In Pictures: Tooradin Tractor Pull and Truck Show 2016

The Victorian town of Tooradin kicked off the truck show year with another spectacular event. Peter and Di Schlenk were there to soak up the atmosphere

Tooradin is a little village on the South Gippsland Highway, just over 70kms south east of Melbourne, on the edge of Port Phillip Bay.

It’s also the home of the annual Tooradin Tractor Pull and Truck Show, the first trucking event of the year on the Australian calendar.

The 2016 event was held on January 16 and, as usual, the community-based show was organised by a group of locals who band together to raise money for the area’s groups and clubs.

Each year the show attracts big crowds and lots of machinery, as well as giving the public great value for money.

Anyone with a passion for just about any type of big horsepower, high octane vehicles can get their fix at Tooradin.

With trucks lining up from 7am, the day is full of activities for petrol heads.

There are burnout demonstrations throughout the day with tractor pulls all afternoon and into the evening.

Both modern and vintage trucks were on display, plus a side show alley for the kids.

Rob Stowe was the winner of Rig of the Show with his Kenworth T650.

Winning rig

When the Tooradin Truck Show results were announced, R & R Trucking’s Rob Stowe emerged as the Rig of the Show winner with his Kenworth T650.

Rob says his current truck supersedes his previous T650 day cab.

“Unfortunately that went two and half years ago but this is the same year, same model, same engine, diffs … the exact same running gear,” he explains.

“It’s basically the same truck with the exception of the colour.

The red truck was such a good truck, we always regretted selling it but when this one came up, we thought why not?”

Rob uses the T650 to haul produce from Bairnsdale up to Pearcedale.

“They grow lettuces, cabbages and spinach in Bairnsdale so we don’t get into the city; we stay the hell away from it,” Rob says.

“We don’t actively go anywhere near Monash.”

Tooradin was the T650’s second show since Rob took ownership of it, following an appearance at last year’s Castlemaine Truck Show.

“Because we are local to Tooradin, we thought we’d bring it down for the day,” Rob smiles.

“We come every year, just not every time with the truck, but we come for a look.

“It’s a great day and we get to catch up with a lot of people we know.”

Former truck of the show winner, Camilleri Transport’s Kenworth T658, was back in the action again, winning the Best Tipper 4 to 8 Years trophy.

Driven by Daniel Sharpe, Camilleri’s T658 won the same award in 2015, and in 2014 was voted Rig of the Show.

“It’s been on the road for three years now,” Daniel says, who adds that the Kenworth still looks the goods.

“We do a lot of Convoy for Kids … a lot of promos for kids with cancer.

“It’s a good thing to do, and it’s good to be here too” he adds.

Based at nearby Narre Warren, Daniel says shows such as Tooradin are a chance to speak to drivers face to face, instead of over the UHF.

“It’s a great opportunity to catch up, and it’s not just a truck show, it’s about the family.”

John Perry, holding his grandson Phoenix, with his family (from left) Stacey, Shirley, Krystle and Gus.

Keen on Kenworth

John Perry brought not only his family to Tooradin, but his family as well.

Driving a near new T359A, John drove over from Geelong where he subbies for Geelong Pre-Mix Concrete.

“It’s like heaven,” John exclaims.

“I’m keen on trucks and would like to do a few more shows if I’m able.

“I’ve always wanted to bring a truck to a show but never had one quite good enough, so now while it’s nice and shiny I thought I’d have a crack.”

John has two mixers, the other a 2008 T358 with a little Cat engine.

His new T359A is four months old and has a Cummins 340 engine with auto box.

“They’re a beautiful little truck,” he says.

“It’s not every day you get to drive a $280,000 daily driver, and you certainly enjoy the job when in a rig like this.”

In contrast, Anthony Herrald, another Kenworth driver, was fronting up for his fifth Tooradin show in a row.

This year Anthony rolled up in a K200 for Ryan Tansport of Leongatha.

“The show is a good reason for a tidy-up,” Anthony smiles, although he says the Ryan team keep the trucks clean regardless.

“But it is a good enough reason to have a few beers in the shed and clean the trucks up with the boys.”

While Ryan’s predominantly travel from their Leongatha base to Melbourne, they also run interstate up the east coast and across to Adelaide.

“The freight is mainly bricks and pavers; that’s our core business,” Anthony says.

“But for all the hard work you do driving, it’s good to come and have a chat with all the guys.”

