Western Sydney Historical Truck Club

2014 SCAATS

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For the four days before the show the weather forecast was for showers and so my truck did not get an outing this year. But as it turned out the weekend was fine and cloudy.

When I arrived about 8:30 I was greeted by an Albion delivery truck and a model T Ford van both painted in period Arnott’s Biscuits livery. Tucked in behind them was a trolley bus. Dave West’s Diamond T was parked next to the stage area and Andy’s Chev Tow truck a few meters further away. There was a small number of other trucks as well. After a while Andy arrived with the Bedford and shortly after there was a traffic jam at the entry gate. All up there were 150 trucks.

There were some very interesting classics that hadn’t been on show before… A long bonneted Diamond-T heavy haulage tow truck which had been imported from France took its place beside the equally large 8-wheel drive Faun.

The Police Service had a display of past service highway patrol pursuit vehicles including a FC model Holden sedan and a Valiant Charger.

The crowd numbers were exceptionally good despite the threat of rain - 6000 came through the gate. A jet turbine powered model rail   dragster attracted a huge crowd when its owner powered up the turbine which, incidentally could be heard 400 metres away.

For those lucky enough to partake in the Saturday evening banquet the menu was amazing... Clearly all low calorie and if you squint your eyes a little — weight reducing too!!   Thanks to Phil & Karen Cassells and the Pioneer Timber Cutters support team for a wonderful spread.

This year’s winner of the Bill Maddy Memorial Award for the Most Authentic truck was a 1932 Model B Ford I ton table top owned by Bruce McCulloch from Newcastle. Bill Maddy’s wife, Anne presented the award to Bruce commenting that Bill would have been thrilled the Award went to a Ford.

Once again, this year Vocational training was made available to young & enthusiastic future truck   drivers. Peter Milton provided the Blue Mountains Retro Tours ‘Ex-Naval Officers Bus’ for young drivers to gain experience at the wheel of a real bus. One participant showed his friendly bus driver’s etiquette by welcoming everyone aboard.

  And just for something a little different Bruce Brown ran a Lucky Draw raffle for members only. Just for being at the show you received one ticket. If you had your truck on display as well you got two tickets in the draw. At the end of the weekend the draw was made and the lucky ticket holder was Charlie Xerri. The prize was a drawer saved from a cupboard that went out for the council clean-up last month. Fixed to the front of the drawer was a gold painted horse shoe for luck. But there’s more, inside the drawer there was a voucher for window and door rubbers valued at $50.