BigLorryBlog

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2009

2009-07-03T20:03:00Z

Once again, Clutchslip gave up a day to check out the trucking action at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Which branch of the RAF uses a blinged-up 570hp Actros isn't clear, but you can sign me up.

Plenty of orange paint left over from the Black & Decker drill factory, then.

Click through for more trucks, and more.....
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and on the hill

A classic brand needs a classic transporter ....

and here's the product, the all-new Norton Commando 961

Toyota F1 support, large and small .....

Sussex Police - from the sublime .....

to the ridiculous ......

Brawn GP rig - as immaculate as you'd expect for the likely World Champions

Clean appliance for a K-reg

1914 Twombly Model A - looks OK from the side .....

but look closer!

The Phantom EG - it exists but as for anything else, visit here and decide for yourself!

For RoadTransport.com's web editor, a big Bugatti fan, here's a big Bugatti

Finally, being a NASCAR race driver ....

it's a tough job but someone has to do it!

Live from the Motor Transport Awards

2009-07-01T18:55:50Z

If you're reading this as I put it up, I guess you aren't at the Motor Transport Awards - and why not? But even if you couldn't make it to the Grosvenor House, here's the next best thing - a live blog from the event:

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&task=viewaltcast&altcast_code=948ddcb258" >Motor Transport Awards 2009</a>

If you can't see this coverage properly, then get yourself over to our MT Awards page, where it is showing in full colour.

Small (bulldozing) is beautiful

2009-07-01T10:23:03Z

Isn't this just the most adorable thing? It's a Fiat 500 'tank' built by Kogoro Kurata of Japan, using the workings of a small excavator.

Click through for a must-see video of the 'tinktank' thundering along at its top speed of 3km/h...

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Here's Kogoro Kurata's website (via Pink Tentacle, via BoingBoing).

Thats a bad day

2009-06-27T20:24:44Z

Made worse by having a guy right behind you filming it

Now click through for another driver not having the best of days either

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A whole new meaning to the phrase-"Boss- I just missed the Ferry^

Nothing's new...

2009-06-27T19:46:13Z

Yet again perusing the Scrapbook memories it strikes me that nothing is that new in our game... Take the current debate about extra long vehicles. New modern thinking? It seems that it was also thought a good idea quite a while ago too.

Then theres those refuse bin trucks that lift the bins up and over the cab, I always thought they arrived about the same time the wheely bin and mass recyclying came into fashion, my boyhood memories are of cheerful dustbin men emptying by hand metal bins, I must have missed this one.

(Ignore the caption! I think thats aimed at a photo off the clipping !)

Now click through for a final thing that remained with us over the years...

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Then, as now, Fuel costs dominate - Nothing really changes at all

With thanks again to Bubbleman, and to Tipit.

The impossible U-turn

2009-06-25T19:15:51Z

Our man in Texas, Oliver Dixon, poses the following question.

How do you do a U-turn with a 40ft trailer on a 35ft road?

Click here to find out.
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Formula 1 trucks at Silverstone

2009-06-24T15:22:41Z

Forget the F1 cars - the most interesting bit about a Grand Prix is what's going on in the truck park!

BLB fan Tom Parke took this selection of pictures at Silverstone last weekend.

Decent ground clearance on the middle Stralis.

No surprise to see that the Renault F1 team run Magnums.

Smart line-up of TGX's for BMW Sauber - well the hardly opt for Mercs could they!

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Tom - are you going to tell us who she is?

Great line-up shot

Red Bull Racing are having a good season - perhaps they'll be able to upgrade to a TGX next year!

Lost Truck - answers to the name of Rigs 'n' twigs. Please call if found.

2009-06-24T15:01:30Z

Does anybody know where this unique Volvo F88 is today? The truck, which was pictured by John Henderson in the 80s, seems to have slipped off the radar. And it's not showing up on the DVLA website any more either (at least not on its original 'JVY 362L' number plate). Surely it hasn't been scrapped.

If you've got any idea what happened to it, then please let me know and I'll pass the information on to fairground boss John Biddle, who is keen to buy the truck.

And while we are on the subject, does anyone know what happened to original owners CB Radio Truck Centre Rigs 'n' Twigs?

A true hybrid - the Lexus RX450h

2009-06-24T10:59:49Z

I saw one of these on the M4 at the weekend - and it was cruising along at motorway speeds without using any fuel:

Impressive chaps, these hybrids, aren't they?

The only thing is, the Lexus was actually on a trailer, being towed rather briskly by a Toyota Landcruiser with a petrol V8. Oh, well.

Now that's what I call a narrow cab says Biglorryblog from 1961...

2009-06-24T08:57:14Z

How narrow do you like your cab? I set up this blog before I departed for holiday (well I know you'd be missing Biglorryblog). This ad is from the fantastic www.adclassix.com website where there are superb old car, truck etc ads for sale and where you'll find some great images of US trucks and pickups from days gone by. Well worth a visit and I trust they won't mind me showing you this one from 1961 which features an IH cabover with a 54" bumper-to-back-of-cab measurement I'll say that again just 54 INCHES! The ad was in conjunction with the American Trucking Association (ATA - the US equivalent of the RHA/FTA) and talked about trucking efficiency provided by a cabover like this...

More ScrapBook memories

2009-06-22T13:05:27Z

With BLB away I can play ... today for your delight I have few of the recent images uploaded to the ScrapBook Memories Topic on TruckNet UK

With over 45 pages now of clipping from over the years It really is a treasure trove of historical news items.

