Well said Saviem,I wholeheartedly agree with everything you said.I went to Gaydon for the first time this year & I enjoyed looking at all the trucks & meeting people.Everyone was very friendly & all had time to chat.Had a great time Saturday evening in the Steelboys camp & to top it off the weather was good Saturday & Sunday.Will definitely go next year.
Hi. I’ve never made it to Gaydon, something else has always got in the way. But, I’ll comment on the debate as to eligibility of vehicles on age grounds. I’ve been a member of the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society and owner of a pre-war lorry for 42 years now, and have attended thousands of rallies all over the place during that time, from local charity events to the prestigious Brighton and Trans-Pennine runs. There has always been a snobbish/narrow minded element, that objects to some vehicles on the grounds of too old/too new/not original enough/wrong livery/not shiny enough/too shiny, I could go on. But, if the preservation movement is to continue we have to move with the times. It’d be easy for me with my lovely original pre-war lorry to decry the “modern stuff”, or the “chequebook restorations” by big companies because they’ve got more money than me (I’ve heard it all), but I’m very aware that, just like me when I was younger, people want to see lorries like dad used to drive, or lorries like they themselves used to drive, and the number of people old enough to identify with mine are decreasing as we get older. Lots of dads, often modern day lorry drivers, approach me at shows and ask if their kids can sit in my motor, the kids love it, but it’s because they find it so different, you can tell they don’t really associate it with anything they know. I personally like to see any interesting vehicle regardless of age/condition, and a selection of motors across the ages is ideal (even one or two new ones for comparison). History is continuous and constantly being made, it doesn’t stop at a certain date, and we need to encourage new blood!
Bernard
The motor that was turned away, up into the trailer park, was entered as an Atkinson but turned out to be an old Van Hool double decker coach with blacked out windows that had tried to get into the main show using passes issued to aforesaid Atkinson and who were not very polite when found out and asked to move.
The Steel Boys are outside the show as a separate event. No Charge to see them, if you don’t like them walk by them. That age group of motors (which many people like) have been given their own era show, the Retro Show.
The lightweights/tractors are used in spaces that have been found to be unsuitable for heavies. Once again if you like them walk past, feedback says that the kids and other family members like to see them.
I loved them all.
I attend Gaydon to provide part of the model show and I like to see the older wagons because they interest me but the Steelboys wagons are what I like best because that was my personal era when I was a driver.
They are near our campsite and when me and my mate wandered over for a look on Saturday evening we were welcomed with open arms, told to get a beer and spent an hour listening to the band. I wish there was a north east contingent I could come down with.
And someone came and said hi too. Well done TrevH, nice to meet you.
I have been reading many of the posts that have been written on gaydon 2012, I am starting wonder what the furture holds for us all, it seems old and not so old should not mix but every year all the not so old get nearer the 25 year mark, take the Volvo FH in 2013 it will be 20 years since it appeared, the first of the scania 143 will be 25 years old in 2013!
Myself I am a member of the Steel boys and to be honset i wasn’t keen when we were moved to the top, but it was the only way the not so old lorries could come along and be included in the show for which I am very grateful but I now think it’s time to stop moaning about whos bringing what and who did not get there entry form in on time, lets all enjoy looking at each others work and allways remember that the not so old, will one day be old that go,s for the people as well as the trucks!!
volvof16man:
I have been reading many of the posts that have been written on gaydon 2012, I am starting wonder what the furture holds for us all, it seems old and not so old should not mix but every year all the not so old get nearer the 25 year mark, take the Volvo FH in 2013 it will be 20 years since it appeared, the first of the scania 143 will be 25 years old in 2013!
Myself I am a member of the Steel boys and to be honset i wasn’t keen when we were moved to the top, but it was the only way the not so old lorries could come along and be included in the show for which I am very grateful but I now think it’s time to stop moaning about whos bringing what and who did not get there entry form in on time, lets all enjoy looking at each others work and allways remember that the not so old, will one day be old that go,s for the people as well as the trucks!!
hi keith,
ten out of ten bonney lad 
.
regards andrew.
Went on Sunday…Really enjoyed my day…I preferred when the Steelboys were in the main arena,like a few years ago…not sure what the great idea is to split the show into two parts…it takes from the unique character and goodwill of the event. Anyway,it is still a great unique show which I thoroughly enjoy. Here are a few pics …
When the Steel Boys first came I think there were probably about 10 of them. Due to their popularity their numbers quickly grew. Add to this their request to stage Sat evening entertainment and space becomes a problem. An agreement was made where the Boys have the area at the top where they can put as many or as few motors as they like. I think they limited it to about 55 this year. There is also room for their BBQ etc. This area is under the control of Graham & Lee. It is because of the success of this and the growing interest in this era of motors that they were offered the opportunity of their own show, hence the birth of the Retro Show. If this is your era of interest in trucks then this is the show for you, 16th September, when they get the use of all the arenas.
Well, having 10 of them in a show is bad enough,but 55 Welshmen,full of wind and ■■■■ !! Bar-b-Quing and singing ribald rugby songs well into the night well of course the organisers are going to segregate them “round the back” somewhere well out of earshot,well it wouldn’t be so bad if they could “hold their ale” and sing properly would it!!! Now if they all turned up driving,now lets see ah!,a few motors from Gwynne B. and T.Phillips,Joints,J Raymond,Entress ect ect they would steal the show now,wouldn’t they!!! sorry I can’t keep this bollox up any longer the tears are dripping into the keyboard and I’m choking !! All the best Lads Cheers Dennis.
When this shot was taken this F88 was circa 10 years old and had just been refurbed in the 'shop,I wish I could conjour it back in that condition to-day,the Steelboys would maybe let me join them ? Well it wouldn’t disgrace the line-up would it ? Cheers Dennis.
