Jul 2, 2023
Malvern Truckfest 2023.
First visit to Truckfest this weekend. Some tidy units, both modern and old.
seen from Germany
seen from Greece
seen from Bangladesh
seen from Yemen
seen from United States
seen from Italy
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Poland
seen from United States
seen from Yemen
seen from Brazil
seen from Yemen
seen from Poland
seen from Germany
seen from Spain
seen from Brazil
seen from Poland
seen from Spain
seen from United States
seen from United States
Malvern Truckfest 2023.
First visit to Truckfest this weekend. Some tidy units, both modern and old.
N155 GTR June 2023
I have just had a practice load ready for the weekend club meeting at Pembrey. I was adamant I was going to do at least one club meeting in the unit with a bike on the back, just cos I can. As it happens I have had to use my own bike this weekend so on it went. I didn't strap it down as it came straight back off again but I will be heading to Wales in it for a few skids and wheel ups later in the week. Thankfully I have a steep garden with a raised area so loading no issue. Bit tricky getting it back down the steps rather than trying to go back up the grass but just about managed it without dropping it. I will unload and load again at the circuit using the tail lift on one of the wagons.
N155 GTR, January 2023.
Lots of things were needed to get the DAF through a DVSA test of roadworthiness. As it’s a private HGV there are a few things that don’t require test/certification but on the whole the test is pretty strict, and rightly so.
The unit had been stood for two years so needed a good mechanical once over. Egertons Fleet Services in Milton Keynes took care of things for me. It needed small things like marker lights and kerb mirror sorting but the rest was pretty big stuff. Four new tyres, two steerer due to age and the ten year law and two drive tyres due to wear. Rear brake linings were near non-existent and inner hub seals were leaking. The exhaust proved the most tricky item to source. A section of the pipe was not available due to parts now being obsolete for this vehicle. Thankfully the people at Egertons know a good fabricator who managed to source the right gauge pipe and copy the original part that came off.
I found a few cassettes in the local record store so obviously they came home with me to live in the cab. The old Grundig player was just about working at the time of collection from Egertons but I have since upgraded, more to follow on that.
Images of the wagon on the road were shot by my boy from another vehicle.
N155 GTR, Leyland DAF 95 FT360 Ati. July 2022.
I took the top photo of our race truck back in 2017 and presented a print to the owner. At the time I had a conversation with him about the tractor unit and its history. It has been in the race paddock with the trailer shown here most of it’s life. As you can see from the images it is still in very good condition and has super low mileage considering the age of it. I made a throw away comment about never scrapping it or selling the plate which has subsequently turned out to mean I am now the custodian of the wagon. Five years from a passing comment to having the beast on the drive is something I didn’t see coming but I am going to take on the challenge of restoring this truck to as close to new as I can.
It is 26 years old and in mileage terms it has probably done no more than 3-5 years work. It needs a fair few things putting right and I have already started getting a list together to make sure it passes it’s roadworthiness test over the winter. The plan is to start taking it to truck shows so that it gets used rather than sitting still all the time.
N155 GTR, December 2024.
Little run to my Parent's house on Boxing Day. Boy filmed this on the GoPro.
I love my truck. Rolling with my little girl, listening to Taylor Swift.
N155 GTR. Malvern, July 2023
First ever truckfest with the unit this weekend. Plenty to see and do for the kiddies but most importantly I got to meet a few people who know how to source parts and keep the old units running. Will be doing the one in September in the South West too.
N155 GTR March 2023.
Funny how things come full circle. Not been into the car audio thing since early to mid 90s. Finished the audio this week with the addition of a Rockford Fosgate active subwoofer. Up Yer Ronson, Summer of 96 from when the truck was born was the first disc to test it. Bit of a Jingly wagon vibe going on too with the accessories but no tassles around the windows (yet) Run out to a race circuit yesterday with my little girl.
N155 GTR, February 2023.
Tour of the DAF cab, mostly whilst I was in paying for the fuel. My boy makes me laugh.