WIN!! A set of 6 Alcoa Rims


Yes really! If you want a free set of 6 Alcoa Aluminium truck wheels then my good friends at Tyretracks are about to make you a very happy driver indeed. Here’s what you have to do; 

FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A SET OF 6 BRAND NEW ALCOA LvL ONE WHEELS OR 50% OFF A SET OF 6 ALCOA DURA-BRIGHT EVO WHEELS*

“We will be exhibiting at Tip-Ex 2016 next week in Harrogate. We will be holding a prize draw at 2pm on Saturday 4th June on our stand (Stand number C28). All you have to do is visit our stand and complete an entry form then hand it to one of our gorgeous staff.

It’s as simple as that…….

Please share this and spread the word. Look forward to seeing you in Harrogate.”


It’s as easy as that, I should imagine there will be a fair few of you off to Tip-Ex in Harrogate next week? I’ve not been but it seems to be the second biggest show after the CV Show but by what I hear through work and you lot, it’s a fair better show than the CV. Tyretracks are the UK’s leading supplier of Alcoa wheels, so get yourself in touch. 

OMG it’s Bloody MARVEL….lous 

  
Yes I’m a truck anorak/geek/pervert what ever you want to call it. Since the age of 7 or 8 I could tell you what the truck a mile ahead was just by looking at it. Mrs Blog thinks I’m odd as I just look at truck photos, she describes it as “just staring and taking it all in” – fair comment I think. I’ve been to truck shows around Europe and also in the United States and seen a fair number of trucks in my time. Once in a while I see a truck that just leaves me lost for words, this is a rare occasion I can tell you and to be honest it’s just a reflection of the machine in front of me. 

 

A few months back I found out about a new custom truck that was in build and luckily enough I’m friends with the man in charge of the airbrush, which meant I was privy to a few early photos of what was going on. If you didn’t read it, then click HERE and have a read of “Templeton O’Heck”. 

The Superhero truck stopped me in my tracks when I saw it in the flesh at Peterborough Truckfest. Quite often when you see a custom truck, you like it or you can appreciate it but it’s just not your cup of tea. Perhaps it’s too gaudy, perhaps the colour is just to in your face, perhaps the interiour is like someone has emptied the complete contents of every tin of paint from a DIY shop onto the dashboard and seats! Like with everything all truck fans have their own preferences which is exactly why we all put our own stamp on our own truck.  

    
 
Having seen some in-build photos I wasn’t sure how the Supertruck made me feel, but I can safely say that I don’t think I’ve ever seen a custom truck that I like more than this. I know loads of you will disagree and that’s your perogattive but for me it is just spot on! I’ve said before that I wouldn’t run another airbrushed truck myself and I much prefer a simple Dutch or Danish paint job, but Superheros just blows that all away, I want it! The attention to detail is incredible, but it’s what we are all beginning to expect from Coles Customs in Banbury (GB), the work the lads there do is as good as if not better than anyone else in Europe. Next we have Matt the Painter. For more years than I care to remember Matt has been producing paint jobs on vehicles that are as good as any famous artist. When you get a moment just look at the realism in any of his artwork, Matt should be doing framed pieces and selling them for hundreds of thousands of £’s in my book. Matt is easily as talented as any famous artist you wish to mention.  

 

Attention to detail is both small and large on this truck. For all those who will never see it, Supermans cape doesn’t finish as it goes out of view on the top of the cab. I can assure you that the cape ripples and flows all the way to the rearmost edge of the cab top air deflector. 

   
Yes the exterior is incredible, the colours and the shear number of Superheros Matt has added to the panels of the truck is nothing short of mind blowing and yes I love it! For me the make or break of a custom truck is the interiour. Again usually, I like the simple brown leather or suede retrimming that the Dutch have made there own and when Matt told me he was airbrushing the interiour with more Superheroes I was a little sceptical!  

    
 
You might not agree, but I love it! I think it’s because it’s just black and white like its pen on paper, it just works. It’s some how not in your face and not over the top, or is it just me?? While I’ve been writing this I’ve been thinking what it must look like in the dark, no doubt it’s has some interiour lighting, does anyone have any photos please? You know what it’s like when you see a crazy interiour and we all say it; “I couldn’t sit in there all day, it’d drive me crazy!” Well in this case I’d happily give it a go and I think I’d be very pleased to call it my office. I don’t think this level of customisation has been seen in the UK but I very much hope it’s the start of many more. Quite often new ideas do get copied and trends start, this truck is a masterpiece and I’d have no qualms in buying it when the Templtons have had enough of it. Hopefully we will see more trucks to this standard and I’m sure all involved would happily try and create more masterpieces to this new level. There are no more words to describe it so I suggest you get to a truckshow this year to see it. It’ll blow your mind one way or another, for me it’s defdinately a good way. Awesome just bloody Awesome. 

