Top Drive in NZ

in New Zealand Top Drive There are some pretty epic drives all around New Zealand and Australia. We talk to Robbie

Lilburn, managing director at Lilburn

Transport, about his favourite drive in

New Zealand.

Is it Time for a nap then?

New Zealand Truck drivers can work a maximum of 13 hours and must then take a break of at least 10 hours (as well as the standard half-hour breaks required every 5½ hours).

Brrrrrrr

A “I knew I had it in me”

What is your favourite drive?

The Napier-Taihape Road.

Where does it start and where does it finish?

The road starts at the top of Taihape Deviation and comes out at Omahu, Hastings.

What are some highlights of the journey?

The challenges from start to finish, the narrow bits, the steep climbs, sharp corners and the scenery.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE DRIVE?

Tell us your favourite drive in New Zealand or Australia and go in to win a Little Trucker Down Under cap.

ENTER NOW

Send your answers to shannon@nztrucking.co.nz

How long does it take?

The drive takes around four hours, depending on road conditions.

It wasn’t me

Driving is my happy place

ANSWER

A Tyrannosaurus wrecks.

from Question on page 8

1973 R685 RST Just a few of the stunning trucks Britton had on display!

Mack Trucks celebrates 50 years

Story and photos by Rochelle Thomas

2020 Super-liner – Celebrating 100 years of Mack. Three-year-old Heneretta Devare was admiring this truck, owned by Skip Golden, and was so happy to get a photo with it! Nice wee line up of R Models

Fire Truck – 1981 Mack – Protranz Earth Moving, Christchurch Fire Truck – 1978 Mack 1976 Mack – Very cool in black and gold with the custom sleeper and tray!

1976 RS Model - I bumped into the first driver of this Mack, Gordon Taylor from Blenheim. Back then he was driving for Irvine Freighters, and he even remembers the original registration! ID143. I thought that was pretty cool 1974 R685 RST Mack – JN Scally LTD, Rotorua. Owner Steven Stronach had just changed the fuel filter and was “bleeding” the fuel lines, priming it ready to drive

Manfield Park in Feilding hosted the Mack Trucks 50 Year Anniversary Truck Show on Saturday 22 October as part of events held over Labour Weekend celebrating 50 years since Mack Trucks arrived in New Zealand. We headed along to take a look and join in the celebrations.

Proud owners of Mack Trucks new and old travelled from all over the country to take part in the show. Some of these Macks are working trucks, while others are kept in storage and are only brought out for special occasions like this one!

The show was a huge success with Manfeild reporting that they had the most people through the gates in 20 years!

I went to the show with my parents who were over on holiday from Australia and my children. We packed a picnic, it was gorgeous weather and there was plenty to see and do including some race cars going around the track. It wasn’t only cars that raced around the track though – yes, you guessed – some trucks did too, and boy are they fast! It was an awesome family day out.

The day started off with a convoy at 7.30am where all the trucks met up to then travel to the park together. The day ended with most of the trucks doing a lap around the track tooting their horns before they exited the park after an amazing show day! There was a voting booth and the public got to vote for which Mack Truck they liked the most, and Truck of the Show went to Glen Allingham from JAKS Trucks Auckland.

Love the Bulldog painted behind the grill! 1984 Mack R686 RS

The Coca-Cola Coke Truck! 1991 Mack GT260 RT 2019 Trident – Clive Taylor Haulage, Paraparaumu Mack Jr! Graham Manson, Western Logging Ltd, Rotorua

My son Cody and granddaughter Elise in front of Salters 1986 Mack Ultraliner – Salters Cartage, Auckland

The first Mack to arrive in New Zealand, the 1972 FR785 RST Freightways 1984 RS model and Sheely Enterprises 1993 Mack RB686 RST

The 50th Anniversary Mack. 2022 Super-liner (both this truck and the 1st Mack are at the Mack Trucks/MTD Yard in Palmerston Truck of the Show as voted by the public. Glen Allingham from JAKS Trucks pictured with his family. Photo courtesy of Stu Wynd from Mack Trucks Palmerston North. Awesome graphics on this Super-liner from Protranz

Graham Skou’s Mack Cruizeliner. You may remember this from the story I wrote about it earlier this year Very cool Footrot Flats artwork on this 1996 Mack Titan

DID YOU GO TO THE SHOW?

If so, what was your favourite part of the day or what was your favourite truck? Email us your story and/or photos to shannon@nztrucking.co.nz. We would love to hear all about your day!

PAGE COLOURING Kids Club