Trailers shouldn’t be ignored, you know I enjoy looking at old trailers as much as old trucks. Is that just my perversion going to far, or are you lot the same?? I had a pleasant Saturday morning out, wandering around loads of old commercials, so I will be writing various blogs about the, no doubt, about time I gave you some material!
Here we go then, kicking things off is this lovely Danzas, drawbar trailer. It was in relatively good condition compared to others. Having had a good nose about it seemed a little unique. I couldn’t think of many UK based Danzas drawbars, in fact I couldn’t think of any. The trailer was built by DAF which made me think this is likely to be from a haulier who subbed for Danzas or worked from the Netherlands. Moving to the rear of the trailer, it had some extra mud flaps, the sign of a driver who liked his trailer, so perhaps an owner driver. Despite the trailer being built by DAF the rear lights and London Boroughs permit suggests this was a UK operated trailer, well at least at the end of its life.
Amazingly I posted these photos on my Facebook page yesterday (Saturday) to see if anyone had any ideas on who’s it was or if anyone knew anything about it. The blog is a good place to ask questions and get answers from all of your extensive knowledge, but I was surprised to get quite such a response just a couple of hours after posting the pics. On Facebook I had a reply from Michael Edwards, also sending the below photo, amazing! Michael said “This is Dave Princes wagon and drag from Avonmouth. I think Chris Amos was the driver.”
You can’t deny that it certainly looks like the right trailer and as I said, there can’t have been many Danzas drawbars in the UK. Thanks for the info Michael, if anyone wants to add anything else please leave a comment below. More of my findings to come later on and also more trailer talk, or trailer detective work!
Tracking a quarter-of-a-century of progress in truck technology, F1 team McLaren takes a trip down Mercedes-Benz ‘memory lane’
McLaren truck driver Ian Hodges has been reunited with the 25-year-old Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor unit he once piloted to race circuits throughout Europe, thanks to the stunning efforts of ace restorer Dominic Newby. Ian joined the Formula One outfit in 1997, the year in which the very first examples of the truck range that set previously unseen standards for efficiency and innovation hit UK roads. Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines was McLaren’s works partner at the time, and Dominic’s 6×2 Actros 2557 MegaSpace was one of three identical trucks used to support the illustrious team’s pursuit of more Grand Prix victories. They pulled the race team transporter that carried the MP4/12 cars of Mika Häkkinen – winner of the Drivers’ World Championship for Mercedes-McLaren in each of the following two years – and David Coulthard, as well as the race engineer & communications trailer, and a hospitality unit.
Fast forward a quarter of a century and after a brief interlude in which McLaren ran Swedish-built trucks, Ian is once again driving a Mercedes-Benz. This time, though, it’s a strikingly-finished 4×2 unit from the fifth-generation Actros range, one of a dozen supplied by Sparshatt Truck & Van. When Newhaven-based Dominic made a VIP visit in his restored Actros to the impressive McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, Ian and his colleagues jumped at the opportunity to compare and contrast the two trucks, and remind themselves how much the technology has moved on. An enthusiastic contributor to Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ Roadstars platform for drivers, Dominic had already won awards for his restoration of a Mercedes-Benz 1622 tractor unit from 1976, and was keen to take on another project. He explained: “I’d been looking for a suitable Actros for a long time, because I used to drive one back in the day. So when I learned this particular vehicle was available, my wife and I went to see it. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that not only was it a top-of-the-range model, with features like electric seats, but it also had all the books and, considering its age, was in great condition.” That was back in the summer of 2020. Dominic bought the Actros and, thanks in part to the truck’s highly distinctive aerodynamic features, quickly divined its McLaren provenance. “There are hardly any first-generation Actros left and as this one is so unique I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to give it a new lease of life,” he said.The comprehensive, restoration on which he then embarked entailed stripping the truck completely, and entailed the replacement of some electrical wiring harnesses and repairs to a cab suspension airbag. Dominic laboured for nine months in his spare time to return the unit to its former glory.
