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Since Covid19 has killed all the truck shows for most of the year it was time to give the old dog a bath and groom before going to sleep for the summer. As with any old dog she was dirty and dusty from just laying around, just waiting to go to a few shows. So had to take the dog to the detailer, sign on building, and get polished and waxed because things are starting to open up again cause of Covid19. Wanted to give my neighbor some much needed work. It took four days to detail, bugs actually etched into the paint, glass water etched, polish aluminum parts and wheels. Turned out a lot better than in the past and boy she was a mess.

About a month ago I got word from a friend that Boughton's B model was up for sale. The truck has been parked for 16 years. They bought it from Greco some 30+ years ago to move crushers around the pit. As soon as I heard the news I jumped on the phone and inquired about it. We hammered out a deal and I got it home this weekend. The hard part was keeping it quiet for a month, not on my end so much, but as soon as it got pulled out of the barn last week everybody knew about it. I was getting pictures and texts about it from all over the place and it was out that I bought it. Got it home this weekend with a little help from my friends at Catom and got it in the driveway. The truck is very solid but does definitely need a little TLC. Did a ton of cleaning today. My friend Scott stopped by with his MB yesterday and we lined em up for a little Mack show in my driveway. Plans for right now are to get the mechanical issues worked out and then tackle the exterior. Hopefully I can get it out to drive it before the snow flies. Oh, and it does have a V8 with a Quad box, it's a tank!

My Dad purchased this truck new in 1987.He bought it back last week and drove it home today.

Finally we got the cab on

Will its finally done and should be at Macungie this year R 1001

I was able to borrow and scan these pictures from the gentleman who painted,lettered,and pinstriped,Bob Eckstein's famous 1693 powered RL. I asked his permission,as these are his treasures and mementos of his amazing talents. Mr.Rich Johnson is responsible for the BEAUTIFUL artwork seen here. Thank you Rich. ENJOY! Al

OK, so the find story. Back then I was a Trooper assigned to the Aviation Unit, I've retired since. We had three Cessna 182's we did various things with, including marijuana eradication. Our Narcotics Unit had found a grow in the Northwestern part of the state and set up on to try an catch the guy growing it as it was on public land. Days go by and they catch the guy tending his grow on a Sunday.. I got called out to pick up another Trooper as a spotter that afternoon because they want to make sure they cut it all down and there aren't anymore hidden grows. We get there and the ground guys are nowhere near ready to go in the woods to start. We have some time to kill so we do some sight seeing around a local lake. On the far side of it I spot a junkyard. I was always on the hunt for rusty metal back then and knew just about where every derelict truck was due to the job. we head over there and make a pass. I was disappointed because it was all modern cars and of no value to me. As we pull off, I turn left and see a contractor's yard with some trucks. As we pass over I spot on the edge of the woods a bunch of dead trucks. One of which gets my interest but I can't make it out because it has no hood or radiator. I come around again dropping some flaps to slow down and decending for a better look. After a few passes I'm pretty sure I struck gold and have some find of a B-70 series with an L cab. The guys were ready now to do the eradication, so we go back there. I made a note of what town it was in and how to get there. Monday I go to work and I'm trying to find out who's yard it was and how do I contact the owner. A friend of mine was the Resident Trooper in that town so I call him up. One of his Officers knows the owner, gives me his name, number and says he's a real nice guy and to just call him. I do and arrange to meet with him the next weekend. I do and he says a guy was out last year and wanted the tanks off it, but told him the whole thing goes as he didn't want to break it up. He never came back. So now I know he'll part with it, I just don't know what he'll take for it. So I ask him, bottom line what'll you take for it( I hate negotiating). He say's, same as the last guy.....$1800. I almost fainted, here was the B Model I was always hunting for and minus the engine was complete and unmolested. I couldn't get the word sold out of my mouth fast enough. That's how I came to own this B-73. As a side note- I researched the truck and got the build records from the Mack Museum. In there was the original owners name and the town he lived in. Around 2004 I searched the phone book and came across the same name, slightly different address. Out of the blue I call the number and a gentleman answers. I explain who I am and the truck I have and that I was looking for it's original owner. He says hold on and hands the phone to his father and says you need to talk to this guy. It's the original owner, 46 years later!!! He gets all excited that the truck is still around. I make arrangements for him to come see it at my house. He was about 83 or so and had a HUGE smile on his face the whole time. He gave me a few pictures of the truck when he owned it and had it all pinstriped up. As he was leaving he turns to and says, " Thank you so much, you made an old man's day" .

