The latter day racing car show, held this weekend at the NEC, is not an obvious place for truck spotting, but there are a few items of interest.

Trailers contain a variety of goods, but this is the first time we've seen one carrying a Formula 1 pitstop. This Panasonic Toyota F1 outfit expands to host a pitstop competition, where members of the public can pit their skills by changing the wheels of the latest racer against the clock. There's no truth in the rumour that another truck will host a competition to design a competitive car.

Motor sport likes its comfy accomodation and the latest from SCSportHomes shouldn't disappoint. Based on a lively Mercedes-Benz Atego 820, only one question comes to mind - how do you tilt the cab?

OK, I admit it, once upon a time I was an AA Patrol. In those far-off days, I was entrusted with either a Mk.1 Escort or a Bedford HA, and either a Ford A-Series beavertail or a six-cylinder petrol Land Rover Series 3 Safari and trailer for Relay recovery. Unlikely as it seems today, the A-Series represented a touch of sophistication as I had arrived just as the last Bedford J-Type went out service.
Things are rather better for today’s roadside recovery technicians, though, especially if they are lucky enough to work for the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance network, operated by Mondial UK.

Mercedes-Benz gave Europe's truck press the chance to experience the incredible off-road capabilities of the Unimog - albeit from the driver's seat. Although I don't really blame them, as I'm not sure that I would have trusted myself with 100-degree gradients and waste-deep puddles.
Our transport was a fully off-road prepared 4000 Series - complete with two-pedal transmission and a driver who appeared to be bored senseless. Then again this was the fifth day of an international press launch and I suppose there's only a limited number of times you can reverse up a steep flight of steps without losing the will to live.

In short, this truck will cope with just about anything Mother Nature can put in its path - or mankind for that matter.

Heard a nice little anecdote the other day about two drivers who turned up at the Mercedes-Benz preparation centre at Wentworth Park near Barnsley. "We've come to collect an Actor and an Actress", they announced at reception.