The first-generation truck’s 425 kW (570 hp) V8 engine and visually arresting, multi-coloured upholstery are very much ‘of their time’. By contrast, the interior of Ian’s new Actros, with its aluminium-effect and chrome StyleLine trim and leather upholstery, is a masterclass in understated comfort and quality. Powered by a 390 kW (530 hp), 12.8-litre in-line ‘straight-six’, his 1853 GigaSpace boasts an exhaustive list of advanced Mercedes-Benz technology, including MirrorCam, the ground-breaking, camera-based replacement for conventional mirrors, and the upgraded, interactive version of the radical, twin-screen Multimedia Cockpit dashboard. On safety, meanwhile, as well as the standard-fit Active Brake Assist 5 system, with its market-leading pedestrian-recognition capability, and the Lane Keeping Assist and Proximity Control Assist driver aids, the truck is equipped with an optional, secondary water retarder. “It’s a lovely truck, with a beautiful interior,” enthused Ian, who still supports the race team, driving to and Continental race venues at which Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo are competing in this year’s F1 World Championship with their Mercedes-Benz-engined McLaren MCL36 cars.
After finding himself back behind the wheel of the 1997 Actros, Ian said: “I’ve been working with Mercedes-Benz trucks for most of my career here at McLaren, and have particularly fond memories of the first, which was a real trail-blazer with its Telligent vehicle management systems and all-disc braking system. “I have to confess, though, that I’d forgotten the lurid colour scheme on the seats! Dominic’s Actros looks every bit as good now as it did the day we took delivery. He’s done a marvellous job and it’s a great testament to his attention to detail and workmanship.” McLaren’s latest Actros are all left-hand drive 4×2 1853s. Eight are LsnR variants with low-height frames and assigned to freight duties, their Krone Mega Liner trailers carrying everything needed to build and equip the team’s garage at each venue. The remaining four standard units, including Ian’s, pull the specialised engineering trailers that sit in the paddock throughout the Grand Prix weekends. Responsibility for operation of the McLaren truck fleet rests with long-serving Transport Manager Ian ‘Barney’ Barnard, and his two Transport Specialists Martin Boyes and Giles Matteson. Martin, who joined the team in 2000, commented: “It was a real treat to see such a bespoke truck stood alongside a vehicle from our generic fleet. His Actros is an absolute credit to Dominic, and certainly reflects all of the time, effort and passion he has expended on the restoration.” Martin continued: “Ours is a technology-led business, while the Actros has always been a platform for truck innovation. We have many friends at Mercedes-Benz and enjoy a long-established relationship with the manufacturer that we value very highly. “The same is true of our association with Sparshatt Truck and Van. Not only does the Dealer inspect and maintain the fleet at our base in Woking, but if necessary its technicians also provide support at race circuits. The Actros is a premium-quality product and when it comes to aftersales back-up, Sparshatt provides a premium level of service.”
RP and myself thought it was time for an update on the Centurion List as it’s been a little while since we said anything. As with everything we could blame COVID for everything but that’s only part of the recent issues. Firstly book publishers seem to have gone to ground and we are struggling to find a new publisher for the book as the original has pulled out and has no interest what so ever. Not particularly helpful, but you know of or have published your own books then please get in contact. Next we have the on going issues with the Centurion box set model. Centurion number 001 model of fine and looks a treat. The Master Centurion on the other hand, has proved a little more tricky. The truck itself and the detail is correct, the problem is the paint colour. Having spoken to the original painter who painted the truck their seems to be no record of the official colour used. Richard and I had selected a colour that we felt is as close as we can get and also what will look good on the model bearing in mind pearlescent paint on 1:50 scale models is not possible. The paint code was given to the model maker and without any notice or consultation they have painted the truck in a different colour that isn’t correct. This is an ongoing piece so you will also have to bear with us on that please as we want to be as right as we can be for such an iconic model truck.
As for the list itself well we have a little more time to fill the remaining gaps while we try to confirm a new publisher. As it stands we have only 5 on the 100 editions that don’t have an original owner or reg number against them.
Does anyone who anything about; 037, 039, 043, 054 or 068???
We also have 5 or so trucks that we can’t assign to a number and seem to be untraceable thus far. Above we have J606 UOE on AID mission to Romania in 1992. No one at Keltruck can remember or has a photo that shows the Centurion number. We suspect that this was sold on under a different registration number. Anyone know who bought it from Keltruck???
J5 LOS a cracker of a Centurion and one we have plenty of info on and photos of from Blairmore Haulage. Still no number for this one either. Anyone???
J598 AAO was new to AW Jenkinson and then went on to Stephen Sanderson. Neither can remember the number and the following owners have also not been able to confirm the number. Anyone???
This great photo of Cambrian Pet Foods appeared on the Centurion Facebook page from Stephen Vandevoorde and we knew Cambrian’s had a Centurion, but no record of the number. The registration was J727 TRO. Anyone???
We still haven’t solved the mystery of this photo either and all the clues and evidence is there but no idea on the number. Anyone???