Drove my b into work today and was told put it front and center of the new truck line up.

I had seen a shiny R model pulling a dump whiz by the shop a few times, could never get a close look, well today, when he wizzed by, I grabbed my camera and jumped into my truck and began persuit... I have him in my sights, now just to stalk (get it, corn stalk! HaHa) to his destination! Looks even better up close...it really looks as if it could driven from a truck show! The trailer too! Interior was just as nice... The guy bought the truck new and TAKES care of it! The trailer too, it is over 25 years old and I thought it was a new one! The guy is from Doylestown, some of you fellow PA'ers may know him....He said he had a B model too! I think he works it, just said it was too many miles on this haul (Milton to Doylestown)...I was so giddy I forgot all the specs....287 (300?) and a nine speed OD, camelback...all Mack! It sure was cool to see an old Mack this nice working...

My father with his dream truck 1989 superliner e7 400 15 speed... after almost 2yrs of looking finally made a trip to Virginia and purchased this truck over the weekend... 1000 mile round trip finally home sitting in the driveway... start tomorrow on getting truck ready to work this summer will be pulling 2000 ravens 24ft frameless aluminum dump

So I read an article of an immigrant girl spouting off on how she gets a college education for free yet paid only 300.00 in taxes and she's illegal...living in the US I was always taught that you never discuss politics and religion with folks yet always be respectful . However I am angry. I was raised by a traditional grandmother and grandfather on a farm. We were taught to work as hard as you can for as long as you can.. never talk back to your elders, respect is earned and not given, and nothing is free. I paid for my entire education with the help of student loans because my family was poor... I did my time in the military because my grandpa said it was my duty as a citizen to serve this country. I was taught by my grandmother to take care of your man, wash clothes..cook and clean and take pride in your house,home and family. I was taught that I could be anything I wanted to be, but you have to work hard to get there... man or woman. I'm deeply saddened and angry that illegals get education and services for free.. yet my taxes are so high in a state I was born and raised in, that I can't afford to live there! And it is one of the highest social welfare states in the country! (Highest number of people on social welfare). What happened to this country? Morals? Values? Taking care of our men? Why is taking care of my man considered degrading by young women today? What the heck has happened? I'm not a racist, yet I'm labeled one because I'm white..and also told that I cannot wear a cross necklace to work, because it might offend someone. I'm deeply saddened by what is happening in this country. I am a hard working woman, I'll take pride in my man, family and home, I'll wear a cross my grandpa gave me, and I'll fly the flag he fought for! If that makes me a weak woman.. so be it. I'll stick to my old trucks and my farm at least cow crap is exactly what it is... cow crap! I'd rather work for things I have and need.. there's more pride in earning it than getting everything for free. sorry for the rant, but this country needs serious help.

On Christmas my family was over my house for the family get together. Well my father was like a kid in a candy store wanting to exchange gifts with everyone that night, mind you the youngest grandchildren are in high school and college or on there own. So first thing he does is give me the sign for my new Barn which I thought was great. Then he said there is more and everyone stopped and he gave me a small gift bag, In it was the title and all the paper work to his B-61 that is now mine. Surprised was an understatement for my reaction but touched by the gift. To me it's always his truck but it continues on in the family with my truck.

Well, I found a truck I couldn't walk away from... I found this pup destined to be chopped up in NY. I made a deal and trailered her home with the CL613. I was wondering if anybody has seen it running around the CT area? Maybe even a picture? I was told it just hauled their cranes and big excavators up I95 in CT. Tag says custom built for The Stamford House Wrecking Company. Mack E9 powered with 18 speed and 58k camelback. 5.32 ratio. It is in very good shape despite is rugged appearance. 290k original miles. The wife says to me, "What are you gonna do with another one??" I just told her I needed a spare in case my other one breaks down lol.

