Hi Roger, seems such a long time ago since we last spoke. I wonder if you can remember?
St.Nicholas Square, Pireaus, all parked two and three deep and one of the drivers was changing a wheel on a step frame and was having trouble blowing it up with the truck airline as it would not seal on the rim. You came along and quickly solved the problem. You poured petrol around the rim of the tyre, which you then set light to and pop the tyre sealed immediately on the rim and the problem was solved.
I think at the time you said you were going to give it a rest and do some fabricating work at home.
Yes I do remember blowing up the tyre but it did for a number of people some guys ran a mile and said I was mad how right they were this was a Turkish trick worked everytime I afraid your face iludes me have u got a pic u can post or your truck so my brain cells can come alive,yes I did start up a fabrication shop making tanks and trailer boxes sold up when my truck was impounded in dover when the driver brought in drugs ,got it back later went back on the road then lost interest sold up started the shop again doing farm machineery welding etc had a heart problem am now retired pill junky but still kicking.
A George Hall was pulling for the same forwarder as me on european fridge work 4 or 5 years ago. He had white globetrotter and chereau trailer, I only met him a couple of times and am sure he told me that he used to run to the middle east for Astrans pulling a tanker. Would this be the same chap ?
Hi there ācolonelā!! ā¦i remember reading through your site through the link that used to be on Anglo Greeks web site. Checked the other day and it seems to have dissapeared!!
I tried to get on Anglo Greek and Mondial Forwarding during the 80`s but sadly there was nothing going. Always wanted to ādo Greeceā, especially the ālong way roundā down through eastern Europe!!
Hi Bullitt, thanks for the few kind words about my website. I have not added to it for some time now. Anglo Greeks site has changed from what it originally was and the new one does not have the link to my site anymore.
I always enjoyed the Eastern Bloc route to Greece as it gave one many options for change of scenery, whereas the ferry route was pretty boring, as two nights on the ferry is not much fun, I can assure you. Of course since the inception of the fast ferries they now do it in 24 hrs, so probably not so bad, although when I speak to Ron Rivett in Athens he tells me that no one is going down anymore, so I suppose the Greek work has all dried up for English hauliers.Either that ot those that are still doing it are few and far between and never meet up anymore. The Ferries are OK for the pi**heads but not being a drinker One ends up at the end of an evening listening to too much ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā and drivers wanting to fight each other.
Well this has got me wondering ?
I have a copy of amrco mag from 1970, All about trucking to the East bit in the about Astrans Bob + Pauls first trip going to the middle east in a GUY Invincable with a printing press or two from London, The truck pictured is a Guy not a vabbis.
Will try and find it and post it
sinbin31:
guys
Hopefully I can set the record straight Java John was so called as far as I know because of his darkish skin and brown eyes his mum was Javanese a place in east some where thats all I know.
Mike woodman who started Asian transport with Bob Paul were both dentist trained Mike was in the RAF they both met at GUYs in London after mike had returned from the far east they then came up with crazy idea of transport to the Middle East.the First load was Tyres from Birmingham in a Skania Vabbis to Karbul the rest is History.
If u had read later posting I altered the Vabbis with the Guy but I am sure the first load was tyres but if u have a press cutting saying otherwise then so be it ,but dont believe all u read in mags or the press
machinery does look like tyres
hello all ,
saw graham ball yesturday and he told me about this site . how ya doin phil larr. and how are you rabbit hope to hear from you all missing. the run with you lot stay safeā¦ benny
Hello,my 3 penath regarding the Asian Tpt/Astran early daysā¦when Truckerash gets his book out he will get the story right,Iām priveliged to have had a teeny weeny peek at one or two pagesā¦its beautifully written lads and the info is spot on.He has deffinately got it right,believe meā¦its just a matter of being patient.
Bubbs.
hi, iām still waiting for a reply to the question that was asked about the driverās on the destination doha dvd. are any of those driverās still around? frank hook canāt have been that old when it was made. iāve been driving 33 years this month but have only done a couple of trips abroad. keep the storyās coming!
bubbleman:
Hello,my 3 penath regarding the Asian Tpt/Astran early daysā¦when Truckerash gets his book out he will get the story right,Iām priveliged to have had a teeny weeny peek at one or two pagesā¦its beautifully written lads and the info is spot on.He has deffinately got it right,believe meā¦its just a matter of being patient.
Bubbs.
Thanks for nice comments Marc.
To all:- Iām working hard trying to get the bloody book finished! Everytime I think Iām almost there someone or something comes along and I have to add the info into my āAstran jigsawā. Itās certainly worth the hassle as I have now just spoken to yet another of the āearly boysā who I thought I would never be able to find.
The book is a ācelebrationā of Asian Transport / Astran and will be filled with photos, anecdotes, captions and above all, a complete and comprehensive history from day 1 right up to the present.
You may or may not know that Astran sent 180 trailers to the Gulf last year! Pretty impressive ay?
Everyone I have spoken to while researching the book has been so helpful, encouraging and enthusiastic and to be quite honest (and donāt laugh) itās been emotional at times
I am dying to tell all and reveal some great stories but am trying to keep the lid on things for a bit longer.
Suffice it to say, when Iām just about done Iāll be doing a big posting on here (and elsewhere) advertising the book launch details. Hopefully that will be late summer/autumn time.
I have only admiration for the all the men who drove to the Middle East, but I have a special passion for Asian Transport and Astran.
Without wanting to sound bigheaded: The book will be awesome! The photos I have tell me that.
Ime sure that there are a few pictures of Asian tpts old lorries on Topruns site. A Guy invincible/warrior ? with a 30ft box trailer carrying Linotype presses bound for Kabul, an Aec double drive wagon and drag , fitted with a double skin roof on the cab and a Scania Vabis wagon and drag on an F plate.
There are also some good photos of Brits on the m/e run on a Norwegan site (Sorensens ?) Bandar abbas express - follow the link from toprun ch
Ash,
Am I to take it that your book,as well as your own input,will be from the information collected by Nick garlick for his book?
And is it based purely on Asian Transport/Astran, with added anecdotes and pics?
I thought Nick was being ambitious intending to write a book covering ALL the Middle East companies,trucks,drivers AND their stories.That book would have made the Encyclopaedia Britannica look small.
As Astran were the ones in at the beginning and still doing it,they have dominated the Middle East scene for 40 years or more and they do deserve a book dedicated to them,that alone ought to make a big enough book.
When individual drivers have enough informaton/experiences to write a book,then trying to cover the whole M/E story in one book is a mammoth undertaking.
All the best with the book,but donāt finish it too soon,'cause if I start reading it,I may not find the time to finish MY book!
Regarding Uar 747 S,I was the driver who took over from Steve Goodman who was killed in austria, and I stayed with it until the end when it was sold and then I took over the first G cab 3300 Merc. then stayed with astran till the end.
Hereās an interesting site, this is a link to a page regarding Astran beginnings, also on the site (if you register) are some pics of the M/E run, some with astran, which Iāve not seen before, hope it works!
ā¦i remember reading through your site through the link that used to be on Anglo Greeks web site. Checked the other day and it seems to have dissapeared!! 