Can you confirm the number for J949 EDS please. Belonged to Thomas Douglas and Misfud. Anyone???
Finally this classic. One of her Owners Steve Clark from Essex, is sure it’s number 024 and that fits as we knew 024 was a 450hp and the reg number is J450 MGV, which also fits with it being a Robinsons of Stowmarket truck. Does anyone know anymore about it???
We have tons of info as you can imagine so we don’t really need to go over old ground but if you have anything else you can tell us then please step forward. Happy hunting Centurion lovers!
I’ve always been truck mad since about the age of 3. Until I was 3 it was farms and farm machines. Probably a move to Essex and the influence of my Dads business switches it to trucks. That said I won’t blame the old man for it all as Mum is probably a bigger truck spotter than my Dad. Both very proud and supportive through my owner driver years and always interested to listen about everything else since. Mum has always been interested but I often forget how much of a spotter she is, I would use the word pervert but as it’s my mum I won’t!
Just a couple of examples; when I was 14 or 15, mum and I had been out delivering in a van for Dad and finished in Epping, we then had a couple of hours until we had a collection to do in Brentwood. Easy you’d think, 1 junction round the M25 to Brentwood…… no no no I said can’t we go all the way round the M25 and of course mum said great idea I’ve never been all the way round in one go. Just over an hour later we arrived in Brentwood. The second example was sat in HC Wilson’s office with both Graham and Simon Wilson. We found an old photo and were discussing Dads days with Aston Clinton Haulage, as ACH used to do the New Holland work. Anyway we couldn’t remember the name of a chap who had his own truck that used to do work for ACH and also used to deliver agricultural stuff to Wilson’s. Of course mum remembered his name and where he was from. Only a proper spotted remembers this kind of info and remembers more than the Wilson brothers!
I got an email on Monday from Mum saying she had emailed Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2 sticking up for us truckers. As always Jeremy Vine has clearly made some derogatory comment about those he doesn’t understand or below his social class and wound Mum up. So she emailed the above email to Jeremy Vine to stick up for truckers. Sadly and not surprisingly as yet no answer from the BBC. When mum also emailed she tells me that on her WI notice board at the top of the drive for all the villagers to see, she has printed out an A4 Support The Lorry Drivers poster as above.
Today just so happens to be mothers birthday so please do leave your birthday wishes in the comments box. I have borrowed a photo off Neil Jarrold of mums favourite truck, well so she says. When these came out we did spend a little more time than normal on the Volvo stand at Truckfest that year. I was debating whether to put a photo of the lady in question on here but then I thought I can’t do what she did to me this week…… surely some of you have seen, my parents have worked out how to post on the Truckblog Facebook page! Look out for photos of me in my awful house get years coming to a smart device near you soon.
Thanks for being a great big truck spotter and taking an interest in me and my endless truck stories, books and magazines. I hope you’ve had a lovely birthday albeit a little different to normal years. Happy Birthday x
Those of you who know, know – I’ve heard that phrase a bit this week so thought I’d use it. I love a Mercedes-Benz and I love a sleeper cabbed 814, if you’re into #littlebigcabclub trucks such as this, then you know back in the early/mid 1990’s there was no better 7.5 tonner than the little German. For its day this was a big cab on a small truck compared to the competition who to be honest didn’t really offer a “proper” sleeper on their smaller ranges. Couple the comfort and no speed limiter, back then this made the 814 the ultimate international hot shot truck. I still remember a few days after getting my car licence, I met a chap in an 814 from Nottingham I think. He had a sleeper cabbed version with a crane on and he said all he did was hot shot oil field work all over Europe….perfect. I know my pal Mat Ireland (Now at Transam Trucking) started his international driving career on an 814 with a 20ft Tilt body lucky bugger!
Now the photo above is of a brand new 814 about to be handed over to, I’m sure, a very happy customer, at my now place of work, Orwell Trucks way back in 1992ish as it’s a K registration. I have to say I know nothing about the truck or what it was intended to be used for, but may be it was embarking on its own international career?? Anyway a little cracker in my book.