    
   

Truckfest 2016

  

And the winner of best demo fleet colours goes to Volvo Trucks UK! With the gleam of the sun I kid you not, that blue is good enough to rival Scania’s Bluestream blue. Both myself and my 6 year old son decided to go to Peterborough this year for two reasons;

1) John Templetons new Scania “Superheros” (for me!)

2) Swampthing – The monster truck for my son. 

   
 

Let’s start with the Superhero truck. Although I don’t really know what to say! There are lots of themed trucks around some which are tasteful, some over the top and just a few that are mind blowing, above mind blowing I don’t know what the best word to use is. Whatever you think is better and more impressive than the beat around will fit. I’ve owned and operated an airbrushed truck and I have to say I don’t think I’d do it again but when you see Superheros I don’t think you can do anything but stand back and admire the work and effort that has been put into creating nothing short of a masterpiece. The paint and artwork puts modern artists to shame, I think this could be airbrush artist Matt’s greatest achievement to date. I’ll say no more as I’ll do a seperate blog on it. All I can say is that there were more new, big money trucks at Peterborough this year than I have seen in I don’t know how many years. Big Volvos, Tcab Scanias, custom Mercedes-Benz, well painted DAFs, just all sorts. 
   
   

All the main truck manufacturers were present and all with impressive stands. Once again Mercedes-Benz had a large area covered in all shapes and sizes of the three pointed star. Celebrating 20 years of the Actros MB had one of each of the four generations of Actros on show. Mercedes-Benz have so far sold over 1 million Actros and counting. I ended up taking too many photos of the four truck line up, but for me the best is the MP2 Black Edition Actros (2nd from the left). I just love it, perhaps it’s because it’s the one I wanted when I had my own Actros.  

 

As Truckfest has always done, there were trucks from all industry sectors and all  shapes and sizes. It’s always nice to see a little Tonka toy on show. Owned and operated by KE Express she looked tidy. The beauty of Truckfest is that your truck doesn’t  have to be all blinged up and crazy artwork. Just any everyday truck that fancies a weekend off is welcome! 

 

There were a good few old timers hanging around…..plenty of retro trucks too. For me these older motors are where my interest lies. Keeping some of these old trucks in show condition is imperative in my book. We don’t have fields of scrap trucks like in the USA so I think keeping them in working condition is the best thing to do. This way we can all still enjoy the glory days of UK haulage, one day I hope to join the retro club myself.  

  
As for the rest of the show, the usual ranks of working trucks fill the outer reaches of the show ground. Due to some wet weather in the weeks before there were some empty patches of grass that had sensibly been avoided by those doing the parking up. The last thing any driver wants is to be parked up in a boggy field for the weekend. I have to say in summary, apart from the weather being good, the show was quite enjoyable for a day visitor. A good few new trucks to look at and some great looking working trucks emerging from various corners of the U.K.  I still think the entry price is way over priced and I’m glad I get my tickets for free due to some corporate connections but in saying that it was well worth the trip for a boys day out. If nothing more than the smile on my sons face when Swapthing did its thing, I’m fairly sure we’ll go again next year.  

 

TBHQ

  
 
So here it is people the selfless plea for all you unwanted trucking guff. Way back up in the woods among the evergreens, or down at the bottom of a Colchester garden is the home of the blog. Ok ok it’s a shed full of all the truck stuff I’ve gained and collected over the years. You will be able to make out no end of familiar items, cab flags, photos, badges and show stuff to name a few.  
 

Now, if like me you have a wife that would rather your stuff is outside the house as they just don’t appreciate truck memorobillia, then here’s the plug. If you have anything you want to get rid of and go to a good appreciative home then please feel free to contact me. If you have old stickers, badges or freebies from ferries or truck manufacturers  then send me a message with what you have and I’ll happily give it a new home!! As you can see, things like stickers are all mounted on plywood boards so I can move them onto the next TBHQ as and when I might move house. Any donations will of course be well loved and looked after. Message me and I’ll come back to you.   

