What is it with Victorians (of which I am proudly one)? Put on a rugby league match at the MCG and 100,000 mad AFL fans will turn up to watch this ‘foreign’ game.
I went to a country footy Grand Final last year where Yackandandah had a team playing in every division (five of them) and thousands upon thousands turned out to watch.
Not so surprising you may say, given they were playing in every division? Yackandandah has a population of 2008. How does a town of that size field five footy teams, much less attract multiple thousands to the finals? They won every division, by the way, which would have to be some kind of record.
The point I’m trying to make here is that we Vics would come out in droves to watch a paint drying competition. And truck shows are no different. I’ve been going to Alexandra on the King’s Birthday weekend for over 20 years and I can guarantee the temperature won’t make it past 12 degrees.
There will occasionally be a bit of drizzle as well, although over the years it has usually been light and short-lived.
This year, however, the forecast said 10-20 mm of rain and a 4-degree maximum – two excellent reasons to stay in bed.
When I arrived at 11am, the weather gods were true to their word on both fronts – and 12,000 odd truck fans had their middle fingers pointed at the sky as they walked around (mostly without umbrellas) to admire the 300 or so trucks lined up the main street and beyond.
Alexandra is a phenomenon. Where else in the world would a small country town, miles from anywhere, put on a truck show in winter and meet with such success. Good on ‘em and good on those ‘crazy Mexicans’ for either turning up with their trucks – or coming to view them.
One such was Ray Bedggood from just up the road at Mansfield, who arrived with something different – a Raybilt – which is a 5/8th scale Peterbilt, built on a Hino chassis and powered by a Detroit 6V71, driving through a 9-speed Road Ranger.
“The cabin and a few bits and pieces came from Nashville in America. A hot rodder, Bob Sheffin, originally from Ferntree Gully moved there 36 years ago and started producing these as turnkey or in a kit.
I went over there in 2019, drove down to Nashville, met old Bob and bought the kit. It took just over four years part-time to put together.
“The Hino was a 1984, 8 tonner and I used the chassis, the diff and front axle. I bought a Denning coach just to get that Detroit engine. The air cleaners were originally just cosmetic and only there for show, but I found air cleaner elements that fitted in there, made spigots up to centralise them and made a manifold up – as you do – so the motor now breathes through them. It also has a Jake Brake on the motor and straight pipes, so she does make a bit of noise.”
To personalise the truck, Ray called it a ‘Raybilt’ and had the grill laser cut with ‘RB’ lettering. To complement this the door cards also bear the RB initials. The interior was fitted out by Ray’s nephew, Christopher, and he has done an amazing job.
The rear bunk has a full width seat which folds down to create a decent bed. “Cosy, but comfortable,” said Ray’s wife, Faye, who experienced sleeping in it for the first time.
Unfortunately a kangaroo interrupted the couple’s trip to Alexandra, damaging the bumper, cracking the fibreglass and breaking off the headlights so Ray will be adding to the four years he took to build this little beast of a truck.
Rick Batten’s family had tow trucks but he hankered for the big gear and has been behind the wheel for some 15 years. Starting out carting grain, Rick now works for Lorenzs Pastoral out of Numurkah hauling cattle.
“I love what I’m doing. It is a different side to trucking because you have live animals and have to learn their characteristics,” Rick explained.
“You have to take your time and make sure they’re going to arrive safely. There’s live freight up above your head on the truck and your centre of balance does shift while driving, so you have to be able to adjust to the road. You can’t daydream in this job, you have to be switched on all the time.
“Owners, Zac and Lauren Jackson are great people to work for and have built up a successful business carting for some big buyers. We get the loads ready back at our depot where we have facilities that hold from a few hundred, up to a couple of thousand head of cattle. We make them up into road train loads and l shift them up into Queensland. I’m running road trains from the border straight up.”
Rick is doing the trips in style, sitting behind the wheel of a Legend SAR, which with trailers is worth in the region of $1.6 million. A white truck, it has been extensively tricked up by Rollin’ Stainless at Shepparton.
“It has customised air tanks, strapless wraps and a polished walkway. Our road train guards are handmade with our brand on them. We had custom signage made because it is number 509 build, so we had that put on it. There are so many fine details that they are unbelievable. We have just picked up three 610 SARs and there isn’t another 610 on the road like them. Rollin’ Stainless do a great job.
“Zac and Lauren spend the money to make it comfy and safe for us. There’s plenty of room with all the creature comforts. The trucks have it all. There are heaters, air-conditioners, microwaves, TV, beds of course and fridges – everything that we need to be on the road. They have thought about it and they have done it.”
And that is a good thing because Rick is on the road for around 300 days a year, leaving behind wife of 19 years, Rebecca, daughter Charlie, 9 and son, Tom, 5.
“If I was home every night she would have got rid of me by now. I think it takes a strong bond for it to work for an interstate truck driver.”
There can only be one Rig of the Show and that accolade went to Jeremy Inverno with his dad’s truck, a 2024 Kenworth Legend SAR. “Dad may own it but I’m the one who keeps it clean,” quipped Jeremy.
Congratulations to Jeremy and all the other division winners, to the organisers for putting on yet another great show, and to the thousands of crazy Victorians who ‘stuck it up’ the lousy weather. The rain finally stopped around 1pm.
Category winners
Best tilt tray: 2005 Kenworth 401, Dale White of Member’s Transport.
Best tow truck: 2024 Kenworth SAR, Ben Bell, Inside Heavy Towing.
Best specialised: 2018 Kenworth SAR, Teagan Rogers.
Best log truck: 2022 Kenworth T909, Stuart Maloney.
Best vintage: 1963 Commer knocker, Andrew Dorling.
Best tipper: 2024 Kenworth SAR legend, Dan Whitaker.
Best Mack: 2022 Mack, James Payerderass
Best Peterbilt: 2000 Peterbilt 37, Ryan Morgan.
Best Western Star: 1994 Western Star 4964F, Declan Nitts.
Best European: 2023 Volvo FH, Dan Russo.
Best of the rest: 1999 International S line, Ben Evans.
Best Kenworth: 2023 Kenworth T909, Andrew Dorling.
Best under 12 months: 2024 Kenworth T909, Hayden Flow, HBE Transport.
Best local truck: 2015 Kenworth T409, Bruce Stewart.
Best fleet: Southern Sons Transport.
People’s choice award: 2022 Kenworth T909, Michael McDonald – Fred’s Transport.
Runner-up: 2024 Kenworth C509, Peter Morris, Morris Transport.
Truck of the show: 2024 Kenworth SAR Legend, Jeremy Inverno, D&G Inverno from Dalmore.