Imagine my surprise when driving around the Essex riviera this week with the family and in a back street I spot a sleeper cabbed 814. I backed the car up, opened the window and took two quick photos not really taking much in other than it being an 814. Once home I looked at the photo and instantly recognised the number plate. A delve through my archives and I confirmed (only to myself!) that the truck I spotted was the very same truck as I have scanned and have on my work screen saver. So a little now and then photo with a 27 year gap. I looks in pretty good condition to be honest and you can still see the slightly modified original sign writing. I am very very tempted to go back and see what it’s upto and find out where it’s been. Does anyone know anything about it please? You’ll have to be based in an Essex seaside town to know if it’s current ownership but if you know anything else or even have photos of your own 814 then please let us see them on what ever social media platform you prefer or email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk
Way back when in 1997 mobile phones were just becoming part of my everyday life and it was a handy gadget to have especially as I had just bought my first 7.5 tonner at the age of 17 and I had started subbing for DFDS at Coggeshall, Essex. The one thing I would never have believed back then was that now a days there would be a gadget in in the cab that would have saved me from learning what felt like every street across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent and last but definitely not least, Greater London. In my first week I was given a day in London with something like 15 drops across the Greater London area, nice. Oh for those who aren’t sure, Greater London is probably easier described as everywhere inside the M25 circle. So age 17, 1st week of owning and driving my first Tonka toy and 15 drops across one of the worlds busiest cities, where do I start???! One of the other DFDS subbies said “Don’t worry son, just get yourself a hard back copy of the Master Atlas of Greater London and you’ll be fine.” – I couldn’t have had any better advice than that. So on the way down the A12 I stopped at a garage and found a copy of the London bible.
So just take this in for a minute, its 1997, I had X amount of drops (& collections) across the capital, a list of addresses, not many with postcodes and TWAT SAT NAV was no where to be seen. How did we ever cope I hear you ask. Pull up a sand bag and I’ll tell you a story. Once upon a time you could stop at a garage and buy these little paper paged books called road maps. You could buy them for counties or towns depending on what you required and basically they had pages full of the layout of your selected area. At the back was an index with a full list of roads and estates and these were listed with a page number and grid reference so you could find the road on the page in the map, amazing huh?? Using one of these town maps along side a bigger road Atlas you could pretty well find any where you wanted to go, all on your own without 22 satellite’s guiding you down an unsuitable one way street! Or even better than using the road map you’ve just bought you could use what we used to call common sense, most people had a bit of common sense as it was gained from parents and the school of hard knocks and tough luck. For example your honour; Station Road, Anytown. First up have a look on your map (if you have one of that area/town) and look for station road in the index or just for the station. If there is no visible station have a look to find the closest road to a railway line, simple. Again using a bit of common sense and a good map you can even work out where an old railway might have been. If you haven’t got a map you could always head towards the town and see if you could pick up the sign posts for the station. Or last but not least you could ask the local and they’d send you right round the town and back to where started and in the mean time with a bit of luck you’d stumble across Station road.
Now in London the streets are a plenty and the traffic lights and junctions are even more. So having to keep an eye on your hard back atlas was very easy or convenient so I found it best to tear the A4 page out. See the photo above. Still an A4 page isn’t so easy to hold, so when you are close enough you can fold the page to A5 size. Then finally when I was really close to where I needed to be I would fold again so its small enough to hold in finger and thumb. Please see my thumb below. I have to say that in day to day driving it was very much find your own way to your destination, no typing in a postcode and follow the arrows on your dash-mounted screen. All drivers back in these prehistoric times had to have a sound knowledge of the UK’s road network and most industrial towns and somehow we managed. In a previous life as a transport manager I watched a driver heading from Ipswich to Leamington Spa take the A14, M6, M42, M40 to his destination. When I quizzed him to why he went this long way round, I got the response “That’s what sat nav said”. Now call me an old stick in the mud but I asked if he had looked at his road atlas to check where he was going and I got a short silence and then the response “I haven’t got one”. Not impressed I confiscated the drivers twat sat nav for the following week. Now I hope he has a slight knowledge of the road network. Anyway I digress.
The beauty of a paper map over a twat sat nav is that I find I can always see more than I need to, which can only ever help you know where you are and what your surroundings are. For example heading into London the other Saturday as a passenger I decided we would have a Map-Off. This was fine and a good contest and we both arrived at the right place with no major dramas, but along the way I could check each street I passed and I could see how far ahead the next turning was, without having to wait for the 200 metre warning or what ever it is. Also looking at the map you can get some idea of what the road you are turning into is like or which way it goes, something which twat sat nav can’t do very well. The one downside I found to the paper map is that it doesn’t light up when you enter a tunnel!!
