Lady Louise is a Real Western Star

Posted on August 30, 2011 by truckbloguk

Here we go with a good old reminisce!! Now if you are a regular facebooker and are part of the mighty www.euro-wheels.com gang or a friend of the man behind it Neil Jarrold, you’ll be aware that a certain Lady has been back on the scene. Now when I was a boy growing up around trucks, vans, forklifts and every thing else that goes with a father who ran an ANC franchise (now FedEx UK) from 1982, one of the original 11 depots who started nationwide, you soon grow an interest on where you spend your evenings and weekends. Much like the Wilson brothers I now work for. During these early years my Dad did every thing he could to make sure I enjoyed every minute of it, probably as he could tell I was interested and yes I do blame my upbringing on my now unhealthy obsession for trucks!!
Back When ANC started alot of the franchisee’s already had existing business, such as Wyvern Cargo and Geoff Byfords own, Byfords Cargo Express (not sure if I have the name right?). My dad always told me bits an piece’s about Mr Byford. Imagine my excitement when I was told Geoff was behind CDC, where I used to spend my pocket money on cab flags and mini scarves! Then the old chap told me that Geoff had bought an American truck. I couldn’t wait to see it.
This is it, probably one of the first photo’s of Lady Louise in the UK before she became Lady Louise. I think it was only a week or 2 after she had arrived, My parents went upto Geoff’s place in Barrow (where CDC still are), for what I seem to remember was some sort of ANC meeting perhaps, other wise I can’t really see why else my mother went!!

Not long after the truck was sent off to the paint shop to be prepared for a good few years fund raising, even appearing on the well loved childrens programme Blue Peter. Now if Geoff is reading this, you’ll have to correct me if i’m wrong. I think I travelled up to Lady Louise’s 1st Truckfest on the Friday before, actually in the truck with Geoff at the helm. Now if this is the correct year or not i’m not sure, but my Dad and I had an early start and I was having the Friday off school, that wouldn’t be allowed now!! We went off to Barrow in Suffolk to meet up with Geoff. From there Geoff said I was riding with him and my dad followed us up to Peterborough in the car. From then on it was a great day. TV shoots, photo shoots, everyone waving. Ending up with parking Lady Louise in one of the cow sheds at the show ground and I insisted to my Dad that we couldn’t leave until I had given her a wipe down with a polishing cloth. After that it was a summer of rolling posters for Geoff to take to all the shows he and the truck went too. Any way enough of my reminiscing trip, here are a few of my Polaroid photo’s of the day. Even now she looks great!

I’m not sure who this dodgy haircutted character is!!

Actually seeing that photo, must mean I took some of my own photo’s, seeing as I was carrying some form of a camera, no idea where they are though!!

We’re Back!!!

Posted on August 29, 2011 by truckbloguk

Hello Hello This is Essex Calling!!

After how ever long it has been, we seem (fingers crossed), to be back and firmly away from what ever took over!! Not quite running at full speed but we are back and i’m not keen on the look so bear with and hopefully we’ll get back to the old theme and lay out that we are all familiar with.

I have to say the biggest thak you to the blogs, very own god, Mr Ewan Mcleod. The wifes best male friend he is but he is a big name in the world of mobile media, mobile phones and all things technical. It was he who got me blogging in the 1st place. Try checking out his site as an odd way of saying thank you………. Thank you Ewan.

http://www.mobileindustryreview.com/

Here’s Your New Truck

Posted on August 12, 2011 by truckbloguk

Recently I have been trying to work out how to use Facebook and more to the point get it working alongside the blog. So far I haven’t got a clue. It’s possible to put questions on the TB FB page, so I thought i’d give it a go to see what results I got, you know that modern word “interactive” thats me that is!

Here’s the question: Your new boss is offering you the following trucks brand new as your first truck, which do you choose?

