Bombay Truck Show delivers

By Colin Smith

PICNICS AND BARBEQUES, LIVE MUSIC, KIDS ENTERTAINMENT and trucks… literally acres of trucks old and new.

Saturday January 21 saw 465 rigs roll through the gates as official entries in the Transfleet Trailers/Allied Petroleum Bombay Truck Show.

A year later than planned due to Covid-19 restrictions last summer – and with an even higher degree of anticipation as a result – the second annual Bombay show exceeded all expectations.

And even the dubious summer weather made an effort. A few spots of rain threatened late morning but the show was completed without interruption.

There was plenty to see. A host of Counties region, Auckland and Waikato trucking firms provided the core of the huge entry but there were trucks from throughout the North Island and plenty of new metal on the distributor stands.

The turnout of trucks polished and ready to compete for UDC Finance Show & Shine honours wasn’t the only record. A new record of funds raised for charity was also achieved and the attendance is estimated at three times higher than the inaugural Bombay event in 2020.

The numbers suggest a crowd figure in the region of 16,000 to 20,000 and the fundraising total currently sits at $77,000 but is likely to climb even higher.

The beneficiaries from the show – each receiving a third share of the funds raised – are the Leukaemia Blood Foundation, Franklin Hospice and the Bombay Rugby Club, which provides the venue for the event.

Attendance numbers are still being finalised but show coordinator Marieka Morcombe says an initial `on-the-day’ estimate of 15,000 may be underestimating the turnout.

“We had 8000 people at the first show and it was at least double that number. We were very close to running out of parking and we were worried we might have to shut the gates,” Marieka says.

The Bombay show aims to be both a family-friendly community event and provide commercial value to exhibitors.

“The feedback hasn’t stopped and it’s been astounding,” says Marieka.

“It actually started during the show with exhibitors saying how much they were enjoying it and already talking about coming back next time even bigger and better.”

Trucks entered for the UDC Show & Shine competition were in contention for $16,000 worth of prizes.

Porter’s won the best fleet display and the best classic award went to the 1974 Kenworth W924 of Allen and Jackson Wills. People’s Choice honours went to the Hawke’s Bay-based Kenworth T659 logger of R&L Beale Ltd.

The UDC Finance Best New Truck Award was claimed by the new Kenworth K200 bulk unit of Wyatt Haulage.

The show also has a commercial element with truck distributors and product suppliers displaying their latest offerings.

You had to look harder to find one of the stars of the show. The first new Kenworth K220 to go on New Zealand roads wasn’t on the Southpac Trucks stand but was alongside several of its Dynes Transport stablemates among the ranks of the Show & Shine entrants.

It’s an early trial unit and the full launch of the K220 is planned at Easter weekend. But there was no shortage of enthusiasts looking closely at the K220 and taking a peek inside the new high tech cab.

Iveco also played the role of teaser with the new S-Way on show but with a cover across its nose. Not was bashful was the new Volvo FL Electric that Fonterra is putting to use on Auckland metro work.

Other new trucks to regularly have a crowd around them included the new Ace Towing Scania R650 XT heavy recovery vehicle, Ezy Moves Mack Super-Liner house transporter and Roadchill’s new Kenworth W900 SAR.

And on the subject of new technology there were plenty of interested visitors to the Mills-Tui stand to see the latest updates to the carbon fibre tipper bin developed by Transport Composites.

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There were plenty of classics on show from American iron to a mixed line-up of well cared for British and Euro models.

After two editions the Bombay Truck Show is already established as a day for the trucking community to come together, show off its pride in the industry and to put its horsepower behind community organisations.

The next Bombay Truck Show will take place in early 2025 (date to be confirmed). T&D

This page, Above: Bombay Show allowed many their first look at the new Kenworth K220.

Centre: Stuart Howard from Terence Howard & Son won the best local fleet trophy.

Below: 1966 White and a line-up of Classics.

Opposite page, Top: People’s Choice honours went to the R & L Beale Kenworth T659.

Centre: Beautifully presented 1987 Mack R686 and part of the C.V. Compton fleet line-up.

