bullitt:
David, many thanks for posting some more M/E memories, its always great to read them, please keep them coming.And to all who have contributed to this thread, many, many thanks, your memories and pictures are a goldmine from a bye gone era, sadly never to be repeated
Thanks for keeping it alive and may it continue through 2011
Happy New Year
+1 
freshir:
The incident in question happened about 82’ish I have sat back and had a laugh at how a situation gets completely twisted along the line, it has gone from Doha to Damman and I think that it has shown up in Timbuckthree - If you are all sitting back comfortably then Il’l begin - It was a cold and dark foggy night - I was homeward bound having loaded pig fat (Lard) in Gdansk - I had done my transit doc’s at Helmstatt and parked up and went for a bit of ‘nosh’ at the Imbiss, there were also two brit reefers also parked up but I kept my own company as this particular outfit who must remain nameless had in the past tried to undercut Grangewood’s. I was running at +2 so as not to oil up the Autobahn. This load was going to a paint factory in S.E.Londonshire, and when I opened up the load smelt warm and along came ‘jobsworth’ who immediately proved his status by checking the temp which was at +12 but I broke down in tears (Like you would ! ) and we became good buddies when I promised to leave him in my will. But looking back it was obvious that my temp gauge was tinkered with at Helmstatt, fortunately it was not a drama as the load explaines itself but it could have been serious if the load had been foodstuffs, We had a kid in our office who loved creating nicknames and he created the
‘Oven ready Freddy’ label and there was a clerk that he referred to as ‘BUSBY’ because he was always on the phone - All good fun I suppose - Regards to all - and wishing you all a fab 2011 - Phred.
fred, got that story from another concorde lad. his first name was arthur,but cant remember his last name you will,he got turned out at dover west (when we shipped from dunkirk, the old boats you had to back on). by the customs and had a load of o.h. on board. oh dear motor impounded grady not impressed. happy new year
Oh! And I had a question that I wanted to ask you. In fact it is another of the ‘Old Grey Matter Test’ but without a photo.
Once upon a time there was a cheerful whorehouse opposite (nearly) the Mocamp called the West Berlin. Now I understand that none of you good Gentlemen would have gone there - I only did myself because Pat Seal and I had a part time job selling copies of the Warcry to fallen women on behalf of the Salvation Army. Anyway the question is what was the name of the Welsh Wizard who, enraged at some shortcoming in the service of said establishment, tried to drive his Guy Big J into the front of the place, forgetting I suppose that there were steps going down from the road and more steps going up to the club. He ended up with the motor badly damaged and immovable and Aydin had to get a crane to lift it out.
Does anyone remember the incident and the driver? It was about 1975/6 I think.
David
where r u:
freshir:
The incident in question happened about 82’ish I have sat back and had a laugh at how a situation gets completely twisted along the line, it has gone from Doha to Damman and I think that it has shown up in Timbuckthree - If you are all sitting back comfortably then Il’l begin - It was a cold and dark foggy night - I was homeward bound having loaded pig fat (Lard) in Gdansk - I had done my transit doc’s at Helmstatt and parked up and went for a bit of ‘nosh’ at the Imbiss, there were also two brit reefers also parked up but I kept my own company as this particular outfit who must remain nameless had in the past tried to undercut Grangewood’s. I was running at +2 so as not to oil up the Autobahn. This load was going to a paint factory in S.E.Londonshire, and when I opened up the load smelt warm and along came ‘jobsworth’ who immediately proved his status by checking the temp which was at +12 but I broke down in tears (Like you would ! ) and we became good buddies when I promised to leave him in my will. But looking back it was obvious that my temp gauge was tinkered with at Helmstatt, fortunately it was not a drama as the load explaines itself but it could have been serious if the load had been foodstuffs, We had a kid in our office who loved creating nicknames and he created the
‘Oven ready Freddy’ label and there was a clerk that he referred to as ‘BUSBY’ because he was always on the phone - All good fun I suppose - Regards to all - and wishing you all a fab 2011 - Phred.fred, got that story from another concorde lad. his first name was arthur,but cant remember his last name you will,he got turned out at dover west (when we shipped from dunkirk, the old boats you had to back on). by the customs and had a load of o.h. on board. oh dear motor impounded grady not impressed. happy new year
Might have been Arthur Gething, but I dont think he would of done anything like that !! Teriffic chap, very quiet and secretive took a lot to get to know him, his military background was very no-no but I did get it out of him on one of his chatty moments - he told me that he was a sniper in the Sally Army and I promised not to mention it to anyone, so mums the word. All the best for 2011 - Fred
Hi David - You have got no chance of anyone surfacing on that enquiery, in fact you could take bets on it, Regards FRED
There was a much earlier thread about the dangers of Bolu.
The approach to Bolu from the west was not so much a problem,and as we were 90% of the time empty on the return,there was not so much chance of brake failure.
This is a pic taken at the top of the climb up Bolu coming from Stanly Bull.I’m sorry it’s a bit grainy,it’s not the original pic which I am still looking for which gives a wider view including the road leading up to the lay by I was parked on when taking this pic.
I was running light while my mate Bob Matthews was well freighted so before we got to Bolu at the top I pulled onto the lay by to wait for him.
Looking back down the valley in the direction of Stanly Bull was a stunning view,which is why I took the pic,and my mate Bob,not seen in this pic,although halfway up,still looks like a Dinky toy.
Great snap - you can smell the mountain air.
bestbooties:
There was a much earlier thread about the dangers of Bolu.
The approach to Bolu from the west was not so much a problem,and as we were 90% of the time empty on the return,there was not so much chance of brake failure.
