Joshua Broom was in the middle of a conversation when the awards for Casino Truck Show’s finest rigs were being announced.
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It wasn’t until his wife Kailee shouted at him to get up, did he realise he was a winner.
“Yeah, I definitely wasn’t expecting it,” Joshua says. “It was a bit surreal; there were a lot of mixed emotions running through me.”
“It’s taken us a long time to get this truck to where it is today, so to be recognised and voted for the Best Western Star, oh I’ve got no words for it.”
The 2003 Western Star 4900 has a strong history and good looks to go with it.
“It’s a truck that I’ve always wanted to recreate based off a well-known company that ran up and down the coast in the early 2000s,” he says. “So, I’ve found this one and put it back to how it was, and I think a lot of people can appreciate that.”
Joshua bought it off a guy from Rainbow Beach who had tippers behind it – and its state was pretty sad.
“I’d say 75 per cent of it has been repainted – I’m trying to keep as much original paint as I can, but obviously maroon is a hard colour to keep in good knick with the weather,” he says.
Joshua gave it a rebuild a couple of years ago, from a former C16 engine, now to a C17. He’s put his own little personal touches to it, but ultimately wants to keep it in that early 2000 era of transport.
“I bought it in 2019, so it’s taken me from then to now, to get it where it is now, but it’s still not 100 per cent complete,” he says.
“Now there’s just the little things to do. I’ve got to change the tank lights to more of a period correct theme, install a few more lights in the bull bar that I’m missing, and I haven’t done the interior yet, but it’s next on the to-do list.
“I just really want the outside looking Mickey Mouse.”
Joshua says if the stars align this year, he’ll be back at Casino with his winning rig, but admits that there is some great competition out there these days.
“There’s a lot of good Western Stars going around at the moment, so I’m just happy to get down there and be a part of such a great show,” he says.
“The people of Casino are so welcoming, it’s such an awesome event. To be down there again and be a part of it would be a win in itself.”
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