– DAF 3300 ATI Spacecab

– Volvo F12 Globetrotter

– Scania 143

– Iveco Turbostar V8

– Mercedes Benz SK V8

A bit of a retro question as we all seem to prefer the old generation of trucks. All in all i ended up with 48 Votes (at the time of going to press!), not a bad turn out. Please feel free to add your vote below in the comments box below or head over to the Facebook page if your that way inclined.
Can you Guess the results?? I bet you can guess the bottom 2 anyway. Here are the results;

1st – Scania 143 with 48% of Votes
2nd – Volvo Globetrotter with 27% of Votes
3rd – DAF 3300 Spacecab with 21% of Votes
4th – Iveco Turbostar with 2% of Votes
4th – Mercedes SK with 2% of Votes

I think in all honesty I could have kept the vote down to just the top 3 options. The choice between Volvo and DAF was pretty close. I was slightly surprised by the smaller cabbed beating the 2 bigger cabbed trucks to 1st place. This must show that all you old romantics of the road must just prefer the better drive over the better cab for time off. If you took part then thank you and if you didn’t you better had next time!! If youare literate in facebook please click on the link above and click the like button. Also keep your eyes for further questions / votes.

Beresford Transport by Mick Darlington

Posted on August 7, 2011 by truckbloguk

Its funny how when you get talking to people you end up finding out more than you bargained for. I take regular deliveries of JCB’s that are destined for Russia, but come to me for checking and prepping before heading off to the docks. This means I have a lot of dealings with Brit European as I recieve 10 of there trucks every day. As you do you get chatting to the drives for a few minutes, one day i got chatting to a good old boy by the name of Mick Darlington, a true gent of the road. We got talking and as I said I ended up finding out more than bargained for. It turns out Mick has had a full career on the road as an employed driver and also as an Owner Driver. Mick’s career started at the well remembered Beresfords Transport from Stoke on Trent and 3 days after getting his license was at the helm of this old girl and about to set off for Italy with a load of whiskey!

It turns out that Mick has spent a good chunk of his career as a continental driver. Going from Beresfords, to Morcap, to Fret Francais, to Brit European as well as running his own trucks across the water as well.

I love the fact that back in the good old days there were so many British built trucks heading off to all foreign climbs. We all know the Guys, Scammells, Seddons, Leylands and ERF’s that used to even get as far as the Middle East, but then again that was a time when having something built in Britain was some thing to be proud of! Mr Darlington has plenty of experience of driving some of Cheshire’s finest on the wrong side of the road. This set of pics of a B series ERF on the snowy roads of Austria. You just cant beat photo’s like this and you won’t ever be able to recreate them, they are just classics. I almost got romantic there didn’t I!!

Any ideas who this driver is with Mick in Austria?

Beresfords were at the time well in at JCB and were one of the main hauliers doing the continental JCB work before Brit European took over and, from what I read, took the fun out of the job and made it not so lucrative as perhaps it once was. Beresford ran 2 x Seddon Atkinsons painted up in JCB colours to show there loyalty to the Staffordshire digger makers. Mick seen here some where across the water, but can you tell me where? It looks warm where ever it is.

There is more to come from Mick’s photo’s but I dont want to use them up all at once!! You’ll just have to keep checking the blog to see when I do the next installment. I need to do some more research about Fret Francais, so if you can tell me any thing send me an email; ben@truckblog.co.uk

When Will My Lotto Numbers Come Up?!?!?!??

Posted on August 7, 2011 by truckbloguk

The more I traipse through the never ending trucks for sale, the more I want my bloomin numbers to hurry up and come in!! Just enjoy these pics, a lovely V8 Scania T580.

SCOOP!! HC Wilson 1/50 Scale Scania 141 Now Available

Posted on August 1, 2011 by truckbloguk

It’s finally here!! After many months of planning, fine tuning and waiting this WSI 1/50 scale Scania 141 model is now availble in limited numbers. It’s available to buy direct from Search Impex or direct from HC Wilson. I think I am right in saying that there are about 300 models in total, so you’ll need to be fairly sharpe with your ordering. If you are interested they will be sold first come first served. You can email me at work, ben@hcwilsontransport.com or here at the blog, ben@truckblog.co.uk and title your email “Wilsons 141 Model”.

