Thanks Robert. I didn’t know. Johnny
Found online…
I have last year’s Astran Calendar, which I was going to throw out. (Sacrilege, I know, but I have too much ‘stuff’).
I’ll post it to anyone who wants it. It does have my scribblings on the side (not on the photos). PM me if you would like it, first come first served.
John.
I feel the same way. I decided to keep mine. 
Johnny
Couple of photo,s taken by my uncle when working in Saudi for Alatas Big Lift on heavy haulage. Don,t know if he was just parked up or broken down, but is that ■■■■ Snow in the photo? I have read about Astran and this motor started out as a drawbar unit and was cut down to a artic.
jshepguis:
Couple of photo,s taken by my uncle when working in Saudi for Alatas Big Lift on heavy haulage. Don,t know if he was just parked up or broken down, but is that ■■■■ Snow in the photo? I have read about Astran and this motor started out as a drawbar unit and was cut down to a artic.
I think these pics appear earlier on this thread. They also appeared on BLB, with some of the answers to your questions: here’s the link:
commercialmotor.com/big-lorry-bl … -on-biglor
Robert
If there is any driver out there who worked for a Dutch Company and went to the Middle East for the Dutch Company, They are holding their Annual reunion on the 4th June 2016 for more information visit the following web site I have copied there English page
Regards Ian
Hi Ian, I hope that you are well. Can you remember about three years ago when you, Dave Mackie and myself were all talking on Skype and you invited a Dutchman into the conversation. Was his name Henk ? as he was the guy who was asking me if I knew whereabouts John Holland lived in Australia. Is Henk still around as I seem to remember that he wasn’t too well at the time.
Best regards Steve.
My brother, Andy West, ran overland long after I stayed in Saudi doing internals. Here he was driving the FFI Transcontinental.
Parked up for lunch, Aksaray, Turkey 14/04/83
Frank Hook gets the ‘Ekmek’ in. 14/04/83
Earlier picture of Aksaray town centre. 17/04/77
Telex motel Ankara
Tony in front, heads for the Bosphorus Bridge. 15/04/83
First on the train, Munich, 19/04/83
Wonderful pics John! And a great photo of Frank Hook. He was driving for Harrier Express when I was doing a bit for them some years ago - and for the uninitiated, he featured in the great film, Destination Doha. I believe he was the only Astran driver to go to Salalah in southern Oman.
I used to like stopping at Aksaray, but boy was it bleak in winter! Robert
Great pic’s - well worth a mention - great memories
Thanks.
You’re right Robert, Turkey could be an incredibly cold, miserable place in Winter, but nice in Summer!
Another of Andy’s photos, looking South towards Aksaray 10/04/77.
This one is the rear of my trailer from Andy’s truck, near Sereflikochisar, between Ankara and Aksaray, near Tuz Golu 02/76. (picture is water damamged)
In both photos my memory is that although the mountains look similar to the lake district profiles, they’re much higher and you drove for hours, but never seemed to get any nearer to them!
John.
robert1952:
Wonderful pics John! And a great photo of Frank Hook. He was driving for Harrier Express when I was doing a bit for them some years ago - and for the uninitiated, he featured in the great film, Destination Doha. I believe he was the only Astran driver to go to Salalah in southern Oman.I used to like stopping at Aksaray, but boy was it bleak in winter! Robert
Frank Hook, good old boy. I also worked with him while at Harrier Express.
robert1952:
Wonderful pics John! And a great photo of Frank Hook. He was driving for Harrier Express when I was doing a bit for them some years ago - and for the uninitiated, he featured in the great film, Destination Doha. I believe he was the only Astran driver to go to Salalah in southern Oman.I used to like stopping at Aksaray, but boy was it bleak in winter! Robert
Oh yes, normally quite late at night if coming from Istanbul that morning, Akasaray Polis Kontrol TIR Parking or if the policeman let you go on Taspinar tankfarm. If he parked you up then an early departure to get to the tank farm to drop your belly tank and get stuff made or welded back on !! and onwards to Cilvegozu that night if going Syria /Jordan or park up at Osmaniye for the night if going Iraq/Kuwait.
The boys at the Tank Farm
Turkish Anti friz…
That was a very bleak part of Turkey, lots of snow and freezing fog with black ice on the roads in winter and really nice scenery in the summer.
As far as I know, Rick Ellis was the only Astran driver to go to Salalah, but maybe Frank Hook went there before Rick did.
GS