English Driver Attacked in Calais

 

Mick Youngs life was at risk as a metal pole was shoved through the windscreen of his Scania, is this what lorry drivers should have to put up with in European member state as they are trying to get home with another load of chips for our supermarkets shelves???? NO ITS BLOODY NOT!! And what’s being done about it?? The useless thoughtless celebrities of the U.K. are gifting these thugs with food and double decker buses to live in. What idiots these people are and it clearly shows they know and care as little as our politicians. I give it a week or two before that double decker bus is wrecked and burnt out by the immigrants. They have no interest in what they are offered by those wanting to improve their own celebrity status. All they are interested in is  putting lives at risk and all in the name of getting into the UK to live a free and supported life. But why should the unsung heroes who bring all of our worldly goods and supplies from Europe who are going about their daily jobs driving the trucks that keep Britain moving/eating/drinking etc etc have to continue to put up with the violence and damage that these mindless thugs are doing to the trucks and trailers that are more than imperative to the way the UK lives and breathes. 

  

I asked the driver of this Scania, Mick Young, to write a small piece about his terrifying experience in Calais this week. You might have seen Mick in the news already, but here is what he told TB; 

“I had just loaded a full load of frozen chips in Belguim. On my way back to Calais I rang my company to find out if there was any delays on the ferries or train , they told there were no problems on either. Three drivers who were 15 and 40 mins in front of me went straight into Calais and straight on a boat, so wanting a shower and a meal I decided to go to the boat. Coming off the motorway going down towards the dock I was following a local Calais haulier , there were police on every junction as usual. We were travelling down the dual carriageway when we came to a stop, I was next to the Calais driver and he told me to wait he was on the phone to a friend who was 5 mins in front of us. The French driver then said no problem so I followed him, we got down just after diesel alley and he came to a stop again. Within  seconds we were surrounded by 100’s of immigrants they threw huge lumps of concrete and traffic cones in front of me and started throwing big rocks, bricks and concrete lumps at the lorry and then a massive metal spike came straight through the windscreen followed by lumps of granite which landed in my passenger footwell!!  I was showered in broken glass and my forehead was cut and bleeding. My right eye had glass in it and I couldn’t see, all the time the truck was getting smashed to bits, so I tried to reverse but noticed what I thought were headlights behind me. I managed to weave through the objects in the road but there were still immigrants trying to open the trailer doors and also they were trying to get on the trailer axles. While this was going on I later found out a French Police riot van had stopped on the opposite carriageway, but the scum then threw rocks at the van and the Police drove off (unbelievable). Getting to the dock the French security searched the truck and gave me medical attention i.e. cleaned the blood off my head and put plasters on and they also cleaned and bathed my eye. They said they were embarrassed to be French that this could happen in their country. They then gave me coffee and water and put me on the next ferry. I got back into Dover and got pulled by the UK Customs, who searched me and the truck looking for these dirty rotten scum. I dropped my trailer in Dover and my eye was killing me so I went straight to A&E, who cleansed my eye it’s fine now. I had a windscreen put in the truck the next morning and was told there was roughly £2500 of damage to my truck which is my pride and joy! (Any celebs willing to pay for this?? -rd.) Then shipped straight back out to Germany!!!! We shouldn’t have to experience this in any way, but nothing will ever change either government doesn’t care , I have now been told I’m a liar and attention seeker by these people who defend this and say these people have a right to a better life in this country !!! Then you get Jude Law out there yesterday saying let them all come too this country , he might have a different view if they set a camp up in Kensington or where ever he lives !!!” 

  


A couple of points, the windscreen on a truck is made of state of the art, toughened glass that is hard to  break. It’s a daily occurance for nuts, bolts, stones and what ever else to be thrown onto a windscreen by the vehicle in front and most of the time the worst you can expect is a small chip in the glass. 

Also another very valid point to remember about the ridiculous laws that the EU and UK governments apply to our lands is this – You see the photo at the top of the blog, the immigrants that are holding poles and putting them through Micks windscreen and glass in his eyes and face – if Mick is then found to have any of these thugs hiding somewhere on his truck he can be prosecuted £2000 per person. 

Yes really! Mick is attacked and his truck has thousands of pounds worth of damage, yet he is still the only one in that photo that will be prosecuted or convicted of anything. Once again this is a case of the government protecting the thugs and instigators and prosecuting the innocent victims. 

We need something to be done before the first drivers are killed. We need some celebrity support for the drivers that fill our country with all our luxuries. But I will just add it’s not just UK drivers at risk. The immigrants also seriously attacked approximately 12 trucks that night, 2 other English,  a Turkish driver (also needed medical attention),  2 French trucks and the rest were Eastern European.

