This site (Truck Net) got me thinking about the early seventies when I was a school leaver.
Worked on a few lovely motors at the time, no night heaters or fancy stereo’s. But in my opinion they were world class, most are gone or in museums, the sad thing is I never thought of taking pictures of the vehicles or workshops at the time. Even today although armed with a digi camera I don’t take pictures.
Well that has to change, from now on I will be capturing todays trucks and keeping them in an album for future publication. There’s a few folk on here who take pictures, I think it’s time we all armed ourselves with cameras just to remember what we worked on at the time.
I was out tonight capturing some Scottish traffic heading south for the week on the M6.
I’m slowly getting to grips with the myriad controls, buttons & settings on my camera so each picture is an adventure. One thing never ceases to amaze me though - why is it that the drivers of the ‘bling’ motors are always the first to make obscene gestures when they see a camera?
I never see it at the time, but when I get home and look at the pictures, I see the same thing happening again & again.
Why bling the wagon up to grab the attention, then start reacting in that way when you get the attention?
Was doing a video for a college course a few years back, basically I had to do an engineering project. I thought tyre scrub would be a good subject involving steered / lift axles on trailers etc.
Anyway off I went armed with my video camera down to fyffes bananas at Newbridge. Started filming the artics screwing round in the yard and then the funny looks came my way.
This driver came over and asked what I was up too? After a short explanation he said “thank the lord, thought you were the ministry”.
After the laughter died down the good folk were joining in the short movie, screwing round the yard with axles lowered and raised.
Me working for the ministry? Now there’s a thought
I believe there is a privacy law in France which prohibits the unauthorised filming (or photographing) of people in the street, don’t know if that would be extended to vehicles though especially on private property. Difficult one, if you get prior permission do people start acting for the camera?
On the subject of screwing artics round in restricted spaces (without lifting or steering axles) my concern at my last own account employer was not for the tyres but the danger from flying wheel nut/studs. As usual thay took no notice despite taking safety to ridiculous lengths (once banning washing down for over a month after a driver broke his ankle slipping on soap suds!) and refused to let me operate a one way system round the factory because it would allow nasty lorries to drive past the offices!
Must admit to a certain quiet satisfaction when the tail end of a trailer on opposite swing shifted a (fortunately empty) demount body off its pads .
D
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