdeenbased vehicle recovery specialist A Walker & Son. They'd just returned from the Truckstar show in Holland. "It was incredible," said Walker. "Over 3,000 trucks there and we were one of only Iwo Scottish entrants." So did the Dutch show leave Truckfest Scotland in the shade? "No way," said Walker. "This is just as good, only on a smaller scale." However, McDonald mentioned that the number of visitors was down on last year, and he was not best pleased that the organisers charged him £20 to pitch a tent. "That used to be Free," he pointed out.
Mike Underwood, who drives for Peter Hinchcliffe Haulage of Carlisle, says that the benefits of attending a show like Truckfest are sometimes lost for competitors. "1 was up at six this morning," he explained, "polishing and cleaning away on the wagon." Underwood's wagon was entered in the Best New R-Reg class: to help mark the bulk haulier's silver jubilee it's been treated to a £3,500 paint job that changes colour red to pink to mauve as the sun hits it. • Mark Thornber, owner of Bolton-based Afterhaul, is better known round the trade as Tiny. The 3.5-tanner he bought in 1988 was up for Best Looking Truck: it's dubbed Grand Lass after Mark's mother, who died just before the vehicle was bought. Tiny runs four 3.5-tanners; work involves moving tables and building site materials to a number of sites in Scotland, including Kirkcaldy, Paisley, Hamilton and Stonehaven.
John Anthony, who drives for Edinburgh-based RD Anderson, said he usually comes to Truckfest Scotland as a spectator but was called up to replace another of the company's drivers who fell ill before the weekend. Anthony has been driving for Andersons for two years. He was enjoying the event despite being kept awake the previous night by high-spirited drivers blasting their air horns. Brandishing a leaflet from the organisers warning drivers against making this kind of racket, Anthony commented: "It is out of order." Nonetheless, he reckons Truckfest Scotland is the best show because it's local. He also has a good reason for avoiding shows south of the border: "My C-reg car," he said, "It wouldn't make it!" RD Anderson was founded in 1962 and specialises in tipper and crane work, moving everything including boats and planes.
• Blyth-based owner-driver Vince Allen was hoping to use Truckfest Scotland to sell his wagon—he's keen to move to a three-axle tractor in order to take advantage of the 41-tonne limit. He was asking £6,000. "I've had some interest," he told CM, "but I'm not budging from that figure." Allen has been an owner-driver for two years and said life is getting harder because of increased diesel prices. "How do we protest though?" he asked. "We need to get noticed, but if we carry out French-style action we will lose any public support. Which way do we go?" Allen, who was entered in the Best-Kept Owner-Driver class, specialises in paper products 1..0, and newsprint.