Gathering of The Griffin Show 2013

Posted on June 25, 2013 by truckbloguk

Are you a Scania fan? Are you a Scania driver, operator or collector? Then this is the show for you. It takes place on the last weekend of September, that’s 28th-29th September 2013. The venue is the Orwell Crossing Truckstop on the eastbound A14 at Ipswich, Suffolk, UK. The idea is for all lovers of the Swedish marque to get together and hopefully this year organiser Rob Billman will reach his target of 100+ Scania’s at the show, with plenty of exposure we can all try and bump the numbers up. Scania’s of all ages are required and there will be prizes for each series, 0, 1, 2, 3 and so on. As it goes I am sponsoring the Best 3 Series, so as well as letting you lot know whats going on, I have to arrange some kind of trophy to give you!

If you want to bring a truck then its £10 for judged entries and £5 for non judged entries. If you want to register you can either:

Phone: Rob Billman – 07903155898
Email: gotg37@hotmail.com

……or you can go to the GOTG Facebook page and see all the info and a some photos of last years event. Come on Scania owners get registering, it will be a good show if more than 100 turn up, also it could be the largest gathering of Scania trucks in the UK – ooooooooooo!! Anyone who’s interested in helping, donating or having another Scania related idea, then i’m sure that Mr Billman will be interested to hear from you. All being well and it all goes to plan, hopefully the yellow beastie below may just turn up too and as for me well i’ll be arriving in a very nice (& loud) Tcab!

Scania Fan??

Posted on June 19, 2013 by truckbloguk

Do you own, operate or drive a Scania of any age, model or size??
Are you free the last weekend of September??
Do you want to be part of the largest gathering of Scania’s in Europe??

Then best you leave your name and Scania type in the comments box below. The Gathering of The Griffin show wants you to come to Ipswich and display your Scania. Interested?? Then leave a comment or email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk we need 110+ Scania’s so best you get that weekend in your diary!!

New Volvo FH Bling-Fest

Posted on April 25, 2013 by truckbloguk

Hot off the press straight from Volvo Trucks UK for all your shiny lovers and show goers:

“With sales riding high, the new Volvo FH and FH16s will be in the spotlight on the Volvo Trucks stand (adjacent to the grandstand) at Truckfest Peterborough on 5th and 6th of May this year. Visitors will be able to check out the top spec interiors on the Globetrotter XL cabs and try out the seats for size as the cabs of all eight trucks on parade will be available for viewing. Highlight of the Volvo Trucks display will be two top spec FH16-750 6×2 tractor units. Their specifications are fully loaded and include a host of accessories and options to aid driver safety, comfort and security (Personal Protection Package).”

“In addition to the top-of-the-range FH16-750s, Volvo Trucks is showcasing five other new FH tractor units. As well as four 6x2s, the display also includes a 4×2 tractor. The latter is equipped with Volvo’s D13C, 13-litre engine rated at 500hp and – like the other trucks on display – Active Safety+, Audio Advanced (with sub-woofer) and the innovatory Parking Climate System. Volvo Trucks and Dealer staff will be on hand to answer questions and help visitors to the stand. Special prices on a wide selection from the Volvo Trucks merchandise collection will also apply during the show. The Volvo Trucks merchandise counter on the stand will be open during show hours.”

Peak Truck Show 2012 by James Cartwright

Posted on October 18, 2012 by truckbloguk

Once again I will hand you over to top guest writer and photographer, Mr James Cartwright. If you want to see the rest of Jimbo’s photos from the show, click HERE;

All that was needed after finishing work on the Friday evening was a dry and hold up free run up to the Peaktruck show held at the Uttoxeter racecourse. At a steady 50mph the 143 had no problems covering the distance in under 4 hrs. Even with the late arrival I was still able to get on to the site and park up for the evening, luckily the boys from McGawn Bros had kept me a space on the tarmac and with the bar still open a double result.

