Vodka Cola Cowboy:
Just to let you know lads that my book “The Vodka Cola Cowboy”, has been published today. This is one month earlier than expected. It is available on line from Old Pond Publishing, Amazon and Turpin’s. As I know that you are following this Sandway and Dan, in the book I talk about how I was the only British driver in Moscow throughout the whole of the 91 anti-Gorbachev coup, (I was down at the White House where the protesters stood up to the plot leaders). Also how my daughter Margarita was born in Moscow and my treatment in Russian hospitals, where the Doctors self medicated with vodka and the cleanliness was rather dubious. Another interesting point was where I came close to losing my left hand to frostbite, in a temperature of -42C, on the hill at Orsha. Never a dull moment
Well thats 2 copies accounted for!!! Am sure though its gonna be a very interesting read. Am looking forward to getting stuck in to it. Well done Micky T.
Vodka Cola Cowboy:
Just to let you know lads that my book “The Vodka Cola Cowboy”, has been published today. This is one month earlier than expected. It is available on line from Old Pond Publishing, Amazon and Turpin’s. As I know that you are following this Sandway and Dan, in the book I talk about how I was the only British driver in Moscow throughout the whole of the 91 anti-Gorbachev coup, (I was down at the White House where the protesters stood up to the plot leaders). Also how my daughter Margarita was born in Moscow and my treatment in Russian hospitals, where the Doctors self medicated with vodka and the cleanliness was rather dubious. Another interesting point was where I came close to losing my left hand to frostbite, in a temperature of -42C, on the hill at Orsha. Never a dull moment
Oh good! I ordered mine at Gaydon and paid up front so I won’t be short of a good read in a few days’ time! Robert
sandway:
Vodka Cola Cowboy:
Just to let you know lads that my book “The Vodka Cola Cowboy”, has been published today. This is one month earlier than expected. It is available on line from Old Pond Publishing, Amazon and Turpin’s. As I know that you are following this Sandway and Dan, in the book I talk about how I was the only British driver in Moscow throughout the whole of the 91 anti-Gorbachev coup, (I was down at the White House where the protesters stood up to the plot leaders). Also how my daughter Margarita was born in Moscow and my treatment in Russian hospitals, where the Doctors self medicated with vodka and the cleanliness was rather dubious. Another interesting point was where I came close to losing my left hand to frostbite, in a temperature of -42C, on the hill at Orsha. Never a dull moment
Well thats 2 copies accounted for!!! Am sure though its gonna be a very interesting read. Am looking forward to getting stuck in to it. Well done Micky T.
I just hope that you two are not disappointed. The interest in the book on Face ache tonight is unbelievable. You would think that people hadn’t been to Russia
sandway:
More pictures taken by my son in Cuba recently. Russian (I assume) lorries and American cars. Seems most of the lorries were used for grockle transport and the cars as taxis.
Brilliant photos Mr. Sandway. Looks like the bonnet nosed truck with the Cami paintwork is a ULAZ, if not it is an ILAZ. Hard to tell but that is defo double drive. The photo’s of the cars are spot on. It must be like a living museum.
Vodka Cola Cowboy:
sandway:
Vodka Cola Cowboy:
Just to let you know lads that my book “The Vodka Cola Cowboy”, has been published today. This is one month earlier than expected. It is available on line from Old Pond Publishing, Amazon and Turpin’s. As I know that you are following this Sandway and Dan, in the book I talk about how I was the only British driver in Moscow throughout the whole of the 91 anti-Gorbachev coup, (I was down at the White House where the protesters stood up to the plot leaders). Also how my daughter Margarita was born in Moscow and my treatment in Russian hospitals, where the Doctors self medicated with vodka and the cleanliness was rather dubious. Another interesting point was where I came close to losing my left hand to frostbite, in a temperature of -42C, on the hill at Orsha. Never a dull moment
Well thats 2 copies accounted for!!! Am sure though its gonna be a very interesting read. Am looking forward to getting stuck in to it. Well done Micky T.