As you can see the tractor unit is as per the real life version, down to every detail and I mean every detail, including all stickers!! A single air horn, correctly mounted flashing beacons, wheels are painted right, GB sticker on one side of the rear chassis cross member, the livery is spot on and there is even a satelite dome on the roof. The trailer is the same as one of Wilson’s fairly standard Nooteboom 3 axle step frame trailers. It was discussed about having an original 2 axle step frame as the truck would have had when it was new back in 1979, but WSI couldn’t provide such a trailer without designing a totally new one. It certainly looks the part.
The models will be for sale at £138.00 from Search Impex and £144 from HC Wilson, plus the appropriate postage and packing costs. If you want to but from Wilson’s direct you will be encouraged to collect the model in person. This is a cracking model and I look forward to seeing the 1st one in the flesh at work tomorrow, don’t forget if your keen on buying your other half a great and different anniversary gift, then email me, ben@hcwilsontransport.com.

Acitoinox Italian Made Truck Accessories

Posted on July 31, 2011 by truckbloguk

As you know I dont advertise or endorse anything inparticular, what ever takes my fancy really. Due to the beauty of Facebook (not really!) I came across this lot. I have no idea how but they appeared on my Facebook, so I had a look through and soon realised they are responsible for a lot of those crazy Italian trucks and their stainless steel accessories. I made friends with them, as you do. This led me to the Acitoinox website and me wasting a good hour or two (much to the wifes horror) looking through the amazing lists of accessories for all the major manufacturers. You can buy a piece of stainless steel for just about every part and position on your truck. Take a look at this R730 V8 Scania, that has clearly been given the Italian treatment, I suppose you could say its had an Italian job (ha ha i made a joke!).

All the accessories on one truck together I have to say is too much for my taste but you have to admit the trucks are just amazing, have a look through the Gallery page. I would be keen on buying a few bits and bobs, but if you feel inclined then go to the Catalogue page, select your truck and get browsing. There are 10 pages of just Scania bits, so you will have your will power put to the limi and your wallet for that matter!

One thing I do love about this truck and what sets off all the stainless is the gorgeous matt black paint work, genius! Not only is there a range of ready made accessories, but you can also have bespoke one of stuff made up, although i’m not sure where else you could put some stainless that the team at Acitoinox haven’t already thought of. Look closley at this rear view of the “Absolute” truck…………

……..yes you are seeing correctly the V8 logo has got pipes coming out of it. Now that is Italian styling and ingenuity at its best!! Not sure how practical it is but thats just me being English! You are also right, the side fairings on the air kit have also been cut out a little to make way for the pipes. I do wonder if all pipes are exhaust or for show, but seeing as it is Italian they must be using all 8 pipes to fire out the V8 tunes, it must sound pretty amazing and loud, especially if your standing on the kerb in the bus queue when it comes burbling past. I think i’ll have to get the bus next time!! As I said i’m not a fan of all the bits on my own truck but you do have to admire the Italian’s, they certainly stand out from the crowd. You always notice an Italian truck on the road. Paint jobs, stainless steel what more can you want?? Oh yea a V8 730hp Scania (in Matt Black). A trip to an Italian truck is in order I think…….

Just for info these pictures are all copyright to Acitoinox.

Activ Update…..

Posted on July 31, 2011 by truckbloguk

Still nothing in particular to update you with, no photo’s any way, but….. a couple of our drivers we’re heading for Bremen and that sort of area last week. In my wisdom I mentioned it to the drivers and after the usual barrage for abuse for being such a sad-o, one driver said have you looked on Google Street View around the Airbus factory’s in Bremen………….. of course I hadn’t!! I popped onto the interweb and plonked the Street View man on a road right out side the one of the factories and low and behold an Activ spot!! A nice ageing Mercedes 814.