Left to right:-Garvin O’Donnell, James Cornfoot, David Cornfoot, Fiona Stirling, Donald Thomas, Norm Cornfoot, and Donna and David Thomas.

Tractor action

The Cornfoot boys had a busy day, being involved in both the truck show and tractor pull.

All up, the they brought five trucks and seven tractors along.

Trade Trucks spoke to Norm Cornfoot who explained that everyone knows their trucks and colour scheme.

“We like great looking gear and it’s always good to show the trucks off, that’s for sure,” Norm Cornfoot says.

Norm’s brother Brendan owns the tractors, while the latest truck to join the Cornfoot fleet is a 1992 Kenworth T900 with a Smoky and the Bandit colour scheme.

“When we bought it it was blue and white, but instead of matching our fleet colours we wanted something different this time around,” Norm explains.

“The original plan was to buy a W-model but the T900 came up and now we use it at work.”

Dylan Sherritt drove an original 1997 T950.

Legendary workhorse

While the 75 new Kenworth T950 Legends on the market have caused a bit of a stir, the original T950s are still out there working.

And in the case of Dylan Sherritt’s 1997 model, good enough to show off at Tooradin.

Dylan’s company Sherritt & Sons, based in Morwell, brought the old T950 around a year ago for heavy haulage work.

At Tooradin it was runner-up in the Best Prime Mover 17-25 years section.

“It’s the pride of our fleet,” he exclaims.

Dylan knows the truck’s complete history, the original owner Palm Trans operating it on express for four years.

The rig then went to Bendigo where Monti Trans owned it for 14 years.

“Now the truck is in our hands,” Dylan says.

“Monti put a Signature in it as well as a new gearbox and diffs, so it’s really like a new truck.

“A lot of people comment on the cab, it doesn’t have cab suspension but I reckon it’s got a better feel for the road and it’s well worth showing off.”

Chris Bosevski, Nick Smith and Ben Staff.

Full of character

A trio of smart UD Condor PK17s attracted a lot of attention at Tooradin with their striking graphics and murals showcasing some well-known characters.

The trucks owner, Chris Bosevski trades as Pro Boost Logistics, and he brought along drivers Nick Smith and Ben Staff to help out.

Chris has four trucks in total and runs local as well as regional Victoria.

“I’ve got Batman and the Joker on one nose cone because my boys love those characters,” Chris says.

“After them came the Hulk and Spiderman” he says.

Chris is hoping to add two more trucks later this year – two Volvos.

He says one will be called ‘The Terminator’ and the other ‘Darth Vader’.

After eight years in business, the new UDs are a sign of Pro Boost’s growth.

“It was out with the old and in with the new,” Chris says.

“So we’ve brought them along to show off.”

He heaps praise on Benher Signs all of the artwork.

“We are very busy right now, he continues.

Chris explains that the last of the three UDs on show only arrived back at 10pm the previous night.

“We washed it overnight in order to be ready.”

Chris also owns a race car, so he was right at home watching the burn-outs, the V8s and the tractor pulls.

“There is something to keep you busy all day, that’s why I love coming here,” he says.

“We will definitely be coming back.”

Travis Dundas drove Vic Low Loaders refurbished 2007 Western Star.

Tooradin return

Travis Dundas admits he hasn’t been to a Tooradin show for a few years, but he was more than happy to return in C15 Cat-powered Vic Low Loaders’ 2007 Western Star.

“The truck looks brand new even though it has 1.1 million km on the clock,” Travis beams.

He explains that truck was purchased from Adtrans for $80,000 last year and a further $50,000 was spent doing it up.

Among the appointments are new rims, exhaust, air intakes, custom 7-inch outlets fitted plus a custom 12-inch drop visor which arrived from the United States.

“Plastic For Trucks did all the plastic up front,” Travis says, “and we took the ribbed floor out of the cab and replaced it with a smooth one.

“It had an 18-speed auto but we changed it for a manual, plus the interior has been refurbished and it has been completely re-wired from the ground up.”

According to Travis, the owners didn’t want an EGR engine, hence why they opted for an older truck.

Vic Low Loaders are based at nearby Bales, and have five trucks in the fleet.

“I pull a tri-axle and can carry 30 tonne,” Travis continues.

“We have an annual permit that allows us five metres wide and five metres high but we only work within Victoria, hence the name.”