Kenworth Klassic brings in the good at Clarendon

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Big Rigs  /  October 25, 2016

When it comes to vintage trucking enthusiasts, it is interesting to note that a lot of the guys who own vintage trucks also have a tendency to run modern trucks in today's trucking industry.

Fleets like Wickhams, Ray Marshall Transport, Kerden Bulk Haulage, all currently involved in the industry, and all having older trucks parked up in the shed.

It's not just the big firms though, with many owner drivers having a vintage registration in their name as well as their own working truck.

Hell, for some their vintage truck is their working truck. And the 2016 Clarendon Classic was a chance for these vintage mechanophiles to get together and share their machinery with like-minded folk.

And what a lot of machinery there was.

Run by the Sydney Antique Machinery Club, the Clarendon Classic attracted 4500 show-goers, with over 500 vehicles on display to the public over three days.

This year saw the addition of the Kenworth Klassic, a one-make homage to the Kenworth brand, with KW fans from all over converging on the showground west of Sydney, to show their love of the brand.

The Klos brothers, truck customisers extraordinaire, brought a fleet of 11 trucks and Big Rigs caught up Justin Klos to get his view on the show.

Justin told us about one their latest builds, a completely rebuilt W900, with brand new parts used throughout.

According to Justin; "it's this sort of truck that we used to see at shows as kids, and now we are working on them”.

When asked about the Klos penchant for the brand, Justin told us "it's the quality in these trucks, it's what makes Kenworth, Kenworth”.

An interesting truck at the show (and a personal favourite), was the 1981 cabover brought to the show by Rob Woolley.

The truck is a tribute to trucking in the days leading up to the Razorback Blockade, with Rob going the extra mile in getting stickers made, with one printed up with Wransacked.

Another nice touch are the radar springs fitted to the bullbar, a vain attempt from back in the day to stop the police being able to pick up a truck's speed on a radar gun.

Well positioned in the Haulin' the Hume trailer set up to register Kenworth trucks as they pulled in, author and photographer Alice Mabin was busy over the course of the weekend selling copies of her book, The Driver.

A photographic journey across Australia, the book contains over a thousand images and stories of everyday truckers, with Alice telling Big Rigs "it's a chance to show truck drivers from a different perspective, to show the public the good that truck drivers do”.

Big Rigs caught up with one of the driving forces behind the event, Bruce Gunter, to discuss the Kenworth Klassic, and to get his thoughts on the success of the event.

Bruce was quick to tell Big Rigs, "I'm absolutely pumped with the amount of attention this show is getting, from social media and people just being so positive about the whole endeavour.”

"We do it because we are passionate about the brand; this is a show with no judging and awards, cutting down on the issues that might stop owners from wanting to enter their trucks in a show like this.

"Although we have no awards, we have handed out some wood-carved KW badge mementoes, to those who promote the brand, who support an event like this.

"This year, our first year, we have attracted 273 Kenworth trucks and put a smile on countless people's faces. We will be back next year, expect it to be massive.”

Away from the Kenworth Klassic, the mix of machinery on show was amazing, with everything from Paul Dove's 1924 Sentinel steam-powered truck, to a V8 powered bulldozer, which was amazing to watch, even more amazing to hear at full noise.

There was a chance for a ride on a trailer hooked up the back of a Porsche. Well, a Porsche tractor.

Acres of stationary engines huffing and puffing, a Pratt and Whitney radial engine putting on regular shows, the most impressive sight (and sound) was that of the steam train running punters between Richmond and Mulgrave, it can definitely be said that the Sydney Antique Machinery Club definitely knows how to put on a rally.

One entrant, Paul Gauci, had his International C2150 on display.

Powered by a Cat 3208 motor, the truck is a testament to the passion that is shown by these enthusiasts, that this truck which rolled out of the factory 45 years ago has been driven here under its own power.

We asked Paul about his favourite part of the show, and he replied, "it's great to be able to catch up, to be able to talk with so many like-minded people”.

And he is right. At a show like this, you can walk up to an owner and chat with them about what machinery they have brought, everyone is happy to be amongst like-minded people who share a common passion.

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