I challenge any driver who isn’t a map reader to take up the challenge and try and get yourself across the country with no twat sat nav. At the end of the day you might just find that you have some sort of new found satisfaction in your day to day job. Twat Sat navs do have their uses and I for one do like that fact they can tell you how far you are from your destination and I can never argue against the fact that some one shouting directions at you is far safer than reading a map while driving along or each time you stop. My biggest fear is that the beauty of a good map is lost on all new drivers. Where’s the sense of direction that you all had to find the nearest sweet shop when you were a kid? Does anyone else agree that all drivers should have an understanding of where about’s they are in the country and what other roads are available to the one your on with no help from the NASA convention on your dashboard?? In the worst case we know that at 12 o’clock the sun is in the west and we want to be just to the right of that, so we best take that tangent………………..
As some of you may know both Richard Payne and myself have been gathering information on the original 100 trucks that Scania GB released in 1991. Thanks to a lot of you truck buffs I have collated a lot of info but I could always do with more as we are still missing info on a lot of trucks and by that I don’t just mean there where abouts or what happened to them, but missing any info on the edition number at all. The original list I managed to lay my hands on was only a type-written list and was by no means anywhere near complete so there are lots of gaps and trying to find out what each blank edition number on the list is, is proving somewhat tricky, especially when the manufacturer themselves have no interest in the past what has made them into what they are today.
So to start with, can anyone shed any light what so ever on the following Centurions as we have no info, not even a model or cab type; 36, 37, 38, 39, 43, 54, 71, 72.
Onwards….As you will all be aware there are what only can called fakes out there and although they are all gorgeous trucks, they are. But what I want someone like you to clarify is if any of the following info/rumours are true, untrue, or what ever. This is a list of trucks that may or may not be Centurions;
ROBERT BURNS 4X2 STANDARD R STREAMLINE J282 GVV?
PETER ROFF 4X2 TOPLINE STREAMLINE J5 ROF – DE-BADGED?
4X2 143 450 J50 GFB – A CURRIES EUROPEAN SUBBIE?
143 500 STANDARD R STREAMLINE – J79 RNS – CENTURION NUMBER?
DJ PONSONBY – K7 DJP – TOPLINE STREAMLINE 113 380?
GEORGE GREEN – J625 HOE – STREAMLINE R CAB 4X2 113 380?
CAMBRIAN PET FOODS – J272 TRO – STANDARD R STREAMLINE?
AIG – J205 HGK 6X2 113 360?
JR SMITH, TRING – JES 200 – CENTURION?
J88 JBL – 143 450 6X2 – CENTURION?
The next thing we will need for the book is at least one photo of every truck, that’s a minimum of 100 photos, which will be a fair challenge as there are at least the 8 trucks I mentioned earlier may or may not even have been produced. There are loads of photos out there and I know as well we you do which photos have been around for a while. What I need to see are the photos which aren’t quite so main stream on the internet, whether its on Trucknetuk, Facebook or wherever, if there is a photo that you think isn’t already out there please, please email me a copy. My email address is ben@truckblog.co.uk and also please free to use this email for everything else Centurion. The one truck I am desperate to find a photo of is #021. This is the one and only P-Cab Centurion. Reg number is J2 FFM, sold by Scania dealer Reliable of Renfrew, it was a 4×2 sold to a Mr Andrew Malcolm. The first photo will win a few TB goodies! Now there’s an incentive.
The actual book writing is underway and I hope that it will make a good read, but this will only be possible with the amount and quality of info we can find out. This is down to you. Email me, leave comments below or send me a message on multimedia, but if you know anything please share it, it could make a link.
There’s been a lot of new recruits to the blog this year, on the www, Twitter and through the Facebook page so I thought I better tell you my credentials as I’m not just a wanna be trucker (although I do wanna be one again!), I have been there and done a bit. It goes something like this. Now this is a story all about how, my life got flipped-turned upside down, and I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there, and I’ll tell you how I became trucking nerd…… Oh no hang on that doesn’t rhyme!!
At the beginning of 1997 I was tasked on a college course to formulate a business plan that would or could work. It turns out the plan worked and the bank were keen so before I finished college I got a DAF 45 on order and started looking for work. In October ’97 I started as a Subbie for DFDS distribution in Coggeshall, Essex. I was soon covering…..
On a daily basis with anything between 15-20 deliveries and collections. What a way to learn my way about (no Sat-Navs then younger readers just a box of maps!) maps I hear you say?? Yep read THIS BLOG. I still use some of the short cuts now! A year or so later and DFDS moved to Purfleet and I didn’t follow. Local business soon started giving me work and I was soon UK wide with loads of virtually everything and anything. The poor little DAF couldn’t keep up and 2-3 years after getting her I traded her in for possibly my favourite truck from the BJS fleet, an MAN 8.163 with a Hatcher Space cab.