On the TruckNet UK thread there's more information on these but for a couple of Brians Virtual Pies lets see what his loyal army come up with. The first "Globetrotter cab maybe? But obviously not on a Volvo !

Next its Ford D series, even I knew that, but isnt that wheelbase a little long?

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(With thanks to Bubbleman from TruckNet UK for sharing his Scrapbook memories with us)

More rare bears on Biglorryblog... 'The Brochure King' comes up with more!

2009-06-22T09:28:28Z

As if to folow-up on Cam's 'Project Diamond Reo' Richard' The Brochure King' has sent me these shots and says: "Brian, Here a few more trucks that maybe you could feature on the Blog. First up is a rare colour photo of that French classic - The Willeme. Im not sure whether this is one of their AEC powered outfits, but I reckon it's a smashing looking outfit, and hopefully it will please "The Keeper of the Flame". Well it's certaibnly a new one on Biglorryblog Rich! Now click through here for more...

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"Next," says Rich, "is a mystery motor, which may surprise a few folks (unless they already know what it is, because although unusual it is quite well known in certain anoraky circles) The background is a bit of a giveaway too!" So for a pie guys... What is it?

"Lastly is a brochure scan of a Diamond Reo, which I think is the same as Cam's beauty. I've mailed that off to him for confirmation. Cheers, Rich."

Brace yerselves lads... Biglorryblog is now officially on holiday! Anorak army goes into shock!

2009-06-22T07:45:47Z

There comes a time in every blogger's life when you just have to get away - even Biglorryblog (No! Say it isn't so I hear you cry.) Well it's true so for the next week or so I'll not be posting up stuff 'cos I'm heading North to the blue skies and seas and a proper 'Life of Brian.'.

Of course I'll have the camera with me and when Mrs BLB isn't looking I'll take the odd picture for the blog... But in the meantime Clutchslip, Will Shiers and Toby Clark have kindly offered to keep things 'ticking over... 'BUT HERE'S AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE I'd be grateful if regular contributors could either hold fire on sending in new stuff until I get back around July 8... Or just make sure that any stuff sent in has resized pictures. (Use Mircosoft picture manager and select 'web small'-size 448 x 336 - but DON'T forget that when you've re-sized a photo you DON'T then press 'save' but 'save as' and give the file another name - otherwise you'll permanently reduce the size of your original picture and end up cursing me! Worth having a play first on a picture that isn't valuable.

This would be much appreciated otherwise my in-box is likely to explode! See you all when I get back.

Classic Scania brochure... And invoice! If only they cost that much now says Biglorryblog!

2009-06-22T07:37:33Z

Biglorryblog's 'Man North 'o' the Border' John Henderson has been in topuch to say: "Hi Brian, I was very impressed with the Charles Russell Scania LB140, as featured within the magnificent V8s article, per Truck & Driver July 2009 issue."

The piece jogged my memory a bit, as the local firm I helped out at after school almost bought a 140 back in May 1975 for the Middle East run. I've attached the front cover of the period brochure and part of a written quote showing the £1,599 worth of extras we requested. The cost of the basic LB140HS34 4x2 unit was a mighty £12,355.00 and the local DAF dealer eventually undercut this figure and we ended up buying one of the first 2800s in Scotland. -Not a bad decision either, as it too was a cracking motor." Now click through here fore more classic Scanny memories from John!

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"To my knowledge I don't have any pictures of Scottish liveried 140s, but several did exist. So to make up the deficit, here's a page from the November 1976 edition of Scania World Wide magazine, which informs us about Astran's 140s bound for Kabul. 'Not a run you would want to quote for these days! Best regards, John W. Henderson"

The Human Handbrake and the very first Aussie roadtrain! More brain-teasers from 'The Brochure King' on Biglorryblog!

2009-06-22T07:15:55Z

Richard' The Brochure King' has sent me this little collection and says: "I 'm sending over a few pieces over in the hope they may be of some use. First is this - Articulated London Bus. The new design for an articluated London bus on the blog, brought to mind this oddity from way back in 1958. The coach was built by Kassbohrer to be used in the US by Continental Trailways but prior to delivery it was demonstrated in London. Named the "Super Golden Eagle" it was 60 feet long, the rear wheels were steerable, and the power was from a Rolls Royce C6.SFH Diesel of 275hp. Commercial Motor tested the vehicle in London where it was claimed no traffic was disrupted. Although the report does not quote the maximum speed achieved, it was calculated to be "approaching 100 MPH"! The report quoted a price of £10 000 for the complete outfit including individual reading lights and loudspeakers!"

You sure it wasn't an earlier version of 'The Big Bus' Rich? Now click through here for the Human Handbrake!

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What a guy! Rich continues: "We all love a good Road Train on the Blog, but recently I have been thinking about when the first Road Train was used. The AEC 8 wheeler that operated in the Northern Territory throughout the 1930's is often regarded as one of the earliest, but this Daimler I found in a magazine from 1910 also got me interested. As can be seen in the scan, it was a pretty heavy duty piece of kit, and the magazine article states that it was delivered to The Chillagoe Co. Ltd of Queensland, where the outfit would be used to draw loads of 20 tons."

"The magazine also reported that a similar vehicle was being built for Canada, and a picture of this one appears in a Daimler brochure from the 1960's. It is pictured in use in 1911 and the 'live' centre axles of each 'truck' can be clearly seen. I wonder if any of the Aussie Anoraks can give us an opinion on the first Road Train?