OUR TOY

Hello everyone. I told a story of my Mack truck that I had just bought and left it with the guy that I bought it from to make sure everything was ok with it cause it had sat in his shop for 23 years. I agreed to leave it with him wail it was there a week later he called me and told me the building had burnt down with the truck in it he gave me my money back dealt with insurance he got paid for it and agreed to sell it to me as is for 500 dollars. I pondered on fixing it up or not and have taken the job and here are the pic of it before and after and it does have the Fulton visor on it I was asking about before if anyone want to use one they do fit fine. The truck runs and drives grate after being in the fire only a Mack would do that.

55 years ago,in 1960,Pulley Freight Lines, a refrigerated carrier based in Des Moines,IA took delivery of 40 B-61 Macks. 22 years later,a 14 year old kid from Morning Sun,IA was looking for components for the B-61 he was rebuilding,when he ran across an ad in the Sunday Des Moines Register for a rough but running 1960 B-61. After a few phone calls,the kid,his Grandpa and his Dad went to look at the old Mack. It had last been used,or more accurately abused,in the guys logging business.It had been parked for a couple years beside his house in downtown Des Moines.The body had no straight panels anywhere,rusted areas were crudely patched,and gallons of body filler were gobbed into the fenders and cab.All this was covered by a really crappy brown paint job. The rear and side windows were broken out,interior was a mess,and the wiring was worse,but it had a good chassis and running gear.A deal was made and they jump started the truck and it drove flawlessly home 145 miles. Upon teardown and cab removal,old trailer door seals found behind the seat were found for both PFL and Bookey Pack,a cattle slaughterhouse in Des Moines. A little research proved that this truck was one of the 40 bought new by Pulley in '60. Serial # was B61ST33230. 2 years later,when combined with the 2 other parts trucks he already had,the old B61 was proud again. The frame,engine and transmission from the old Pulley truck was the one used,so that was the title and serial number also used.This was my first,and though it was destroyed in 1985 in a fire,it's always been so dear to my heart.I still have it. 30 years later........Earlier this summer,the daughter of an old friend that had passed away called me to see if I was interested in buying her Dad's old Macks,he had a R model,a Valueliner,and a B61. I knew the R model well,and had seen the Valueliner,and I ended up with them both. I posted about them shortly after I got them. At the time,his nephew wanted the B-61,so that was that,I thought. About a month ago she called me again saying that the truck was still for sale and they needed to get it moved from the farm it was parked all this time,did I want it. I told her as much as I'd like to buy it,I couldn't afford what they wanted right now,after just buying the previous 2,even though it was a fair price,but to help them out,I would move the truck to my place,get it running for them and help sell it. Sunday afternoon I went and picked it up. I was running short on time,so I loaded it quick and hauled ass for home.When I got it home and unloaded it,I checked it out a little better,when I opened the passenger door and read the door tag,I almost fell over. This truck was B61ST33232, a sister truck to my 1st B-61. So,I guess this one is going to have to stay,now. If I live long enough,I'd like to rebuild my old one as it was and this one as it was originally,lettered for Pulley Freight Lines.

Had some issues with my '47 EF ever since I got it,finally after being on the back burner for a couple years,got it all sorted out,took it to a buddy of mine and he swapped it over to 12 volt for me,got all the lights working and got it all tuned up.

Friend of my son just posted this pic on Facebook,said he picked it up weighing in Mississippi.

Loaded up our 65 B-61sx for a year long stay at the Mack Museum today, my father is like a kid waiting for Xmas to come. His ten years of restoration with the help of his shop and family has reached what he always wanted to have his truck on display in the museum and with the help of Don and Carol at the museum the truck was placed on lone to the museum for the next year.

