In Pictures: 2015 Haulin’ the Hume

Haulin’ the Hume attracted 260 vehicles and raised thousands for Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect). Tamara Whitsed was among the thousands admiring the classic trucks on the old Hume Highway

 

Des Walker of West Gippsland, Victoria, is no stranger to ‘Sesame Street’. The semi-retired 76-year-old drove interstate for 34 years.

Haulin’ the Hume in his 1950 520 Diamond T was a trip down memory lane and a chance to catch up with mates he met during his years with McMullen’s Transport, Westerns Transport, Aboods Transport, Caringbah Haulage and Oppermans Transport Service.

Organised by Bruce Gunter and the Western Sydney Historical Truck Club, Haulin’ the Hume attracted 260 vehicles on April 11. The trucks traced the northern section of the old Hume Highway, raising funds for Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect).

With his wife Julie in the passenger seat, Des was proud to show off his restored Diamond T and its 1962 McGrath jinker which is a nod to his early logging years.

He only dropped one gear as his American Black Diamond 308 engine powered over Razorback.

On the freeway, where he could “keep the hoof on it”, Des pushed the speedometer all the way up to 85km/h.

The route from Sydney to Yass covered as much of the old Hume Highway as possible. This took the trucks through bypassed towns including Picton, Mittagong, Berrima, Goulburn and Gunning.

Peter Murphy of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales made the journey in his 1923 T Model Ford, which has a top speed of about 80km/h. There were four Model Ts on the run. Peter laughs about being overtaken by Peter Shaw’s little tow truck Model T.

“I got burnt off going up Razorback,” he says.

Some newer trucks also experienced the indignity of being overtaken by a Model T. Ian Fordyce’s 1951 AEC Matador has a top speed of about 50km/h. It was originally used to wash streets in Sydney.

 

Organisers of the successful 2015 Haulin’ the Hume are the toast of the trucking industry.

 

Vehicles had to be at least 30 years old to take part. Chris Pezzutti’s 1984 W Model Kenworth was among the newer trucks.

The ex-Comet Overnight Transport truck was one of several prime movers celebrating 1980s trucking.

In addition to the 260 registered for the run, many trucks were piggybacked, including some fascinating restoration projects such as Roger Marchetti’s 1974 White Road Boss. It was previously owned by his uncle Frank Marchetti.

Trucks drove through rain in the morning, but the bad weather cleared before they stopped at Goulburn for lunch and a short static display.

Hundreds lined the old highway to admire the trucks and were treated to the sights, sounds and smells of yesteryear trucking. The Cullerin Ranges and Gunning provided great vantage points for photographs during the final leg of the haul.

After the run 380 people gathered for dinner at Yass Soldiers’ Memorial Hall. A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the inaugural Bob Speechley Heritage Preservation Award.

Bob’s son Daryl Speechley presented the trophy to Geoff Rudd for his restored AT4 760 Dodge. Geoff bought the truck new in 1968 and has driven it in all three Haulin’ the Hume runs.

 

David Chapman at Gasoline Alley, Yass. It reminded him of the Yass Blockade.

Gasoline Alley

Sunday’s breakfast was appropriately held in Yass’ Gasoline Alley. Committee member David Chapman was tasked with the job of helping trucks find parks and says seeing the area so busy was a flashback to the 1980s. It was also reminiscent of the Yass Blockade of 1988.

Haulin’ the Hume’s new trailer, purchased from Electrolux, was parked at the old BP and used as a stage.

Sign writing by Surefire Signs of Chipping Norton promoted sponsors and displayed historic truck photographs taken by Warren Noakes in 1966. The trailer was towed by Darrell Killick’s 1969 W Model Kenworth throughout the run.

Liz Martin, CEO of the National Road Transport Hall of Fame, says Gasoline Alley was the perfect location for breakfast.

“It’s like you’re actually in a parade but you’re the one that’s physically moving. You can spend as much time on each vehicle as you like,” she says.

The truck historian flew from Alice Springs for the event, and was a passenger in Ross Firth’s Ford F600 which was driven by David Kent.

It was her first opportunity to see historic locations such as Razorback Mountain and Picton’s hole in the wall. She was pleased to witness the camaraderie between truck lovers of all ages.

The organising committee’s youngest member is Richard Cant, 24, from Allalong Tasmanian Searoads.

Richard drove his recently-restored 1978 Kenworth K125 in the run. He has fond childhood memories of when the Kenworth was owned by his late uncle Greg Cant.

As a committee member, Richard’s varied roles included interviewing legendary Sunny Warby on stage during the Saturday night dinner.

Sunny drove road trains in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia and still owns the B-Model Mack he bought new in 1965.

 

The Gunter family enjoying Haulin’ the Hume, from left, Rachel and Bruce Gunter; Liz Segreto; Alison Fonti; Jan Liddell; and Geoff and Judy Gunter.

 

Geoff’s haul

The idea for Haulin’ the Hume was sparked during a conversation between Bruce Gunter and his father Geoff Gunter in 2010 when they were travelling to Alice Springs in a restored 1957 Commer Knocker.

Geoff commented that it would be fun to travel bypassed sections of the Hume Highway.

Bruce suggested the run to friends from Western Sydney Historical Truck Club and the idea snowballed, attracting 143 classic vehicles in 2011.

The 2015 Haulin’ the Hume was especially meaningful for the Gunter family. Geoff won’t be renewing his truck licence when he turns 80 later this year, so this was his last opportunity to drive the Commer in Haulin’ the Hume. He enjoyed sharing the experience with his wife Judy and three daughters who took turns in the passenger seat.

“So many of the men that I’ve met on [Haulin’ the Hume] have lost their fathers,” Bruce says.

“They’re doing this to remember their dads. I’ve been able to do this with my dad and I’m extremely fortunate in being able to do that.”

But with Geoff driving the Commer, Bruce didn’t have a truck to drive on the big day. Patrick Vassallo came to the rescue and offered Bruce his 1980 International Transtar 4300 for the run.

When Bruce went to pick it up he was surprised to see the Transtar freshly painted, with new line and scroll work and shiny chrome rims.

Bruce loved it and so did Patrick’s 13-year-old son Nick Vassallo. The truck has ‘Nick’s Pride’ written on the bug deflector.

Nick was in his element surrounded by trucks and truckies. His father hauled the Hume in a head-turning International R200. And his grandfather David Vassallo drove a 1939 Dodge.

Haulin’ the Hume’s growing popularity has presented challenges regarding venues and catering. But Bruce and his team have worked hard to overcome these problems, raising thousands for charity along the way — $8,000 in 2011 and $14,000 in 2013. Bruce is confident Aspect will receive another big boost when funds from the 2015 haul are tallied.

Organising the run is a mammoth task because the route passes through so many municipalities.

“The backing that we got, especially from Goulburn Council and Yass Council, and also from the highway patrol and Goulburn Police, was absolutely brilliant.

They were really good to deal with,” says Bruce who is already making plans for another Haulin’ the Hume in 2017.

Rob French and Roger Marchetti will organise Crawlin’ the Hume along the old Hume from Melbourne to Albury in 2016. 

 

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