I just hope that you two are not disappointed. The interest in the book on Face ache tonight is unbelievable. You would think that people hadn’t been to Russia
Well that depends if my name appears in your book in a negative light Micky T. But so what. I’ve got a thick skin. My wife has ordered a copy for me from Amazon. Lets Rock and Roll.
I remember when ShowHaul and Promotor got together in the eighties there was a ShowHaul driver who had done some work with the big rock bands touring then. Every other sentence he spoke contained “lets rock and roll”. In the end we tried to steer clear of him.
Last of the photos of cars from Cuba. I promise.
When it became to expensive to transit Turkey in the late 70’s a Ro Ro service was instigated running from Volos to Tartous in Syria to bypass that country. A lot of drivers called it the easy or boys route because it was so undemanding. And it was. No Turkish hassle, sunning ourselves on deck, food was ok and best of all, we were being paid to be there.
However the first trip was a bit of a disaster as when we arrived in Volos we found the place heaving and we had to wait seven days before we could get on board. We watched two ferries come in, load and go whilst we were there but finally got on the third after a week of waiting.
There were two of us from Promotor booked for the crossing. Drivers were Brian Holmes and myself. We caught up with another driver in Greece and it turned out he was heading to Volos also. We parked up on the quay and walked into town to the shipping agents office where we were given the bad news that a long wait lay ahead of us. Although my third photo shows the quay it was not the bit we were on which was packed with most of the lorries being from the commie block.
I am fairly confident we were in Volos on the 25th March 1979. The 25th is when Greece Independence Day is celebrated and we had a ring side seat on the sea front as a big parade passed by. I have photos of the parade as well as maybe a David Duxbury lorry which I will post later.
sandway:
When it became to expensive to transit Turkey in the late 70’s a Ro Ro service was instigated running from Volos to Tartous in Syria to bypass it. A lot of drivers called it the easy or boys route because it was so undemanding. And it was. No Turkish hassle, sunning ourselves on deck, food was ok and best of all, we were being paid to be there.
However the first trip was a bit of a disaster as when we arrived in Volos we found the place heaving and we had to wait seven days before we could get on board. We watched two ferries come in, load and go whilst we were there but finally got on the third after a week of waiting.
There were two of us from Promotor booked for the crossing. Drivers were Brian Holmes and myself. We caught up with another driver in Greece and it turned out he was heading to Volos also. We parked up on the quay and walked into town to the shipping agents office where we were given the bad news that a long wait lay ahead of us. Although my third photo shows the quay it was not the bit we were on which was packed with most of the lorries being from the commie block.
I am fairly confident we were in Volos on the 25th March 1979. The 25th is when Greece Independence Day is celebrated and we had a ring side seat on the sea front as a big parade passed by. I have photos of the parade as well as maybe a David Duxbury lorry which I will post later.
That exhibition that you were heading for was my first in Baghdad. I went through Turkey to get there. At the time there was a shortage of fuel in Turkey, because the Iraqi’s had turned off the taps. I ran with a Falcongate driver called Frank, because he had a belly tank and I fed off of that down and back. He was carrying a load of JCB’s, as was I. So that was not the show where I turned up with the shot load, as per your photo. The shot load was either the late 79 show or the early 80 one. I remember that Frank and I were carrying JCB’s because he hit the roof of his JCB’s passing under a bridge in Ankara. I was behind him and had a hell of a job turning round and finding a diversion, to get out of the city.
Vodka Cola Cowboy:
sandway:
When it became to expensive to transit Turkey in the late 70’s a Ro Ro service was instigated running from Volos to Tartous in Syria to bypass it. A lot of drivers called it the easy or boys route because it was so undemanding. And it was. No Turkish hassle, sunning ourselves on deck, food was ok and best of all, we were being paid to be there.
However the first trip was a bit of a disaster as when we arrived in Volos we found the place heaving and we had to wait seven days before we could get on board. We watched two ferries come in, load and go whilst we were there but finally got on the third after a week of waiting.
There were two of us from Promotor booked for the crossing. Drivers were Brian Holmes and myself. We caught up with another driver in Greece and it turned out he was heading to Volos also. We parked up on the quay and walked into town to the shipping agents office where we were given the bad news that a long wait lay ahead of us. Although my third photo shows the quay it was not the bit we were on which was packed with most of the lorries being from the commie block.