Below: New Kenworth W900 SAR took centre stage on the Southpac Trucks display.

2023 TRANSFLEET TRAILERS/ALLIED PETROLEUM BOMBAY TRUCK SHOW – PRIZE WINNERS

BEST VOLVO

3rd Michielsens Transport MAB919

2nd Hanes BIG700

1st Graeme Wright Carriers JSK818

BEST MACK

3rd Bigg Spec

2nd Allied MPW918

1st EZY Moves EZYDOG

BEST KENWORTH

3rd Kempthorne Transport PAQ749

2nd Smiths Transport SMITH

1st Mainline Distribution XKWX

BEST DAF

3rd Deadman MSB548

2nd WE Hale MEA96

1st ORT NQ6322

BEST JAPANESE

3rd KT Cartage entrant 47

2nd Porters PAW218

1st Michielsens Transport NBD819

BEST WESTERN STAR

3rd Exaro NWT49

2nd Hart Haulage HGEHRT

1st Michielsens Transport CAK840

BEST INTERNATIONAL

3rd P&L McWilliam XG5873

2nd Tony Galbraith MNS556

1st Rock & Rubble EAGLRK

BEST SCANIA

3rd Hanes X8ASHB

2nd ACE Haulage ITSACE

1st Kaitoa Haulage KAITOA

BEST MERCEDES

3rd Terence Howard TA816

2nd ACE Transport ACEH

1st Murlicht Transport LTE43

BEST FREIGHTLINER

1st Jivan Produce JDT136

BEST IVECO

1st Hi-Tech LIAMZZ

Sponsored Awards:

VERNON DEVELOPMENTS BEST TRANSPORTER AWARD –Ward #2 Kenworth T401 WARD2

NZ TRUCK & DRIVER BEST TRACTOR UNIT AWARD –Chem Couriers Kenworth T909 PT909

PALFINGER BEST TRUCK MOUNTED CRANE AWARD –Pukekohe Hiab Scania R620 BIGENF

JACKSON ENTERPRISES BEST STOCK TRUCK AWARD –Kempthorne Kenworth K200 PAQ749

WAITOMO BEST TANKER AWARD –Dynes Kenworth K220 PQF487

QUICKSILVER LININGS BEST TIPPER AWARD –Jacksons KenworthK104 JACK18

UDC FINANCE BEST NEW TRUCK AWARD –Wyatt Haulage Kenworth K200 BULKY

PATCHELLS BEST LOGGER AWARD –R & L Beale Kenworth T659 TEN4

TRT ENDLESS AWARD (OLDEST WORKING TRUCK) – Collin Walter

TOTAL TRUCK GLASS BEST CURTAIN SIDER AWARD –Smith Transport Scania 730 PBQ597

PYRAMID TRUCKING DRIVER AWARDS X 3

Boofa – Caught by the CVIU travelling from Mercer to the show and got a ticket Katelyn (Transcar) – Legendary lady driver manoeuvred her huge truck & trailer onto a packed field

Chris Westlake – Driver of the Mini Mack

Broshmik Top Truck 1-1.5 million kms –RE Jackson Kenworth K104 JACK11

Broshmik Top Truck 1.5+ million kms –RE Jackson Kenworth K104 JACK18

BEST INTERNATIONAL

3rd P&L McWilliam XG5873 – 2nd Tony Galbraith MNS556

1st Rock & Rubble EAGLRK

BEST SCANIA

3rd Hanes X8ASHB – 2nd ACE Haulage ITSACE

1st Kaitoa Haulage KAITOA

ROCK & RUBBLE BEST FLEET AWARDS

3rd Ace Towing – 2nd Graeme Wright Carriers

1st Porters

Royan’s Best Classic Awards

3rd Powells Transport 1978 Bedford - Brendon IT8881

2nd Waller Bindon 1989 International - Annette WB091

1st Allen & Jackson Mills 1974 Kenworth W924 –1974KW

TATES People’s Choice Awards

3rd Knight & Dickey Scania stock truck – Driver Fisher

2nd Lane Van Den Brink Classic Kenworth

1st R&L Beale Kenworth T659 – Driver Jason