A bright start to the Saturday did much to improve the hangover which I always seem to wake up with when I come here! Saturday morning was taken up with giving the old Scania a clean and polish, you think I would’ve learnt to bring something smaller than a 8×4. Still not quite as much work as the trucks entered into the combination class, credit must go these guys. One of the best was the V-reg FH Volvo of MJS from Stoke on Trent along with its powder tanker.

The Peak shows are always very well supported by the local fleets from names such as Shirley’s, Mike Ponsonby and Stan Robinson. The Peak Truck Show was this year celebrating it’s 10th anniversary over the years shows have been held at a number of places, Belfast was a regular venue along with Carlisle and Penrith this helps to explain why Roy Gill and Sarah Mcgregor have always attracted many trucks from all over the country. Both Roy and Sarah used to run and show trucks one of the most well known was the Queen of Hearts (You must have a picture of this somewhere Ben can find mine think they are in the loft – I can’t find it!!) so with him being one of the judges you know you better have thing done right. You always are made to feel like old friends when you turn up no matter what time of day or night you finally manage to get there Sarah or Roy are always there to greet you this for me is what the truck shows are all about meeting friends new and old.

The weather both days was lovely and sunny which makes a change as we normally have to take cover from the rain at least once during the weekend here, moving the show to later in the year definitely helped with this. The truck of the show went to the T-cab of Bartletts which as the pictures show was as clean out side as it was in with its fully upholstered cab along with painted dash. From fully custom work to the restored 141 with tandem axle trailer you decide what looks the best. One of the nicest trucks for me was the Scania 560 of Dutch owner driver Peter van der Eijk as with most European trucks typically understated but still had plenty of detail.

The Saturday night is another sociable gathering with entertainment in the bar this year with a rock band in full swing. The CF DAF of Massey Feeds was looking spot on sitting next to the big cabbed Toplines and XF’s. There was a strong Scottish contingent with the R-cab from Laurelbank Nurseries, Gordon Steel and John Templeton’s Avatar. One of the furthest travelled must have been Brian McLennan of Peterhead with his brand new Scania. Judging takes place over both days, so there was plenty of cleaning still to be done with the results being given out on the Sunday afternoon.

The Mc Gawn Bros did well this year by taking top spot in a Best Fleet and combination classes to name just a few.

The 105 DAF from Smith of Bury did well in the traditional livery class who says red and green should never be seen! I even got a highly commended in the company owned class for the 143.

A final thanks must go to Sarah and Roy for organising another top show hopefully there will be plenty over the next few years.

What the FAP is That??!!

Posted on October 8, 2012 by truckbloguk

While wondering around the halls of the IAA Show in Hanover I came across what looked like an SK cabbed Mercedes, well from the side I was walking towards it anyway. It turns out that the 2 trucks in question were brand new Euro 5, FAP trucks. FAP are built in Serbia and extensively use old Mercedes cabs in their truck range. In fact if you scroll through the trucks pages on their website they use Merc badged trucks to show what they produce.. FAP is Serbia’s largest (and only??) commercial vehicle producer. Based in the Serbian town of Prijbol they employ something like 1200 people, making what look like rugged trucks for both private use and army use. FAP stands for Fabrika Automobila Priboj, just in case it comes up in a pub quiz! So if any of you die hard Merc SK fans have some spare cash, perhaps you need to pop to Serbia to get a brand new Euro 5 FAP…….If only they bought the rights to the 1 series Scania for their next truck range!!

IAA Commercial Vehicle Show 2012

Posted on October 2, 2012 by truckbloguk

Just over a week ago on a wet and windy evening I landed back at Stansted Airport, complete with 5 blisters and a Bratwurst in my pocket. Last Monday I spent the whole day at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover, well it should have been 9-5 but the German bus driver side swiped a car on the Autobahn on the way, so we were a whole 45 minutes later than planned! This therefore put me onto the Volvo stand 45 minutes after everyone else, so by the time I found it the Swedish stand was already heaving with people gathering to see the ugly but intriguing new Volvo FH. I for one sat and watched the launch of said new FH on the Internet the other week and have to say I was part of the large amount of you who think it is as ugly as the front end of a bus. But when the new Mercedes Actros arrived I was also very sceptical until I saw it in the flesh.