You're a 19 year old kid. You are critically wounded and dying in the jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam . It's November 14, 1965. LZ (landing zone) X-ray. Your unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense from 100 yards away, that your CO (commanding officer) has ordered the MedEvac helicopters to stop coming in. You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and you know you're not getting out. Your family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you'll never see them again. As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day. Then - over the machine gun noise - you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter. You look up to see a Huey coming in. But.. It doesn't seem real because no MedEvac markings are on it. Captain Ed Freeman is coming in for you. He's not MedEvac so it's not his job, but he heard the radio call and decided he's flying his lightly armored UH-1 Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway. Even after the MedEvacs were ordered not to come. He's coming anyway. And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 3 of you at a time on board. Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses and safety. And, he kept coming back!! 13 more times!! Until all the wounded were out. No one knew until the mission was over that the Captain had been hit 4 times in the legs and left arm. He took 30 seriously wounded soldiers out that day. Some would not have made it without the Captain and his Huey. Medal of Honor Recipient, Captain Ed Freeman, United States Army Retired, died Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at the age of 70, in Boise, Idaho. May God Bless and Rest His Soul. I bet you didn't hear about this hero's passing, We’ve heard plenty about murders, Health Care, Border security etc. BUT NOTHING ABOUT THE PASSING OF Medal of Honor Winner Captain Ed Freeman. Shame on the media!!!

Pic at Sundown Sent from my SM-G386W using Tapatalk

Dear Special Snowflakes, I wanted to take a minute to write you specifically, so that you would know that your feelings matter to me. I know the past weeks have been really super, incredibly, terribly, horribly hard for you. You believed that Hillary Clinton would finally break that non-existent glass ceiling and that the warm and fuzzy snuggles you’ve had since President Obama came to office would keep on keeping on. Beer summits, Lin-Manuel Miranda free verse nights at the White House, and free weed for all, this is what you’d hoped Hillary would bring you; that and possibly turning the day after the Super Bowl into a national holiday. When that didn’t happen you believed it had to be someone else’s fault, because let’s face it, this is what you’ve always been told. Why would you know otherwise? I also understand very deeply how important it is for your narrative to not be messed with. After all most of you that are now “expressing yourself” grew up with a public school curriculum that reminded you that your feelings are never wrong and that "looking out for yourself first" is the most important lesson in life. When someone doesn’t affirm this I know the cognitive dissonance has to come near making your brain explode. Yes you never knew the lessons of losing because when your team scored fewer runs they still got trophies. You don’t much like God nor his ten commandments because they seem like a serious drag on your positivity with all the “thou shalt nots.” I get that you don’t know the difference in using the f-word or not in polite conversation, and I know that some of you may even be angry that your parents made you live your entire life as the actual gender that matched your anatomical genitalia. Life has been hard for you. Suffering through history lessons in… er history class, and sometimes hearing things about historical figures that weren’t quite as gentle as what your fluffy professors would like to teach you they were. To be candid, it’s a miracle that so many generations before yours suffered through such indignities. Even though you can’t articulate nor even defend your actual worldview, I know how much easier it would be for you to just never have to listen to anything that runs counter to it to begin with. I know on Snapchat, Instagram, and facebook you have this image of yourself that you are carefully crafting and how easy it is for you to just unfriend someone when they don’t like your newest Sextie. So I can only imagine how bad the last few weeks have been. Donald Trump, you’ve been told, is an "orange Jesus,” a not nice person who dislikes people different than him, and may actually cause a lot of disruption to your whole vibe. And because your world is filled with only one point of view, when that point of view tells you that the world may end if this happens, you naturally start asking your teachers for safe spaces. But after a while you grow bored there so you need coloring books and play-doh, or maybe even puppies to cheer you up. Because you know #FeelingsMatter. Yes it’s true, things may get a bit harder for a while. New anchors will mostly huff and grumble their way through his picking of his cabinet and his inauguration. They will fill your minds with teasers like “how great would it be if we got rid of the electoral college?” In some instances I’ve heard college professors have even taken to encouraging you to harass the members of the electoral college into trying to sway them to reverse their votes from Trump to Clinton. One lady I heard they’ve harassed with over 8000 phone calls and emails. Because you know #RapeMelania. When none of this works those same news anchors, and academics, and others who believe that you should live according to your feelings (instead of facts) will likely blame the outcome on something else. Because you know #NotMyPresident. They will still continue to attempt to get you to harass those who differ with you though. Like if a Vice President goes to see Hamilton they think it’s a classy move to curse so loudly and out of control during songs they perceive apply to the administration they will encourage you to do so long enough to stop the performance—multiple times. Because you know #LoveTrumpsHate. And if you can’t get a ticket because they’re being sold for that old fashioned capitalistic idea of a profit, just wait outside and chant for him to f-himself as he leaves. Because you know #WhenTheyGoLowYouGoHigh. Whatever you do though, pay no attention to the beliefs, words, or ideas that Alexander Hamilton actually believed because he was a dangerous dude who would’ve opposed everything your Queen Hillary believed. What I most want to tell you though is simple, “You will be okay in the end.” The icons you worship have led you to believe that the world is falling apart, but in reality for the next few months and years, things are going to radically improve. But in order to do so, just about everything you’ve ever been taught in your precious little snowflake life will have to be unlearned. And the lesson you will have to take away from it all is that America will survive for another generation.