This is a pic taken at the top of the climb up Bolu coming from Stanly Bull.I’m sorry it’s a bit grainy,it’s not the original pic which I am still looking for which gives a wider view including the road leading up to the lay by I was parked on when taking this pic.
I was running light while my mate Bob Matthews was well freighted so before we got to Bolu at the top I pulled onto the lay by to wait for him.
Looking back down the valley in the direction of Stanly Bull was a stunning view,which is why I took the pic,and my mate Bob,not seen in this pic,although halfway up,still looks like a Dinky toy.
Great pic: Ian keep delving for the original I would really like to see it. FH
here is another couple from near the top looking back west
It certainly was an awesome view.
Here is another of a tonka with a large steel sheet which slid back as he started the climb.
his front wheels were well off the road. Regards jamie.
A Scot Lost in the Valley’s.
Hi boys
Jamie, I didn’t think those Tonkas had enough power to ■■■■■■ it’s self from under it’s load. by the way mind that bus
Regards Keith.
The dreaded Kamikazies. They drove like idiots and woe betide anyone who got in their way. If you baulked them when they were trying to overtake , it was not unusual for the right hand rear door to open as they past you and anything that came to hand could come flying at and sometimes through your windscreen.
Here is a photo of a Swiss Fridereci Kenworth that sat for months at the first police post inside Iran near Maku. If you had an abnormal load you had to get a permit from an office in the town. They insisted that the traffic police measured the load and filled in the form, but the police insisted that you take the load to them first and then fined you for driving an abnormal load without a permit. You were then restricted to a stupid speed limit of about 20 kilometers an hour and had to report in to every police post onroute. if you arrived early you were fined and the time was stamped on your permit. it was not unusual for them to give you a permit which was only valid for half your journey and then you would have to spend another day trying to get another permit, or do a runner during the night.
Regards Jamie
A Scot Lost in the Valley’s.
Hi David Miller
Im not sure but your query about the animal being Pat Seal is a new one on me ,as far as I knew Tony Baker of MC transport who past away with Parkinsons some years back was the only Animal I was aware of at that time ,I was extreemly good freinds of Pat And was at his funeral ,u can check out all the pics I took on his page ,I called him Hos .another Animal appeared on the seen in the 80s who subbed for Astran with his transcon a very large gent who cooked great meals but was hard to get on with (name not disclosed) Maybe Pat was the animal to you,but to me he was more like Grizzley Adams .I have a few pics of Pat and myself which I will endever to post HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL
Roger Haywood
Hi David and Roger,it was i who posted about Tony Baker being the original Animal.He was called this along with other names including Bunny.The other Later one (Bob Hedley) is quite proud of his nickname of “the Animal”. I have and have had the pleasure of knowing all three of the people mentioned,but had never in all the years i knew Pat Seals heard of him as the “Animal”. But there again David i am a believer in respecting other peoples opinions, even though i may not agree with them. regards Jamie.
A Scot Lost in the Valley’s.
sinbin31:
Hi David MillerIm not sure but your query about the animal being Pat Seal is a new one on me ,as far as I knew Tony Baker of MC transport who past away with Parkinsons some years back was the only Animal I was aware of at that time ,I was extreemly good freinds of Pat And was at his funeral ,u can check out all the pics I took on his page ,I called him Hos .another Animal appeared on the seen in the 80s who subbed for Astran with his transcon a very large gent who cooked great meals but was hard to get on with (name not disclosed) Maybe Pat was the animal to you,but to me he was more like Grizzley Adams .I have a few pics of Pat and myself which I will endever to post HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL
Roger Haywood
Hullo Roger,
I never heard Pat called the Animal either, Tony yes. But, the Animal, or later version of the Animal, that lives only a few miles from your goodself was really a very nice bloke, as you say a bit of a Phillip Harpben with the camion stew, drove a crappy old DORF, but was ok to get on with. (Cheers Bob) HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AS WELL ROGER.
Cheers Archie.
M&C Jamie:
here is another couple from near the top looking back west
Regards jamie.A Scot Lost in the Valley’s.
Jamie,
This was obviously taken from the same lay by as my pic,which if it was full width would show the same stretch of road on the left.
I remember the Animal as Bob Hedley. Hoss as himself, and Pat Seals as Pat the Gentle Giant.
I tittered to myself about the baptism certificate, wouldn’t it just have been easier to lob the old man on the desk while they were inspecting the St Michael brand label?
It is much easier to prove you are either a Muslim or Jewish, much like having your eyelids removed at birth 
M&C Jamie:
Here is another of a tonka with a large steel sheet which slid back as he started the climb.
Regards jamie.
A Scot Lost in the Valley’s.
A regular thing with “Tonka” drivers and weight distribution.
Here’s one that had his load move back as he was climbing the unmade dirt road going south from Pozanti up to the highest part of the Taurus mountains on the way down to Tarsus and Adana.
In those days there was no alternative route and we had to wait half a day while they sorted this out.
Hi boys
It seemed to be the general rule if it went on then they would take it. I have seen loads of telegraph poles with the thickest part in the body and the thinnest part wagging in the wind. I’ve seen a photo of one such load spread all over the road. was it one of your picks Ian? One tonker I did see and will never forget was loaded at the bottom of Bolu with a full size road grader. He had the twin axle and engine end inside the body, the blade was outside across the back of the body and the steering wheels were running on the ground. you’ve never got a camera when you want one have you.
Regards Keith
I just thought that I would put this with the Bolu photos.
I hope that The F Troop isn’t about to overtake somebody and looking back now those guys were hero’s 
.