Having sat up high overlooking the Volvo stand for quite a while I did come to the very simple conclusion that the reason it is “ugly” is only due to the grill, the actual shape is very tidy. We are so used to the badges of trucks being on the grill, is it just the case that it’s different, that is the cause of the visual unlikenment! I’m sure you have seen the photo shopped pictures of the new FH with the Volvo badge mounted on the grill and I think it looks so much better. I think there will soon be an after market pack to change the front of your new Volvo if you so wish.

Other than the grill issue, the shape of the new Volvo on the outside is rather nice and it seems different. Amazing how designers can make a shed on wheels constantly seem so different from manufacturer to manufacturer! As for the interior, well it is rather comfy. Gone is that old FH feeling of the front of the truck closing in on you. It feels huge inside (a whole extra cubic metre of space), with big lockers above the windscreen along with a rather nice sunroof panel (actually a real escape hatch!), a swivel passenger seat, a table, the list goes on and what ever I write on here won’t really do it justice. It is a Volvo and the quality is Volvo. Designed with you in mind, its super practical but also can be super comfortable if required. My overall opinion of the New FH has been changed. I like it….a lot. Ugly or not, it’s a Volvo, it’s practical, it will earn you money and keep your drivers happy.

On with the show… The Iveco stand with it’s new crown of Truck of The Year, was amazing orange. The crazy Italians have gone a little colour crazy, but I will say zis once, the Iveco stable gets more appealing!! There you go SW I really did say it, the new Hi-Way Stralis is ok.

DAF also went with orange, but it kind of suits the new childlike, cartoon front end of the XF, only problem being is that it’s not a kids toy. The DAF XF is one of the most popular trucks in Europe but i’m afraid DAF haven’t impressed many people with the new look, I for one am not keen. Are they old Mercedes Actros headlights?! Perhaps some slightly older adolescence should be offered the sweet bag when the next update is due.

The Renault stand gave me the feeling that they were trying to divert your attention away from the fact their centre piece was a 22 year old French piece of art. Although the Magnum is still different to the rest, the fact that Renault had the most beautiful girls to attract you in, the trucks were the same as when I went to Hanover in 2010. I’m not sure how they can or will replace the Magnum, but I think a breath of fresh air is required in Renault land.

Hide it, talk it down, do what you like, what ever you do the R730 Scania is still a beautiful thing in my eyes. On show in a nearly white, silver it is still an awesome piece of kit. If you have not driven the current generation of Scania trucks, then before you slate them, take one for a drive. I still feel there is no truck with a better, more confident ride, backed up with the legendary V8, all its needs is a little something on the inside, but i’m not sure what.

The Daimler hall was so impressive it was untrue. The size of a couple of football pitches. From the small vans right up to the new Actros, buses and Unimogs, all models were available for you to get your sticky paws on.

The new Actros in all it’s guises is highly impressive and I have to say that it is still in my top 3. Lovely looking truck. They had a nice little Atego on the stand, but it has to be said that it does need it’s new cab, which will bring it in line with the new range and the new look. More to come on my thoughts of the Atego replacement.

This just leaves the MAN hall. There was tons of other stuff to tell you about at the show and I will get round to it, but I thought you’d be happy with a general sum up of all the major players. MAN, like their German rivals had a large display, with loads of trucks and lots of buses, as well as the South American Volkswagen trucks. The normal trucks on the stand were popular and each truck has a couple of MAN employees to help guide you round each truck and answer your questions. There was a big special TGS 40.540 tractor unit designed for off road heavy haul use, and I wish i’d taken a few more snaps of the chassis and springs as it was a monster.