Every year our family does a family reunion weekend at a state park, last year was the first time my wife and I camped for the weekend. I've spent plenty of nights in a tent over the years hiking and backpacking but it was a new experience for Jen and our pup...all 90 pounds of newfoundland. To say we were a bit cramped would be an understatement especially once the rain started Lilah ended up sleeping on top of Jen and I. So after a long winter of thinking and a little building we came up with out tiny house complete with a Bulldog on the hood. The tiny house is complete with recessed lighting, a bed, shelving and best of all a place for our pup to call her own. I bought the lumber from my buddy at the sawmill and proceeded to run it through my planer to make the siding, as an added bonus this works well as advertisement for my business lol. After everything was processed and the interior boards ship lapped we began building in the barn over the winter. I must have measured everything a dozen times to make sure I would be less than 13'6" tall....after all of it was said and done it came out at 12'5" sitting on the truck. The backhoe picks it just fine and the old mack hauls it down the road and doesn't break a sweat, I only had to down shift out of overdrive for one hill on our first trip. Lots of fun had by all and we got a lot of attention at the camp ground, looking forward to our family reunion (the rest of the tent dwellers are already getting jealous lol)and other upcoming trips this summer.

I took the truck out and did a parade today it still isn't finished I have the fiberglass sunvisor painted blue with a row of stars across the front didn't have enough time to get it installed. The blue paint stripe has to be run across the doors and stars added to it I will get that done this week weather permitting supposed to be a rainy one though. The truck was a hit at the parade I heard a lot of "nice truck" as we went along the route I took a few pics at the beginning of the parade couldn't get any when the crowd got thick though the people were throwing so much candy into the road I had to pay attention not to run over any kids that were everywhere.

Here are few of our other old dogs. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'd probably bend the hood if I tried this today. My 1st B-61 shortly before getting it painted.Somewhere around 1983.

Well Guys it happened about a month and half ago. I finally got my Cousins old Magnum. She needs alot of TLC but I don't mind. My cousin finally parked it do to the power divider going out of it and the frame is really really bad but I have a nice frame same wheel base for already. Out of 4 the Magnums that were in the family this is the last one. I would have posted it sooner but I've been busy on the Super Dog Dump and also been sick with the flew for about 2 weeks. I would like to find the proper Sun Visor for it like all the Magnums had new. Also this the identical twin to Tackaberrys Superliner Magnum. Tackaberrys is 001311 and mine is 001312. Both were sold by Ohare Mack new.Since I took these pictures I have put the original Mack emblems back on the hood as I like them better. Enjoy Guys.

I just bought this 1980 RWL721LST. It has 51000 original miles. She was born with a ETCZB1000 V8, a 12 speed, and 44000 rears. My plans are to make it a tri axle Dump. It had a bad oil coller and 1 bad liner which I already fixed. Also there was several families of Rats living in the cab so I gutted the inside and I'm cleaning all the panels. I will keep you guys posted on my progress. Thanks, Josh

Just purchased a 1964 B81SX. It is very similar to last year's project ('Mater) in that both are '64s, both have 711s and Quads, and both are SX dump trucks. It will be a while before I can get on this one, but here it is. Last pic is the truck at its new home in CT.