I am fairly confident we were in Volos on the 25th March 1979. The 25th is when Greece Independence Day is celebrated and we had a ring side seat on the sea front as a big parade passed by. I have photos of the parade as well as maybe a David Duxbury lorry which I will post later.
That exhibition that you were heading for was my first in Baghdad. I went through Turkey to get there. At the time there was a shortage of fuel in Turkey, because the Iraqi’s had turned off the taps. I ran with a Falcongate driver called Frank, because he had a belly tank and I fed off of that down and back. He was carrying a load of JCB’s, as was I. So that was not the show where I turned up with the shot load, as per your photo. The shot load was either the late 79 show or the early 80 one. I remember that Frank and I were carrying JCB’s because he hit the roof of his JCB’s passing under a bridge in Ankara. I was behind him and had a hell of a job turning round and finding a diversion, to get out of the city.
Hello Micky T. Did you ever do the Volos or later the Koper route to Syria. Didn’t last long. Started in 79 and finished in 82. Of course if you weren’t one of Dave Staggs blue eyed boys you would have to go via Turkey.
There were a few Brits waiting to board the ferry in Volos. We were all parked up on the quay trying to make the best of it as you do. Could have been a lot worse though. Could have been Kapic or Bab al Awar or Habur. We wandered into town most days usually having a pizza lunch and a few beers.
In my first photo I show, what I think was a David Duxbury outfit. I have tried to blow the name up on the side of the lorry but unfortunately some of my older photos are deteriorating badly. Maybe you will have more success. The driver, who I got on well with, told me he was the last British lorry to leave Tehran at the time of the revolution. Not sure if meant the Davies Turner lorries or anyone. He told me he saw one of the demonstrators shot by a soldier. The drivers name may have been Geoff or Jeff and I think he mentioned he lived near Leicester. It was such a long time ago I just hope I’ve got those facts right. There was another driver there shown in the second photo. His name may have been Barry.
We were in town, on the waterfront one day and noticed it was very busy. The crowds built up and then the Independence Day parade came by. Some military vehicles led the way and then everyone from boy scouts and girl guides to nurses and dads army followed on.
In the third photo is shown one of the two ferries being used about to berth. We didn’t get on board this time but we caught it when it returned from Tartous.
I have a few more photos, mainly of the parade which I will post later.
After looking back at some old posts here on TNUK I have identified the Duxbury driver as Jeff Stringfellow. His son “jaystringy” posted in 2015 that his father had passed away in 2008.
I was just about to say that it looked like a David Duxbury motor and the D.A.F. looks like one of Jenkinson’s who I think were from Salford.
mushroomman:
I was just about to say that it looked like a David Duxbury motor and the D.A.F. looks like one of Jenkinson’s who I think were from Salford.
Hello mushroomman. Yes, certainly was a Jenkinson’s lorry there. I see Jeff Stringfellow also worked for Redcliffe Roadways in the early to mid 70’s. Have been looking back at some of your early posts mushroomman. Very interesting. Its just a shame a lot of early contributors are no longer around.
Helllo Sandway, just to confim that, yes, that is a David Duxbury truck. When you click on the picture it enlarges it clearly enough to see the writing in the cabside locker door. cant make out the reg though. Great pictures by the way, still one of the best threads on this forum! 
sandway:
Vodka Cola Cowboy:
sandway:
When it became to expensive to transit Turkey in the late 70’s a Ro Ro service was instigated running from Volos to Tartous in Syria to bypass it. A lot of drivers called it the easy or boys route because it was so undemanding. And it was. No Turkish hassle, sunning ourselves on deck, food was ok and best of all, we were being paid to be there.
However the first trip was a bit of a disaster as when we arrived in Volos we found the place heaving and we had to wait seven days before we could get on board. We watched two ferries come in, load and go whilst we were there but finally got on the third after a week of waiting.
There were two of us from Promotor booked for the crossing. Drivers were Brian Holmes and myself. We caught up with another driver in Greece and it turned out he was heading to Volos also. We parked up on the quay and walked into town to the shipping agents office where we were given the bad news that a long wait lay ahead of us. Although my third photo shows the quay it was not the bit we were on which was packed with most of the lorries being from the commie block.