Also, much to my delight and also my annoyance, the gorgeous little TGL 12.250 was one of the most popular trucks on the stand. For my older readers you know I love a TGL and in Germany they are super popular. This particular one is the new Euro 6 model that will be available from January 2013. A new interior along with the new look grill and bumper, will surely mean that this little Tonka continues to be a huge hit. I just wish I could buy one to join the club! …….Dear Father Christmas………

The whole show was knackering. There is so much to see, but despite the bus drivers best efforts I just about had enough time to see it all and go back and see my favourite bits a second time. Probably a good year to go too, what with the new Merc’s, the new Iveco, new look DAF and of course the completely new Volvo, it was a good day out despite the blisters. I have loads more pics, yes I do, click HERE to see them. Also I will put more stuff I saw at the show on the blog over the next few months. As well as the normal trucks, there are stands of trailers, vans, parts, etc etc etc. In 2014, treat yourself and go. You might even see a full size Lego truck!

Show Time – How things have changed…

Posted on September 23, 2012 by truckbloguk

So its 2 years after I last went to Germany, the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show at Hannover. It’s a bi-annual show that is the showcase for all the heavy vehicle and bus manufacturers along with all and sundry who make accessories and products associated with commercial vehicles. I’m flying this evening, have a might in a posh hotel then I’ll be at the show for 9am to spend the day looking about, where as I went in 2010 just for the day, I only had about 5 hours between my flights.

This year I think there will be a lot that has changed. The very recent release of the new Volvo range. The new Mercedes Benz Actros is making it’s first IAA appearence, along with the face lifted DAF’s. How can I forget the newly crowned Truck of The Year, the Iveco Stralis Hi-Way. I’m also hoping to find some lovely German mini artic manufacturers!!

I will post up my findings over the next few weeks. I won’t be taking the lap top with me, so unless I can find some free wi-fi and I can work out how to blog on my phone you will just have to check the photo panel for any uploads or the twits on twitter.

Truckfest Original by James Cartwright

Posted on September 11, 2012 by truckbloguk

A misty morning start soon brightened up with sunshine and a quiet run up the A14 and A1 to the showground at Newark. I even managed to park in the exhibitors car park less of a walk to the gate for the old legs! With 400 plus trucks to see there would be plenty of walking left for the day. I was pleased to see the show trucks were all kept together unlike Peterborough where they seemed to be spread all over the showground. Credit must go to all of the drivers who had put in hours of hard work in getting their trucks ready for the weekend, most of which is in their own time at weekends leading up to the event. I have learnt this from previous experience!

There was a small gathering of motors painted by Stewart Bone who sadly died last month. Stewart was responsible for the paint work on many well known fleets from Northern England and Scotland, along with custom paint work on SNT Scania T-cab, Nichol Boilers 143, Longthorn’s T-cab and the last truck to be painted by him the DAF of Gordon Steel. As you can see his work was first class. Stewart will be sadly missed.

In amongst all of the big Swedes was Graham Turners fully restored ERF E series on the ERF revs stand which the family firm ran when it was new and is now a firm favourite on the retro circuit. A little disappointing that Iveco and Mercedes were the only manufacturers in attendance never the less the new Giga Space of Lomas Distribution stood head and shoulders above its predecessor.

The Kelsa stand had its normal high standard of light bars adorning new vehicles from the likes of owner driver Brian Mclennand and also the DAF CF510 from BJ Waters. Also on the stand was a favorite of mine the DAF of Paul Hinchcliffe painted in the same traditional colours of the old family firm with just a hint of custom work. To be honest I didn’t look at anything that was going on in the main arena as it is always the same things year after year. This may say more about me having been around truck shows for to long !!