Please share, read and retweet this blog to everyone and every where we can. Our lorry drivers are what keeps our country alive. We can’t live without them no matter what the out of touch celebrities and politicians tell you. Remember the fuel protests in the early 2000’s? It took one week for the shop shelves to be empty. Next time your eating a bowl of supermarket chips just remember a lorry drivers life was put at risk for your enjoyment! 

Mick Youngs truck in its former glory before the thousands of pounds worth of damage were done. 

 

Templeton O’Heck!!

  

Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together!! Mr John Templeton must be over the moon with his nearly finished brand new custom Scania. As most of you will know John Templeton is no stranger to a heavily customised truck, his last one being “Avatar“. The brief given to world famous airbrush artist, Matt the Painter, was; “It has to be busier than Avatar”.

  

I think that brief has been met don’t you?! Before we go any further all of these photos belong to Matt the Painter and I have his permission to use them. There are lots of people involved with such a massive project, from the boys at Coles Customs, Tor Trucks paint shop, an unnamed leather expert and of course Matt the Painter. So where do you start?……a blank canvas of course. 

   

    
 

The eagle eyed amoung you will notice not only custom paintwork but also a number of custom parts; modfied side skirts (note the 3 exhaust holes), a completely flat panel on the rear of the cab, what looks like a lower windscreen panel, also a pretty amazing lower front bumper, you might recognise some of the parts used in the make up. There will of course be a few more custom parts added, lights and bits and bobs, but the second biggest custom area will be a amazing interior. The interior has been fully lined with black, red and white leather, approx 7 or 8 hides have been used. The painting also carries on inside the cab. Matt says there were approx 64 Heros on the external panels of the truck but he has added more, inside he has painted at least 14 on the ceiling panels alone, not to mention 20 or so on the rest of the leather panels. So those super hero fans can get to finding and naming as many as you can when you see it at a show this year. One of the ideas behind the theme was to appeal to all ages, kids and parents alike should be able to find characters they recognise. Although he’s painted somewhere around the 100 hero Mark, Matt says he’s got 600 odd Heros to choose from! Every hero imaginable or you’ve ever heard of from a 1938 Superman through to a female Asia spider woman type, called Silk from 2014. 

   

 

In order to protect the truck and the paintwork the cab will get an initial 3 or 4 coats of lacquer, before having its first bake, then it’ll be flattened down before a further 3-4 coats of laquer, more flattening down, mopping and finally one hell of a polish up. The big 730 Scania will also have the chassis and wheel hubs painted too. I mentioned the three holes in the side skirt for a special exhaust system but I’m not going to say anymore. It sounds so unique you’ll have to see it for yourselves. 
   
 

So what’s your thoughts on such a mad cap idea?? For a start we all know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea and I had said since I had my Atego airbrushed I preferred simple straightforward paint job but I have to say this is just amazing, I can’t stop looking at it. My good friend James coined the phrase “I can appreciate that” the other year. Meaning you know it’s an amazing motor but not your preferred taste. I have to say I’m right on the edge of turning my appreciation of this crazy multicoloured V8 into love and want!! You can’t deny its a one off, you can’t deny its already got people talking about it, you can’t deny it is a work of art! Whether you’d want to drive it everyday for what ever reason is a different matter, but I think I would…..
  

Actros: Roadsharks Special Edition

  
This gorgeous Dutch Mercedes-Benz 2563LS GigaSpace Roadstars Special Edition is on its way to the UK!! What a gorgeous beast although some would say I’m a little bias! It may have been the star of the MB stand at the RAI Show in Amsterdam this week and it might be left hand drive and it may have 630hp but I reckon it’s going to be some ones pride and joy and I can’t wait to see it in action. Look out for it from next week wearing UK plates!!

  

New Tekno UK Historic Collection Model 

  
New release from UK Tekno experts, Speedbird Promotions. Looks like a great looking retro model. Read on for more details; 

We have the following model which we have just released and available for purchase into the Tekno UK Historic Collection:

 Glen Dee

Scania 113 (3-Series) 6 x 2 with Thermo-King 3-axle Fridge Trailer

Price: £149.95 including free UK delivery

Strictly Limited to 150pcs and is exclusively available from Speedbird Promotions

As a well-known name embedded in the roots of the Aberdeenshire road transport scene before being acquired by Grampian International Freight in the mid 1990’s, this model is already proving to be hugely popular amongst collectors!

 This item can be ordered by calling our offices or through our website – www.teknomodeltrucks.co.uk 

www.speedbird-promotions.co.uk