The “N” reg Big J in “riversticks” post would be my choice,I think it is the one with American built ■■■■■■■ but proably Trev H could elaberate on it.I would think it could have tramped on a bit in it’s day!! Cheers Dennis.
Bewick:
The “N” reg Big J in “riversticks” post would be my choice,I think it is the one with American built ■■■■■■■ but proably Trev H could elaberate on it.I would think it could have tramped on a bit in it’s day!! Cheers Dennis.
Spot on Dennis…I thought the big ■■■■■■■ turbocharged unit was nicely shoehorned into the Big J4…I imagine a flying machine in its day…
As with Wolfie, I was with the model show inside for the weekend but I spend just as much time outside looking at the trucks/lorries (not getting into that one!!) and photographing and measuring them. If the organisers have a cut off date for exhibits then it’s up to them if they enforce it I suppose but I believe the SteelBoys have some trucks that do qualify and others that don’t, therefore if they all want to attend in their vehicles and keep together, the organisers have offered them an opportunity to do so. By doing that, surely they have actually increased the space available for other exhibitors because those that would qualify are up at the top, not on the showground?
I don’t really care, I’m no expert on trucks and just love to see the older ones. However, the fact that there is now a dedicated show for that ‘era’ of vehicle in September proves that the paying public generally do want to see them. I would just like to thank all those who bring their vehicles for doing so and the organisers for their hard work, let’s hope the weather gets back to normal for next year!!
Riverstick:
Bewick:
The “N” reg Big J in “riversticks” post would be my choice,I think it is the one with American built ■■■■■■■ but proably Trev H could elaberate on it.I would think it could have tramped on a bit in it’s day!! Cheers Dennis.Spot on Dennis…I thought the big ■■■■■■■ turbocharged unit was nicely shoehorned into the Big J4…I imagine a flying machine in its day…
Yes it was the pre big cam American ■■■■■■■ fitted in these, we ran dozens of them at BRS who they were originally built for. Usually 290, some had a simple mod on the pump to take them to 335 a lot of motor for 1973 but very thirsty !
By the reg number this may have been a North western BRS motor, all the Midlands ones were registered in Oxford, the one I drove was RUD 281 M.
A nice restoration job, all that seemed to be missing was the clutch brake that was fitted to the gearstick next to the range change switch.
Thanks for that Trev !! Do you think (tongue firmly in cheek !) that this batch of Big J’s would have been origionally ordered to have been built with 8LXB’s !!! Is that the Proles I hear stirring down in the swamp !!! Where’s the nearest Shelter Trev !! Cheers Dennis.
Bewick:
Thanks for that Trev !! Do you think (tongue firmly in cheek !) that this batch of Big J’s would have been origionally ordered to have been built with 8LXB’s !!! Is that the Proles I hear stirring down in the swamp !!! Where’s the nearest Shelter Trev !! Cheers Dennis.
Err, not at that wheelbase length, If you picked up a trailer with a deep kingpin you could catch the turbo on these when locking it round, 2 extra pots wouldn’t fair well !
In fact we had one off the road for 6 weeks waiting for a new turbo from America !
Hello all, but didnt those Guys sound great! Cheerio for now.
Saviem:
Hello all, but didnt those Guys sound great! Cheerio for now.
The sound out of this particular Big J4 was very nice indeed…The stack propbably helped no doubt. I always thought the small cam ■■■■■■■ gave a nicer ‘crack’ when the throttle was blipped when compared to the big cam.
Trev_H:
Riverstick:
Bewick:
The “N” reg Big J in “riversticks” post would be my choice,I think it is the one with American built ■■■■■■■ but proably Trev H could elaberate on it.I would think it could have tramped on a bit in it’s day!! Cheers Dennis.Spot on Dennis…I thought the big ■■■■■■■ turbocharged unit was nicely shoehorned into the Big J4…I imagine a flying machine in its day…
Yes it was the pre big cam American ■■■■■■■ fitted in these, we ran dozens of them at BRS who they were originally built for. Usually 290, some had a simple mod on the pump to take them to 335 a lot of motor for 1973 but very thirsty !
By the reg number this may have been a North western BRS motor, all the Midlands ones were registered in Oxford, the one I drove was RUD 281 M.
A nice restoration job, all that seemed to be missing was the clutch brake that was fitted to the gearstick next to the range change switch.
0
This one is ex. Cheetham Hill BRS – later with Mervyn Edwards (with several others) on livestock transport – he did uprate them to 335 but the rear axle wasn’t up to it
He replaced it with a Rockwell unit from a Seddon Atkinson but then had to replace the gearbox to bring the top speed down to (slightly) more sensible levels…
I think that this was one of the first that they took off the road - in the early 90’s no less…
As far as I know MCGoverns have kept Mervyn’s modifications -
AS for the clutch brake – like this (from another Guy)?
Riverstick:
Saviem:
Hello all, but didnt those Guys sound great! Cheerio for now.The sound out of this particular Big J4 was very nice indeed…The stack propbably helped no doubt. I always thought the small cam ■■■■■■■ gave a nicer ‘crack’ when the throttle was blipped when compared to the big cam.
Yes it did, but the small cam never ever gave the reliability of the big cam. But you know when I look back in my records I am amazed how cheap the humble 10litre was to operate, and providing you were up on preventative maintenance, the reliability was there. And the mileages they could do were astronomic. I never ran any of the “electric” engines, (just gave up on the whole lorry business as being viable)! how did they do on reliability, mpg, cost per km■■?
You needed that clutch brake on the Big J, shame that Leyland never developed the concept. Yet again, it was a profitable company, killed off as it did not fit the corporate mould, and as ever b… good people pay the price. Cheerio for now.