This little German served me very very well and in our prime we were doing Braintree, Essex to Larkhall, Scotland 3 times a week even now and again with a reload of lead rolls from David Park Transport in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 3 pallets just over 3 ton. From day one I had done the odd run to the Continent but never enough. I was so busy running round the UK that I only ever got to wave as we passed to Steve Marsh as he was also the owner of a smart Hatcher canned MAN. A massive if only, but I believe if only we had stopped for a cuppa I could have still been doing the Continental with a little Tonka you. Along with, tail lifts, computers, baseball hats, Chinese menu’s, supermarket light fittings, industrial door fixings and 50-75kg sacks of hand loaded hessian sacks of malt to name but a few commodities I took on a driver and put the real show truck of the fleet on the road and passed the MAN onto my only ever employee Steve Shackle.
The Atego was awesome and again worked hard across the length and breadth of mainland UK. She was well recognised and got in quite a few magazines. This lead to the start of some Mercedes-Benz friendships that continue to this day. A very big customer went pop with no warning and I was literally in the proverbial dirty river with no oars. So goodbye to the MAN, the Atego and Steve. At the same time I was offered traction work although I didn’t have a class one license at the time. I ordered a Mercedes-Benz Actros of the same man that sold me the MAN and the Atego and two weeks before it went on the road I passed my class one with no minor faults.
I can safely say that living in this Actros (Claudia), turned me from boy to man. I lived in her virtually for the three years I had her and the long distance lorry driver life was what I hoped it always would be. Bloody hard work, great friends, some crazy trucking about and much to my delight a lot more continental. Nothing silly by most of your standards but, Belgium Holland and just into Germany on a very regular basis. Amazing the things you see and the situations you can find yourself in, some good some bad, some exciting and some ‘kin scary and eye opening but none the less it was awesome! I bought and restored a Scania 141 the same age as me and had agreed with the people I was working for that they’d give me trailer with no more than 15 ton on so for odd weeks I could run the 141 on the continent. Sadly it never happened. The 141 did, the work didn’t and not long after I had to make the hardest decision I’ve ever made and had to give up BJS International.
The 141 got me going and the pinnacle was taking her to the Truckstar Festival in Holland. In the real world I got a job with a local firm driving an 8 wheeler around Essex for GB Finch. A fun job and I’m told I still hold plenty of fleet records. Drifting an 8 wheel tipper in wet mud is always good for morale.
I landed a job at HC Wilson Transport in the office and this was close to being what I wanted to do. Great people, great job and a great fleet. Routing trucks and securing loads all over Europe, Scandinavia and where ever the customer would pay, there’s a lot to learn in the world of international abnormal loads but it was rewarding. Oh the romance of international trucking!
Moving on from Wilson’s having sold the 141 to raise a family, I went to Kersey Freight as fleet manager and holiday relief driver! Long days and on call 24 hours a day was rewarded with the odd spell back on the road doing two trips to Paris a week. Good times although I have to say back then crossing the channel was a breeze.
Once again I got itchy feet and have now changed to the other side of the desk if you like and I have great job, spending my time talking about trucks to hauliers. Although not long after starting this dream job I did get offered the chance of being an owner driver again with a mini artic moving flash cars all over europa but age brings a certain amount thought and reality over what your spontaneous side wants to do. Funny old game, but I am a firm believer that once you get diesel in your veins you can’t get rid of it, hence the reason I’m trying to encourage my son to continue with his love of the local zoo and animals, but that’s the start of another hot topic in the press this week #lovethelorry. I now have friends across the UK and a couple else where in the world through the blog and I find myself taking a big interest in driver friends daily trucking exploits to satisfy my never ending urge to go back on the road. I’ve not been a truck owner for a few years now and I feel like I have to say that in an AA meeting style! Hopefully in the next year or so I can get another retro show truck to help my marriage and stop me annoying Mrs Blog every weekend!!
Anyway that’s me. Happy to talk trucks with anyone and I always question those who spend every day and night involved with trucks but still say that hate them.
Always great to see a then and now and what better two examples than these 2 Swedish V8’s. I have to say that the 141 gets my vote every time! Can’t beat the raw sound of the V8 and the turbo whistle, that has all but disappeared on the younger of the two.
If your interested in the 141 please give the Grimsby Gangster a call at Moody International. I don’t suppose it’ll be around for long so give it a good home someone.
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