My freind from Johnstown Ohio sent me pics of his rw after restoration . I thought you guys might like to see the pics . I was told there was only 159 of these built .

A year and a half later from when she was purchased and with the help of family and friends, the frame has been all painted, headboard all redone, new fenders, new step box, straight pipes removed and mufflers put on and a whole host other mechanical small things fixed and she was driven for the first time since December on the road and it felt good and drove nice. You know its done when the passenger door is all re pinstriped and your daughters names went on the truck this past week!! Some before pics and finished ones.

Like we know the RW had a bad experience a couple months ago. So I sen it to the Spa Of Antrim diesel. Where they gave it a good wash down and checked out what it would take to bring it back from the dead. They had a brand new short block, never in a truck. So they put together a new E9 for me. So they called and said its dyno time. A couple years ago when they did the pump work and turbo it put down 700 Hp flat to the ground. So we figured it would be a little less this time, till it breaks in. Well I was wrong. 720hp at 1830rpm to the ground. We didn't get torq. The clutch wasn't happy about it so we stopped. So it's back from the spa. Thought I'd take a pic with the MH. And I got a couple cool stickers to show off.

WOW, its in!!! I had some help from my brother, nephew and a friend from the truck club I belong to. Plus another friend that loaned the lift to do it. Having the extra hands was a big help and really sped things up. A huge amount of anticipation about getting this engine in after seeing it sitting around so long. Having it in will allow me to do a lot of the plumbing and wiring before the cab goes on. No real battle mating the transmission, we did have to disconnect it from it's mounts and raise it with my engine hoist to get the right angle to get the input shaft through the two clutch plates. It's in and another step forward!!

Back last winter I was contemplating buying a the RS 700 that Ranchhopper was driving here in the northern Illinois area when I started hauling gravel in '86. After much thought ,another buddy of mine told me about a truck not 1 mile from my house that was destined for a boat ride,if somebody didn't save it. So I said,"let's go take a look ". I knew the truck as it was around since the early '90's in the area and having a soft spot for the bulldog variety , I figured it was my duty to save it from a land far away . It is a 1988 R690ST. EM6-300L T2070 , and 5.73 Camelback rears,P/S,A/C. It runs great,but needs a little lovin'. I have an incredible bunch of friends who are on board to help me resurrect her. It has 385,000 miles on it (which I believe are true) . It is pretty much un-butchered,giving me a solid truck to fix up. Plans for now are just to get it mechanically sound,then paint & sprucing up,later . Nothing special really,just a red,Chicago area gravel spec R model Mack.

Just fininshing up the cab,fenders and hood on the LTL I got 2 years ago. It was showing signs of rust and not so good paint prep from a restoration completed in 2004. It was keyed up pretty good as well and need some TLC. I did this one myself except for paint. Total cab off and strip to bare metal. Chroming and powder coating was done to dress her up as well. Hope its up to your Guys standards. This is what I started with, a nice clean unit and Itchy was proud of it. Driven to every show he went to. It still a work out to drive with 3 sticks and an iron lung Cummins. It will be at the shows in 2016

Yeah crooked phone picture sorry oh well.

Got my 77 RModel painted finally, i am very happy the way it turned out. What do you guys think

Some one posted this link over on the ATHS website and I copied it here for all you Mackophiles. One is started at about 5:50 with it's air starter. Enjoy!!

I think this was posted way back on this site.