Away from the main trade stand in amongst the lines of trucks is were the BBQ and partying is done over the weekend but still the lines of fleet trucks were gleaming in the sunshine. Amongst them was the well known DAF from Axminster Carpets which as the pictures show is as clean underneath as it is on top, thanks to the dedication of its driver Tony Moore. By the amount of general public wandering around the show it would have been a success no doubt helped by possibly the first sunny show of the season from the arrivals on Friday afternoon to the departure on the Sunday night. Inside the hall there were many stands selling models and a large area set aside for the radio controlled trucks which the modelers were only to pleased to show you how they worked. All in all a good day, roll on Uttoxeter next weekend!!

If you want to see the rest of James Newark photos then click HERE. Hopefully James will be up for doing a review of his Uttoxeter Show trip, I know he is taking something a little special so keep your fingers crossed.

Crowfield Classics

Posted on June 9, 2012 by truckbloguk

A rare sight in any ones book. These 2 classic Swedes were pride of place at yet another damp Crowfield Truck Rally, held last Sunday the 3rd June at the Orwell Truckstop, Ipswich. This event is organised by the East Coast Truckers and always attracts lots of visitors and entrants as it goes, but numbers are limited so the places fill up quickly.
The 2 trucks above are both well know in and around Suffolk. The H.C. Wilson Scania 141 was bought new and has been working with Wilson ever since and still does the odd days graft now and again. The Russell Davies Scania 110 is a bit rarer as it spends most of its days at the Ipswich transport museum, but does come out for the odd run during the summer. The truck was the first ever purchase for the Russell Davies fleet in 1974 and was sold on in 1977. The truck was bought again in 1985 and restored back to her original colours. She looks well, perhaps even better with a spread axle skelly trailer behind??? Just an idea.

This nice late DAF 3200 is in the colours of Suffolk haulier EJ Farrow. Nice, clean and simple, bearing the company details what more do you need? Although it does look a little small compared to it’s bigger younger brother parked alongside. While we’re on DAF, below is an earlier 2800, owned by another local haulier Neil Bomford.

Next up is Rowell’s Transport’s delightful Volvo F7 sleeper. I love this little Volvo, I used to see loads of them around the industrial estate’s of Braintree as a boy. A local haulier had quite a few and it was also the first truck I drove on my own across my cousins farm during harvest. Although my cousins version was an 8×4 tipper, but it still had the sleeper cab. This Rowell’s truck has been given plenty of love and care and now looks like new, a real credit to the owners. Traditional sign writing, original interior and even retro windscreen flags, I hope this little beastie got a trophy, it deserves it.

Finnaly we have Geoff Warrens customised Scania 142 with highroof and also another high roof classic in the shape of Terry Seaman’s big cabbed Foden. The Scania still works in the summer months but doesn’t tend to venture out to much in the winter. As for the Foden, that is still earning a crust and I actually saw it out on the road this week with a tipper trailer. It’s nice to see that a classic English truck can still earn a living and not be badly affected by the ever increasing emissions regulations. As far as I know farm yards are not yet under any sort of Low Emission Zone red tape!

I can’t say much about H.C. Wilson’s 2 classics as we all know they both enjoy a trip to a show, but are both very much thought of as working trucks. The 141 doesn’t do to too many days out, but N500 HCW still is called into action when ever required, usually for swapping with a break down or an MOT vehicle.

There were plenty of other trucks at Crowfield, but the increasingly popular classic’s that we see at our shows, need to be appreciated. If you click HERE you will go to my other photos from the show.

Truckfest Peterborough – 2012

Posted on May 14, 2012 by truckbloguk

Where to start?? Well it started as a shambles really. I, in my wisdom decided to go round Peterborough so I could enter from the North side, as I have spent the last 15 years arriving from the South. My advice? stick to what you know. The main car park fields were waterlogged so we were all being stuffed into every available gap. Then we were all directed to the gate directly across the swamp like car park. Having waded across with a number families and countless others loosing wellies and shoes to the mud, we got within 100 yards of the gate only to be told we had to walk back round to the other gate passed where we had just come from. Approx 100 others did this exercise round to Gate 5 but then no one else joined the queue….I think we were had. We then queued on the main road into the Showground for 40 minutes then we were finally allowed to enter. Of course for this privilege of no one knowing what was going on I was charged £17 entry, what do you get for your £17 entry? a free cuppa? a free programme?? A voucher for a burger??? Nothing. I think it’s high time that Live Promotions re thought their pricing. £17 is more expensive than my local world class Zoo!

