NRMA Motorfest 2010

Long-term ACC contributor Andrew Blacklock has sent in these pics of some of the 'heavies' at this year's NRMA Motorfest in Sydney. Closing off a few of the streets of the city's CBD and filling them with classic vehicles - only good things can come of that - is an Australia Day tradition. The public are shuttled around by buses from the Sydney Bus Museum (12 buses on the job this year).

Travels of an unemployed West Wyalong blog editor - Part One - NOW WITH WORDS!

Above: Pat Morris took me to see this Beddy soon after we moved up here. I haven't seen a lot of S-types - the Big Bedford - in my time but they've always been of interest. Many disappeared when the TK arrived on the scene. In the great scheme of things, the TK's engine access trumped the R, S and the earlier C ...and it didn't even have a tilt-cab! I've since found a potential buyer for this truck so hopefully she'll be going to a very understanding home. Below: the Groat family who own the Mack E on the front page of ACC also have this old Gardner-engined Atkinson. She was used as a paddock harvest truck up to a couple of years ago and, as you can see from the radiator shot, she still has the Silver Knight badge. It is there, honest! The owner commented that she smoked a lot when cold but I told him that was a standard Gardner thing and it's a joy to behold!

Above: another Groat truck is this 1976 TK. I'm calling it a TK as I can't remember the official designation. An ex-railways truck, she now serves as the fuel bowser. Would make an interesting truck to restore. Imagine all the friends you could take with you! Below: one of four Thornycrofts seen on the day we went to see the LAD Albion below, this one is cheaply available with the cabs and other parts we found below. Just drop me a line as I'd like to pass them on to a home that has the time to restore them.

Above: this funky Austin had a very interesting rear bogie set up. I just wish I had taken a good photo of it! Below: also included with these Thornycroft cabs was a chassis, radiator grille and another engine.
The LAD Albions (white and yellow), the Austins and the Fordson V8 above were all found on the same property. The Fordson photo took a few goes with a fun backdrop of backlit clouds. This was the best of the lot. The original words for this post disappeared when I originally wrote them. Have only now had the time and inclination to write them all over again!

Happy New Year

Hello, remember me? I'm your friendly old truck nut who has been a bit lazy of late. Can't believe the most recent entry (after this one) is October. Time flies when you're, err, not doing much!

I apologise for the quiet ACC of late. To be honest, I lost interest in old trucks in general. No, the passion didn't die - I still got excited seeing things on the side of the road - it just got buried under a few other interests and responsibilities. I've been pretty frustrated with my work situation, or lack thereof, but things are looking up in that respect. However finding several trucks in the local area that are 'target' projects for me and knowing they are relatively cheap but being unable to do anything about it has been very annoying and I basically threw my hands up in the air and thought "why bother?" So I took a step back from the 'industry' and looked elsewhere. What I have missed, though, is the down-to-earth people who get about the old truck world. Therefore expect phone calls or emails from me (if you can't wait, contact me!) in the near future as I endeavour to catch up with everyone.

I won't say we're back to business as usual yet - however I would like to thank Andrew Blacklock and Pat Morris for continually banging old gear at me to keep me 'on the hook' - but I spoke to Mal Wotherspoon this morning (he of the bright green Commer) and he has some great news which I'll hold until his photos arrive. Tomorrow, though, I'll give you a photo essay of what my travels have revealed over the past few months. There's a fine selection of everything from old rope shovels to hard-working White prime-movers.

To those who have popped in here hoping for new posts and not finding any, I apologise, the wait is over! Thanks for hanging around.

Andy