Well, thank you all very much. I'm a little speechless from all the great comments. They are very much appreciated. This restoration has certainly been a true labor of love, as I've always wanted one of this model with this style cab. I'll have to say that all my previous projects have helped with this one and it has been my goal to try to make it my best one yet. Additionally, I don't think I'll do another vehicle this in depth. It's just very consuming and I want to get out and drive these things. A little about my background and where I think I got the skills. I was brought up around old cars and trucks. Learned a lot from my father at a young age, as he was always fixing other peoples cars and trucks on the side. I was always very mechanical and in technical high school I took four years in Machine, Tool & Die training. After graduation I went off to technical college and after two years, became an FAA certified Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic. That schooling, I feel, was one of the best courses I ever took. Teaching me so many levels of skills, from wood work, Dope and Fabric, sheetmetal, riveting and all manner of power plants from old radial engines to modern turbines , including all their subsystems. Hydraulics, pneumatics, avionics and all manner of aircraft systems. I went into the Army after that to become a helicopter pilot and start my flying career. That is a whole other chapter of my life, and what I truly love to do. It's also given me the means to have this hobby life which is my second love. All of this is second to my wife though, who has been very supportive of what I do and my hobbies. It's taken me so long to get to this truck due to my other careers. I found this way back in 1998 just before I was about to start the modification and restoration of my B42. I got that done in 2000. I was the Chief Pilot for the State Police, then, and was in the middle of purchasing their first new helicopter. We also had three Cessna 182's that we flew. All the while with the State Police I was serving in the National Guard and flying CH-47 Chinooks. In July, 2001 we picked up the brand new helicopter for the State Police. Two months later was... 9/11. That single event had ramifications for me that lasted for over 17 years. First it was endless overtime with the State Police. I worked 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week, from 9/11 to Thanksgiving Day without a day off. Right after 9/11, I was flying into Ground Zero with search and cadaver dog teams, along with supplies to sustain them. I walked the ground around the twin towers while they were still burning. The sights, sounds and smells have never left me. Two of my close Trooper friends and guys I worked the road with, have passed from cancers they picked up there. From there, it was more overtime and increased military training as my other career started to pick up. In February, 2003, I was called up and served my first tour overseas for 15 months. Came home, back to the state police and more overtime and military training. In 2009, called up for the second time and was away for a year. Came home in 2010 and had enough time with the State Police to retire in June with 21 good years. My military career was so busy at that point the next week I was full-time in the National Guard as an Instructor Pilot teaching new pilots how to fly Chinooks. Then, called up for the third time in 2012 and coming home in 2013. From 2003 to 2013, I was away from home for five years. Two tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. In 2018, I got word that I was facing a fourth tour in 2019. I couldn't put my wife through that, she went through two of my deployments, and I didn't want to myself. I put my paperwork in for retirement there and retired with 32 years of Active and Guard service. When I knew I was going to retire, I put my resume together and put some feelers out for jobs with friends in the civilian sector. A few months before I retired, I fell into a job with a trucking firm here in Connecticut, flying two of their three aircraft, a helicopter and a twin engine turboprop. The best part is, it's an on-call type job. No real schedule, except when the bosses need to fly. I usually know one to three days out for flights. But, pop-ups do happen when I'm in the barn. A quick cleanup and I'm at work in about 35 minutes. I joke with my friends that I'm getting paid to restore this truck. For my Australian Friends: When I was in Afghanistan in 2013 we were stationed in a place called Tarin Kowt. Once there, we were assigned to an Australian Special Forces Unit as direct support, along with a detachment of Apache attack helicopters and Blackhawks. After a few weeks of running re-supply and support missions, our Chinooks became their Go-To aircraft. First because of our lift capabilities, especially due to altitude and hot weather, and second due to our accuracy in timing and placement on the battlefield. A typical Australian mission would be to insert 40-60 troops (20-30 per Chinook) on an objective, depart to a safe area for 20 minutes and loiter, incase they needed immediate extraction. Then retire to Tarin Kowt for four hours and then go back out to extract them. On 22June2013, we had a mission into the Char Shenai(SP?) Valley, a chronic hot spot of enemy activity. I was Air Mission Commander for my element of Chinooks and the lead aircraft for the insertion. We make the insertion and go to our loiter point. As we arrive, we're re-tasked with going back to Tarin Kowt and bring out the Quick Reaction Force(QRF), another 40 troops, to the objective area as the radios blow up with activity with troops in contact. We do that as our QRF(2 additional Chinooks) are being loaded for resupply(ammo, water & food). We insert the QRF into the objective, then move some of the initial troops closer to the objective for security. In the midst of all this chaos, a call goes out for an urgent 9-LINE (a Medical Evacuation), somebody has been injured seriously. The Apache's are in action during all this, too, shuttling back and forth reloading and staying ready for action. An Apache escorted Medical Blackhawk comes out and does the evacuation right in the middle of this mess. We're out there hours longer than planned, never shutting down and hot re-fueling every time we land at Tarin Kowt. Well into the day, we finally get the order to extract everyone. One of my duties as Air Mission Commander is to contact every aircraft and get a head count. I tally that up and give it to the Ground Commander, who's on my aircraft and making sure everyone is accounted who was inserted. I get the numbers and I'm short. I do it again and make sure the crews are accurate. I'm still short. The Ground Commander is standing behind me, listening on a headset, when I hand him the count. The radios are silent on the way home, every aircraft has heard the count and tallied it up themselves and know we're short. That was the day the last Australian soldier was killed in action in Afghanistan. We lined the ramp at Tarin Kowt up to the ramp on the Australian Air Force C-17 that was sent to bring his remains home shortly after that day. I read much later when I was home that he earned the Victoria Cross for his actions that day, their highest award for valor. A very sad day we lived through with our Australian Brothers. Sorry for the endless post.

