Is It Nearly Show Time??

The long winter is dragging, and the pull of the truck show circuit is being felt keenly. There is nothing quite like the chance to gather with like-minded people who share an appreciation for the machines that defined the golden years of road transport, alongside the modern vehicles that are quieter, safer and far more comfortable than the average family car. It is the best time of year: the sun makes an appearance, the tyres stay black, the trucks stay clean, and the breweries do a roaring trade.

Plans for the season ahead

So what does the calendar look like? There will no doubt be a few mini convoys along the way. A new show or two may well make the list. The Devon Truck Show is an appealing prospect, though it may have to wait until next year. Truckfest Southeast is a possibility if the dates fall kindly, and the Retro Truck Show is a firm fixture. A handful of local events will fill the gaps, and if fortune favours the brave, the Gr814 might just make it to the Truckstar Festival in Holland — though that particular trip may require borrowing someone else’s fuel card.

Before any of that, there is work to be done on the Gr814. A rear axle swap is on the wish list, to achieve a better gear ratio. The chassis is due for shot blasting and a repaint in factory gloss black. If the budget stretches far enough, the cab would benefit from fresh paint too, but time and money will likely push that particular job into next year.

The people make it

What really makes the season is the company. Catching up with old friends and making new ones is the heart of it. Among the trucking community there is rarely any ice to break. Conversations start easily, help is offered freely, and that is where the romance of the road really begins.

It is a familiar pattern: you share a table and a beer with a fellow driver, go your separate ways, and then cross paths again a year later at some random delivery or overnight stop. You pick up exactly where you left off. The same spirit runs through the show circuit. Everyone knows everyone, everyone gets along, and the gaps between meetings do not matter.

There is also the chance to rub shoulders with the bigger names in the industry — people some might expect to be distant, but who are drivers and truck enthusiasts at heart. The generosity of figures such as Richard Payne, Mark Farrow, Charles Russell, John Thomas and Fred Parker is remarkable. They are always ready to help, always willing to get involved, entirely approachable, and will not stand by while anyone struggles or misses out. Proper old-school operators, the lot of them.

Whether you are behind the wheel or running the business, it seems to be in the blood. Everyone is there for the crack, the beer and, of course, the trucks. Bring on the 2023 season — and if you see a familiar face, say hello.