Mini Artics

Posted on July 28, 2011 by truckbloguk

Dear Readers,

So far the info regarding mini artics has been a little sketchy to say the least. I have been trying to find out, what the weight combinations on these vehicles are. I NEED YOUR HELP!?
So far, i think it is fare to say that you can obviously have a minimum gross weight of 7.5 or 12 tons depending on what you require. This mini MAN artic is based on having a Gross Vehicle Weight of 12 tons, actually MAN’s are usually plated at 11,990kg. This particular one come’s from a German body builder and mini artic manufacturer called Pagenkopf. They claim that there trailer with an MAN TGL sleeper cab can still achieve a 5.500kg payload, which obviously means that the truck is designed to run at 11,990kg. This is also given away by the fact they call it “Maut-killer”, all vehicles under 12,000kg GVW dont have to pay the German Maut charges. The other thing I found yesterday on a quote for a 12 tonner from MAN was, they state the maximum Train Weight of a 12 tonner to be 24,000kg.

You may be wondering why i dont just ask MAN or Mercedes what the weight set up is. Well I have. MAN haven’t got back to me and Mercedes Benz UK have said they are on the case, so hopefully I will here some thing back, from one or both.

Activ Cars run these Mercedes Atego’s as you will be bored of reading by now. But they badge on the door say’s this is an “823” meaning 8 tons, 230 bhp. So how do they get away with pulling 11 and 13 metre long trailers behind. They can’t be using the GVW of 8 tons, so they must be going on the Train weight……………………..oh no i’ve gone boss eyed!!

For a minute there I almost sounded like a right anorak! Can you shed any light on the mini artic debate?? If so email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk or leave your USEFULL comments below.

Activ Cars Spezialtransporte, Achim, Bremen

Posted on July 25, 2011 by truckbloguk

Right here we go again. Those who know me will know that i am not one to give up on some thing I want. Now for a good while I have been trying to get more photo’s and info about this lot as they don’t have a website. I did email them once and i did get a good reply with a couple of yard photo’s, but as you have guessed I want to get more of both! Activ Cars operate out of Achim, Bremen, Germany. They have a good looking fleet of Mercedes, mainly Atego’s. Perhaps my new friends at Mercedes Benz UK can even get in on the detective trail, surely there are some German colleagues you can contact?? Activ travel all over the continent and even regularly come to the UK. The main stay of there work seems to be for Airbus, delivering parts to manufacturing plants, such as Frankfurt, Toulouse and Broughton near Chester.

Now, I have done an appeal before for your spots as you go about your daily drives, and we did get a couple of spots, one at Killingholme Dock and another up the M6, possibly heading for Broughton. I am going to try my luck by emailing the email address I have and hope the staff at Activ Cars don’t ignore my email. Now this is where you lot come in, while i’ll do the emailing, I need you lot to keep your eyes peeled and send me any photos you manage to get of Activ Cars mini artics on the road. Ideally one of you will find an Activ truck parked up and you can ask the driver to email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk or via the Truckblog Facebook Page. In fact who ever send’s in the best NEW photo of one of these trucks, will win a www.truckblog.co.uk sticker. In my previous searches I even put a thread on trucknetuk.com and did get some response, but i have renewed this Mini German Artic thread in the hope it too might get some new feedback.

Just look at the backdoors, they have a lovely gap at the bottom for a nice new Navy Blue truckblog sticker! The detective work starts now, so best bi-nock-u-lars on and get detecting my loyal spotters. Hopefully now we have a load of new European friends reading the blog we may be able to spread the hunt further and wider than before and we may even get some results. Just imagine if an employee of Activ Cars got to hear about the search, they might email me direct!! Remember my email address is ben@truckblog.co.uk

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