REO tractor.

Got the engine and transmission assembled, painted and detailed. Now they are together and finally in their home. Still have a LONG WAY to go before it's first maiden voyage.

The Wellington Mack will be returning to New England. I don't want to get into politics about what did or did not transpire between the local chapter and the national chapter since it occurred years prior to me finding the common passion we all share amongst us, which is trucks. However I would like to say that we all admire, collect and preserve the history of trucks for future generations. Everyone of us one way or another, contributes to this preservation of trucks and history. With that said, the truck will reside back in the original place it had been for years, when it was first left for generations to admire. It will be at the Haul of Fame Musuem in Canterbury, Ct. The Truck will from time to time be loaned to other museums that desire to display it, as well as the Mack Musuem for all to enjoy. It will be brought to truck shows and events as well. This Truck is an iconic piece of American history, especially for all those who sacrificed their lives during WW II so that we could live freely in this great country. It truly deserves to be seen by all. I'm proud to say The Wellington, will stay in this country for all to enjoy, and in the New England area as the original owners had desired. I like to give a big thanks to the Fox family for wanting keep history alive, for future generations. I'd also like to thank the Yaworski family from Ct for originally housing the Wellington where it resided in New England for many years and taking it to shows. I would also like to thank Gary Mahan from NJ, for fixing the issues on the motor, housing the truck and taking it to shows, and a special thanks to the Mack Musuem for displaying this iconic piece of History for all to see. But most of all thanks to all of you, for keeping these trucks and history alive and well and preserving them for future generations to admire. Without all of you, most of the truck history would have been lost forever.

1920 photo of R.C. Finley Transports 1917 AC hauling a well drill rig in front of Big Bear Lake Tavern, California. Photo credit on photo.

https://www.facebook.com/MackTrucks/videos/10153205465798616/

Photo is off my 1989 500hp V8 value liner loaded with timber heading from Tasmania to the mainland of Australia on the overnight ferry cheers

Not sure exactly how that country song goes about the fact that sometimes you should be thankful for unanswered prayers ......but I pray everyday not to buy another damn old Mack truck. My brother's Truck'n neighbor in PA tracked this ol girl down in Texas so I just had to make a deal. It comes with a 36" and a nice 60" Mercury too. The original V8 it is in as well. The old boy claims to be the 2nd owner and trucked for years with it. No rust either which is a real plus.

Finally had a few minutes to set down and load a couple pictures. Took the 1980 R and the B 61 to the Lathrop Tractor Show http://www.lathropantique.com/ for ATHS display. On Sunday they had a car/truck show and I entered the 1980 in the show category 59-80 stock truck so that's why I only put one in as not to compete against myself. Anyways, we ad brought the camper and so we left the show to go pack it ups and bring home and then go back to the show. We ended up running late getting back and they were starting to pack up the tables and tents and stuff. I went up to the guy I registered with and asked him if the truck had placed and he stopped and said that was a really nice truck and wow great job. He then went and handed me a trophy for 4th place in the Semi Truck Category. I was surprised as it was not what I had registered for, and because of all the other "styled" semi trucks that were there.