The Australian White Truck Muster has come to an end.
After 20 years and 10 shows, the Kyabram Showground gates closed for the last time on March 16 for Ray Grima and his crew.
- Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to receive the latest news and classifieds from Australia’s transport industry.
- Don’t miss a second and subscribe to our monthly Deals on Wheels magazine.
- Sell your truck with Australia’s #1 truck classifieds
“I’ve had personal changes in my life, the cost of living is higher and the rules and regulations that we’ve had to abide by since COVID make the show harder to run,” founder of the event Ray says.
“We thought if we get to do 10 shows that’s a good effort, and now we’ve done that, so we’re happy.”
In 2001, Ray took a trip to America and stumbled upon what they call a ‘White Truck Bash’, and so he thought, ‘why not run a White Truck Muster over here then?’ and so he did.
By 2005, the first event was born.
The tenth and final show was nothing short of a roaring event, in fact it was the biggest the town has experienced.
The grounds were full, with 170 standout trucks including Road Bosses and autocars that Ray couldn’t keep his eyes off.
Remote controlled trucks and models gave the crowds’ necks a break from continuously looking up as they got to view the intricate details of mini trucks up close.
“Our last show was a great success, there were heaps of people!” Ray says.
“We’re in Victoria and we had two trucks come all the way from Perth, visitors flying in from New Zealand and one guy came from Germany. It was his third visit to the Muster!”
And that’s the kind of gravity the White Truck Muster held. To think a truck show in rural Australia pulled an enthusiast from across the globe is truly incredible.
Over the years, the show has certainly grown and acted as an economic favour for the community.
“It brings a lot of money into Kyabram,” he says.
“Motels are booked out months in advance, service stations benefit, through caravan parks, and the supermarkets are flat out with visitors.
“It’s a win win for our small, rural town, and it means a lot to us.”
But beyond the steel, paint and chrome, it was the people who made the muster special.
Ray is in disbelief the show went on for as long as it did, and knows it wouldn’t have been possible without the help of some important people.
“This is such a great accomplishment. To run one or two shows is great, but 10 over 20 years is a huge success!” he says.
“Without my partner Michelle, I wouldn’t have been able to do this, I’m lucky to have great friends around me that supported us through it.”
That support, shared passion and community, was the fuel that kept the muster rolling for two decades. And for the happy memories and monster trucks, the community are thankful as they close the final chapter on the last ever muster.
Read more:
- Children in need receive new hope from Centurion
- Almost three decades and 100 brand-new Kenworths later
- Supporting fellow truckies at Clunes Historic Vehicle Show
- Driving for change one pink truck at a time
- Trucking runs through the workers veins at JATEC Transport
Check out the Deals on Wheels Facebook here.