If you’ve had a packet of cornflakes this morning for brekkie, most would not consider the fact that a truck was involved somewhere in that process.
- 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
“We’ve always carried the nation,” Tony Murphy laughs. “I reckon if we had a truck driver running Australia, we’d be better off.”
Victoria’s regional town of Echuca has a high trucking population, and with that, comes the passion for a classic rig, hence the introduction of the American Iron Echuca Truck Display 15 years ago.
“Some will say this is a truck show, but I call it a display, simply because at shows, people want to know the best truck in this age range, the exhaust and all this extra information,” he says.
“The trucks here aren’t the same. You don’t have to worry about how thick your cheque book is or spend five hours polishing your rig, it doesn’t worry us. We just want your truck to be there.”
This display is the perfect time for truck enthusiasts to find an excuse to drag their vehicle out of the shed and have a yap with some mates.
“The trucks aren’t judged. The people that bring their trucks are there for a good weekend. They’re not there to try and get the premiership prize,” he says.
As the president of the club that ran this event, Tony shares in that same passion of mighty machines.
“My wife wanted me to work in the garden, but my whole weekend was trucks, trucks, trucks,” he says.
“But it’s okay, at the end of the day, you get a pat on the back because the people enjoyed the event we hosted. That’s where the smiles were coming from on the weekend, and that’s what makes it worth it.
“When you run an event like this and it actually works, it gets better every year.”
And it has.
This year, 250 trucks, trailers and vehicles rumbled into Echuca and the main theme of the day was ‘Internationals’.
All different models lined up side-by-side, from workhorses, show ponies, the lot.
Even Tony’s 1984 International made an appearance.
“There’s been many different themes over the years,” he says. “There were Freightliners, Macks, and now Internationals, but all American themed.”
“Next year’s theme is already decided. It will be innocent, old and rusty.”
And you really can’t go wrong with a vintage rig.
“There were some trucks that had been dragged out of the shed that I’ve never even seen before. That’s another thing this display is good for.”
From a local’s point of view however, there aren’t many events in Echuca that keep the town excited and wanting more.
“We’ve got to give something to the local’s,” Tony says.
And that they did.
Starting from a truck loving group many years ago, this show has become a community staple and has grown into something that’s about more than trucks; it’s about mateship and pride in an industry that keeps Australia moving.
Read more:
- The transformation of the 1960 ‘Purple Petrol Eater’
- Truckin’ round bees in a 1974 International Acco
- Join the fun at the 37th Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show
- One man’s yard full of rigs
- Transport company purchase its first Kenworth in 100 years
Check out the Deals on Wheels Facebook here.