Enough moaning, its the same every year. Next up and one of my main targets was the New Mercedes Actros. I was not alone, by 0915hrs all doors on the available Mercs were open and rapidly filling with people and potential buyers, young and old! I lined up and got myself in the Gigaspace. Gorgeous. For those of you who are sceptical of the new Big German having seen it in the press then let me assure you that in the flesh you’ll be impressed. Now that Mercedes are trying to use more car components in the trucks, the interior is looking very plush and is very similar to the car range. I learnt this thanks to the very helpful Nigel in the cab; The Bigspace cab is the same space as the current Megaspace but the Gigaspace is bigger still than both the Current Mega and the new Big. Crikey i’m all spaced out!! On the outside the big grill is very imposing but very smart. I really look forward to seeing the smarter fleets getting these trucks in their liveries. Firms like Pulleyn, Stobart (we’ve seen these already) and the likes of the Formula 1 Teams I think these smart Mercs will excel in promoting the image of who ever they are pulling for.

As for the rest of the trucks on show it was very difficult to decide what was best. As well as a few new trucks and some old favourites, some of the best trucks on show were the increasing numbers of retro trucks. I know we now have Retro Truck Shows, but the quality of these old girls is pretty amazing and nice to see. A number of F12 and F16 Volvo’s, some glorious Scania’s, 142’s, 143’s and of course a couple of 141’s. As well as a very British and very very tidy Seddon Atkinson that was getting lots of attention. Well done who ever owns it.

The usual displays occupied the arena. Arrivals of soap stars, motorbike displays and of course the ever impressive monster trucks. Good fun although no roll overs this year (a little disappointed!).

Along with all the big boys, there were also a handful of my favourites, some little Tonka Toys. I found Lewis Blakeys stunning DAF LF from Frank Hudsons fleet. Also I came across 2 other Hatcher cabbed DAF LF’s. One from H. Askeys fleet from Sheffield and one from AAA Couriers of Bradford. This driver was looking forward to a trip to the Champions league final in his smart little DAF.

There were obvioulsy many others around the Showground. A few more stunning big Scania’s, including the James Bond 007 themed R730 that belongs to scrap metal firm J Davidson. Loving the bullet holes and surely the best number plate at the show! Davidson’s R730 traing vehicle was also very clean and attracted plenty of photographers!!

Possibly the smartest tanker you’ll ever see. The driver must have forearms like Popeye, with all the polishing they must have done to get a ladder to look that shiny!! A real credit to the driver and the company and all on an 08 plate.

Other than that it was an ok show. I did miss the lovely Lisa Kelly from Ice Road Truckers. The weather stayed nice on Sunday which made a change. The only thing missing or so I though was the customised fleet of Coles & Sons of Banbury. Unusual not to have any trucks at the show. Well I was wrong. The one truck I missed was this stunning new addition to the Coles fleet. Matching the coolness of the figure painted on the side, Marlon Brando, this Scania oozed class. I’ve long been a fan of painting trucks and parts rather than shiny shiny. So it was a pleasure not to see a piece of stainless steel in sight. I absolutely love it. Coles Custom is as cool as it gets in my book and I was told it’s not even a V8! Brilliant, well done Coles I hoped you got your reward.

This photo belongs to the worlds photo library of trucks that you’ll find on www.euro-wheels.com , the one and only Neil Jarrold doesn’t miss a thing so I have to thank him very much for letting me use his photo of the Super Swede from Oxfordshire. There will be more of my finds at Truckfest on the blog in the near future. For now if you want to see a few more of my photos then click HERE.

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