I am fairly confident we were in Volos on the 25th March 1979. The 25th is when Greece Independence Day is celebrated and we had a ring side seat on the sea front as a big parade passed by. I have photos of the parade as well as maybe a David Duxbury lorry which I will post later.
That exhibition that you were heading for was my first in Baghdad. I went through Turkey to get there. At the time there was a shortage of fuel in Turkey, because the Iraqi’s had turned off the taps. I ran with a Falcongate driver called Frank, because he had a belly tank and I fed off of that down and back. He was carrying a load of JCB’s, as was I. So that was not the show where I turned up with the shot load, as per your photo. The shot load was either the late 79 show or the early 80 one. I remember that Frank and I were carrying JCB’s because he hit the roof of his JCB’s passing under a bridge in Ankara. I was behind him and had a hell of a job turning round and finding a diversion, to get out of the city.
Hello Micky T. Did you ever do the Volos or later the Koper route to Syria. Didn’t last long. Started in 79 and finished in 82. Of course if you weren’t one of Dave Staggs blue eyed boys you would have to go via Turkey.
Hi Mr. Sandway. No. Never went by ferry. Which shows how much Dave Slagg thought of me. 10 trips to Bad Drag. Each one through Turkey. But I soon learned to use Ipsala rather than Kapik. So the photos of Kavala bring back a few memories. Remember being there with Clive Turner and Ronny Hart one trip.
That’s true Sandway, imagine if Graham Bertrum and Micky Tremlows mate Ken Singleton were still about to share a few of their interesting adventures. 
It’s just a shame that those old fellows were never able to use a computer so all those old tales are now lost for ever.
I only worked for Dow Freight from 1980 until they finished in 1987 but I remember seeing Promotors all over the place, sometimes way off the beaten track in Yugoslavia or miles away off the T.I.R. route through Europe. As we did a lot of hanging garments out of The Commie Block it was often a case of hanging around for a couple of days and you might remember a Dutch outfit called Jan De Laly or a German company called Josef Myers who you would find parked up in some little village way in the back of beyond. As you mentioned in one of your previous posts, Yugo was a good place for back loading furniture, often in the north, in a little village in a forest where it was the only place of employment for miles around. Then you had to go to a place like Maribor to the agent called Inter Europa where I think that you mentioned that you could do customs and get cleared on a Saturday afternoon as this also happened to me once.
I know that we all mention how bad the winters were in Turkey and most of the time we were on the T.I.R. road but for me Yugo was worst once you got off the main drag and up into the mountains. If you went off the road you could be there for almost half a day before somebody might come along and try and get help. I am sure that you and Mick know what I mean as will anybody else who ventured off the T.I.R. route in winter.
I remember one winter 80 or 81 when I had left the B.P. (Chris’s) at the Greek border at about 8 a.m., it had been snowing on and off all day and it had been a case of stopping and starting due to a lot of the cars getting stuck. Just as it was getting dark at about 5 p.m. about ten kilometres from Nis, the police stopped me and parked me up in a snow covered field where there were about a dozen Commie Block motors. The police had blocked the road and every lorry that came along had to park up in this field. Apparently, the road from the Bulgarian border up to Belgrade was blocked with snow or so the police told us. We were there for two days by which time there must of been nearly 100 lorries that had come up from Greece and I can’t remember seeing any other British trucks. When they let us go most of us had to be pulled out of the field with a double drive gritter. As I didn’t have a night heater I had the engine running nearly all of the time but then so did everybody else.
I don’t know if you ever met this lad Barry Longden who drove this D.A.F. for Jenkinsons before he joined Dow.
Barry.
Micky T. Not all my loads were for the exhibitions in Baghdad. On one trip, John Preece and I shipped over on the Koper ferry, cleared customs in Falluga and had to drive way up north to tip in Sulamania, Kurdistan. We were loaded with 3 JCB’s and spare parts.
