i think i can answer number 1 for you for mostof the o/ds on here, i think they like to take a lil pride in what they have spent their hard earned cash on and to make it look tip top, and you cant deny mr vain is looking good for being nearly 8 years old.
as for 2 well i cant answer that one
I keep my motor as clean as i can, it gets a good wash once a week, (I even washed it in the car park at Cheively Services when on a long break once) the inside is kept as clean as is practically possible…I do wear my boots/shoes in it, but if they are really dirty then they get scrubbed before I get in.
Unfortunately due to the work we do it does get knocked about a bit, hence you will see the scars on the flat-bed etc. Gutted cos the tanks took me ages to get clean, and last week spotted that someone has dropped something against the side protection bar and dented that and a small dent i the tank too 
But I get complimented on how clean and smart it looks, that to me is better than any trophy. Have you seen some of the Hiab motors out there LOL…
your not wrong rob i get that feeling every show i attend with the trucks ive took
did truckfest 2007 with this and uttoxeter 07 with this volvo i was well chuffed with it and folks who stopped to chat did
dont know how im gonna get on with this motor this year we,ll see
gonna be parked next to this and its clean
truckfest is so big now i have no elusions i,ll win owt im going cuz its good to see folk from off here and folk you see on the road
rob your motors mint i look at it and think mine will never be that tidy.
I know the feeling. I look at every little mark on the bloody thing and worry about it but i’m heading to truckfest to have a good weekend, the truck will be clean and tidy as a bi-product, lol!
carl your truck will look great, it looks great in the pics.
ill get some good shots for yourself of your truck and your mates.
and anyone else who asks,
plus if your happy with the way your truck looks then whos to worry, i know its a comp for the best truck but theres far too clean which isnt a good thing.
We will be there Rob so yours should look like new once they see mine 
Hopefully taking 12 this year just got do little bits on the old 3 series,bit of paint bit of metal hear and there!!!
MR VAIN:
Thanks for all yr comments, i enjoyed reading them. I really njoy the time i spend cleaning and refurbing my truck. Every year i try to turn up with something a little different. Last year it was re sign written. It looked so different my brother dint even recognise it and he has spent many hours workin on it with me! This year it’s my sunvisor thats changed, its only taken best part of a year to come together! Bottom spots on a bar are next, but won’t be before Peterboro.
Liking the new visor rob… 
Looking pretty smart…looking forward to catching up with you at the show. Think you will outshine a fair few of the usual suspects in the competition
Never shown a truck, never had the patience, but used to show me Cossie at RS shows, and while I used to spend hours cleaning it and every penny that I had wringing every last horse that I could get out of it, I thought it was the fastest and cleanest thing on the road, however 10 minutes after turning up at a show, you would find loads better than yours. It was really disheartening, never stopped me though
IT’S NOT YOU!!!
mind you, i have spent this weekend fettling my old girl ready for Truckfest, fitting a few little bits here and there, and a slight touch up with a tin of black paint
Before
After
muckles:
I’d like to make 2 points about your question.
Why do you do your truck up? If it’s to win awards, then you’ll probably spend many hours consumed with envy and hatred as it gets passed over for yet another award. or is it for you own personal pride? then it doesn’t really matter if it wins although it would be nice.
and more relevent to your post. You are with your truck all the time and you know the points you’d like to improve, but you see all the other trucks with fresh eyes and so they look original and you don’t know where the little problems are. And of course you do actually go to work in your truck and I doubt you can really afford to take it off the road to “mint it” much before the event.
Well in answer to question 1, its personal pride. I thoroughly enjoy the time i spend on my motor. As a rule i never check the show results, i don’t see it as a worthwhile exercise. One of my friends or family usually takes a peek. ( At Santa Pod last year, Grimbo came back and told me i’d made the finals, i dint believe him, took them ages to convince me to go and have a look! ) But most of all i enjoy the people that take the time to stop and talk. I’m looking forward to meeting so many off here! Friends old and new.
I’d hate to estimate how many hours i’ve put in over the last 4/5 weeks, just a shame i weren’t on the payroll!
I’m pleased with the work that i’ve done, albeit i’m tired and very sore!
I just hope its sunny,
so you dont have to drive through a muddy field
to get to your parking spaces 
I like od,s who take pride in their vehicles ,
and its nice to see a good paint job on the motorway
as i trundle about at 56mph.
unfortuntly i am a multi drop driver ,
so i dont even have the energy to polish my bishop,
nevermind polish my wheels
MR VAIN:
muckles:
I’d like to make 2 points about your question.
Why do you do your truck up? If it’s to win awards, then you’ll probably spend many hours consumed with envy and hatred as it gets passed over for yet another award. or is it for you own personal pride? then it doesn’t really matter if it wins although it would be nice.
and more relevent to your post. You are with your truck all the time and you know the points you’d like to improve, but you see all the other trucks with fresh eyes and so they look original and you don’t know where the little problems are. And of course you do actually go to work in your truck and I doubt you can really afford to take it off the road to “mint it” much before the event.
Well in answer to question 1, its personal pride. I thoroughly enjoy the time i spend on my motor. As a rule i never check the show results, i don’t see it as a worthwhile exercise. One of my friends or family usually takes a peek. ( At Santa Pod last year, Grimbo came back and told me i’d made the finals, i dint believe him, took them ages to convince me to go and have a look!
I’d hate to estimate how many hours i’ve put in over the last 4/5 weeks, just a shame i weren’t on the payroll!
I’m pleased with the work that i’ve done, albeit i’m tired and very sore!
that beer i promised you at the do that i missed will be there for you, along with the rest of the crate that anyone can have since i dont drink beer lol
