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.  

 

Guernsey MAN 

  

I haven’t seen my old pal Steve Marsh for a while now, so as I had a spare ticket for Truckfest I thought I’d ask him the question, being the generous type that I am! Now usually when Marshy tells me where he’s off too I get a little envious, but he’s reason for not coming to Peterborough turned my envy into more of a feeling of the big green eyed monster.

 “Sorry but I’ll be on the boat to Guernsey on Sunday morning.”

I could just leave the blog there but I’m not sure that’s utterly fair so I’ll go on for you my dear readers sake. Firstly I’d love to go back to driving a little 12 ton rigid around Europe this is the reason I enjoy Marshys reports so much and secondly I spent an awful lot of my teenage summers in Guernsey and I can’t think of a nice place to be heading for on a bank holiday weekend, let alone getting paid for it. Some of you will understand that in the world of hot-shot and express work, sometimes reloads can be some distance from deliveries but as long as the miles are paid who cares?? Here is the itinerary for smex.eu starting from  the Wednesday before last (remember Monday this week was a bank holiday in the UK); 

Wednesday: Load Weymouth – A Printing machine.

 Thursday:  Deliver Zundert NL

 Friday: Load 20 miles south of Strasbourg – Security Doors

 Sunday:  Ferry from Portsmouth to Guernsey via Jersey (Condor Ferries)

 Mon: Lounge around in St Peter Port

Tue: Deliver to Guernsey Airport with motorcycle outrider escort. 

The original plan was to catch the boat from St Malo but the load wasn’t ready in time near Strasbourg. Even though it sailed 3pm Saturday you have to check in at 8am and Steve couldn’t get there till 10:30.

  

Nice work if you can get it! Being some what of a Guernsey fan I suggested that as it was bank holiday then there was bound to be some Motorsport event on the island and much to Marshys enjoyment they had a hill climb race going on out of St Peter Port. This whiles away a few hours on bank holiday Monday. On Tuesday morning Steve was collected from the Port by his motorcycle escort to drive the 4 miles upto the islands airport and to make his delivery. The escort is required due to the little MAN being 2.5m wide and the width limit on Guernsey is a narrow 2.3m wide. 

  

The boat back to England wasn’t until Tuesday night so Steve had the rest of the day to mooch about. I suggested the delightful Petit Bot Bay just outside of St Peter Port. Judging by the photo below he took my tourist advice and enjoyed  one of the best little beaches on the Island. Anyway back to work, but still it’s always nice to get a little treat I guess! Beats the Bruxelles ring road any day. 

  

For Sale / Te Koop / Zu Verkaufen

  
VOLVO FH16 750HP

Brand new – Unregistered – LHD – Full air including front axle – Alcoa Durabrite wheels – Twin wheel tag / rear bogie lift – XL Globetrotter cab – I park cool- Air sliding 5th wheel – All the toys!!

£115,000 + VAT each. 

Contact: Sir Mick Moody

Office: 01472 345600

Fax: 01472 357700

Mobile: 07802 225585

www.moodyinternational.co.uk

   
    
    
    
 

Owner Driver??

Are you an owner driver?? Are you a man or woman living the dream and haulin’ ass with your own motor? Are you in the UK, the USA, Canada, China, Greece, New Zealand or Peru? Or any where in between? Then please can you post a photo of your pride and joy for us all to see? I’ll start off with the last truck I owned and drove across the UK, Northern France, Belgium, Netherlands and Western Germany.