Tell me, what did you do to upset Staggie. Not that you had to do much I know. I didn’t think I was his blue eyed boy, far from it but I used the ferry a number of times.
sandway:
Micky T. Not all my loads were for the exhibitions in Baghdad. On one trip, John Preece and I shipped over on the Koper ferry, cleared customs in Falluga and had to drive way up north to tip in Sulamania, Kurdistan. We were loaded with 3 JCB’s and spare parts.
Tell me, what did you do to upset Staggie. Not that you had to do much I know. I didn’t think I was his blue eyed boy, far from it but I used the ferry a number of times.
One night, coming down from Scharding to Wells, I was climbing up a steep drag, in the snow. Approaching a right hand bend a cement mixer overtook me and cut me up. I pulled to the right and then slid through the snow towards a sheer drop. Eventually a wrecker came up from Wells and pulled me clear. I drove down to Wells and paid for the tow, which cost about £500. It was about 10pm in England and I phoned Dave at home to tell him what had happened. He swore a lot and then there was a loud crash. The phone went dead. When I phoned him in the office the next morning he said “You caused the biggest row that there has ever been in my house, last night”. Not overly bothered I said, “why was that then”. Slagg replies, “Because I became so annoyed with you I threw the phone across the room and it smashed against the wall. Then I had my wife on my case all bloody night”. So I replied, “Well it was your fault for not being able to control your temper, then” and hung up. After that our relationship was not all that friendly.
mushroomman:
That’s true Sandway, imagine if Graham Bertrum and Micky Tremlows mate Ken Singleton were still about to share a few of their interesting adventures. It’s just a shame that those old fellows were never able to use a computer so all those old tales are now lost for ever.
I only worked for Dow Freight from 1980 until they finished in 1987 but I remember seeing Promotors all over the place, sometimes way off the beaten track in Yugoslavia or miles away off the T.I.R. route through Europe. As we did a lot of hanging garments out of The Commie Block it was often a case of hanging around for a couple of days and you might remember a Dutch outfit called Jan De Laly or a German company called Josef Myers who you would find parked up in some little village way in the back of beyond. As you mentioned in one of your previous posts, Yugo was a good place for back loading furniture, often in the north, in a little village in a forest where it was the only place of employment for miles around. Then you had to go to a place like Maribor to the agent called Inter Europa where I think that you mentioned that you could do customs and get cleared on a Saturday afternoon as this also happened to me once.
I know that we all mention how bad the winters were in Turkey and most of the time we were on the T.I.R. road but for me Yugo was worst once you got off the main drag and up into the mountains. If you went off the road you could be there for almost half a day before somebody might come along and try and get help. I am sure that you and Mick know what I mean as will anybody else who ventured off the T.I.R. route in winter.
I remember one winter 80 or 81 when I had left the B.P. (Chris’s) at the Greek border at about 8 a.m., it had been snowing on and off all day and it had been a case of stopping and starting due to a lot of the cars getting stuck. Just as it was getting dark at about 5 p.m. about ten kilometres from Nis, the police stopped me and parked me up in a snow covered field where there were about a dozen Commie Block motors. The police had blocked the road and every lorry that came along had to park up in this field. Apparently, the road from the Bulgarian border up to Belgrade was blocked with snow or so the police told us. We were there for two days by which time there must of been nearly 100 lorries that had come up from Greece and I can’t remember seeing any other British trucks. When they let us go most of us had to be pulled out of the field with a double drive gritter. As I didn’t have a night heater I had the engine running nearly all of the time but then so did everybody else.
I don’t know if you ever met this lad Barry Longden who drove this D.A.F. for Jenkinsons before he joined Dow.
Barry.
Yeah, I remember Barry, Mushroomman. And you are right about some of the dirt tracks we had to use to get to Yugo factories. Going off road out there was exciting, to say the least. One Sunday, when the afternoon ban was on I kept driving but went on a back road to bring me out near Ljubljana. I struggled along this not too wide footpath all afternoon and finally made the main road half an hour before the ban finished. And there were the Old Bill, who fined me for breaking the ban. How I laughed.
Mick, I got my copy of your book The Vodka-Cola Cowboy this morning in the post. I’m well into it now and thoroughly enjoying it. Deffo a recommended read, chaps! Robert
