ATHS Returns to Lancefield

In 1991 Laurie and Denise Kirby, with urging from Ray Grima, wrote to the American Truck Historical Society, asking if it would be possible to launch an Australian Chapter running under the auspices of the American club.

Along with Ray, the couple – avid White fans – were members of the Historic Commercial Vehicle Club of Australia (HCVCA), but wanted to be part of a truck club with more of an American bent.

Laurie and Denise attended the American ATHS show in Portland, Oregon, after correspondence with that club’s Roland Smith. The ATHS – Australian Chapter Inc. formed in 1995, and on January 9, 1996, ATHS Oz Chapter was officially recognised and incorporated.

The American Truck Historical Society – Australia was the first Chapter to be established off the North American Continent. Today ATHS is an international organisation, with over 21,000 members in the United States, Australia, Canada, and 20 other countries worldwide.

On the weekend of March 26/27, after a two-year hiatus, the ATHS returned to the picturesque Showgrounds at Lancefield, Vic.

The fact that club members had been starved of comradeship, the telling of tall stories, showing off improvements to their Pride and Joys and just taking ‘the old girl’ on a decent run, was evidenced by the turnout. Two hundred and eight trucks showed up on the Saturday. On Sunday some left and were replaced by others with over 230 in attendance.

The record number of attendees was equalled by a record number of patrons who have been starved of Truck Shows these past two years. It was a very happy Lions Club churning out burgers, along with the Mr Whippy van, and no doubt the local pub and restaurants who catered for the overflow from the Saturday night dinner.

Cornfoot Bros Earthmoving’s late 2008 Kenworth T908 shows a few minor scars from its daily grind – but you have to look closely to find them. One of the last KWs to sport a CAT engine (putting out 525hp), Jake Cornfoot keeps the truck in pristine condition.

The 908 had been a regular at truck shows until work commitments took precedence a few years back, but like others turning up at Lancefield, Jake was “Frothing to get out and about.”

Along with the T908, Cornfoot has a T909, a T900, two cab over KWs, a Mack Trident, a Freightliner, an ’86 SAR with the Klos treatment and now a Peterbilt they have just completed rebuilding. “That one’s a toy so fair chance you’ll see that at a show soon.”
Can’t wait Jake!

Past ATHS President Steve Bragg didn’t bring his 1990 Freightliner FL112 to the show, preferring to just wallow in the atmosphere.

Braggsy deserves a break from the wheel, having just returned from a trip from his home in Gippsland, through Winton to Hughenden in Queensland, delivering a load of hay on the latest Need for Feed run with 28 other stalwarts.

Traversing floods and blowing two steer tyres at the same time was, “all in a day’s work,” said Steve. “We used to have a farm and we’d been helped out in hard times. It’s great to be able to give back.”

John Dowling refused to be interviewed. “I don’t like to talk. Not interested,” he said.

He then proceeded to tell us all about his 1954 WC22 White. “It’s a Shepparton truck, having come from North Bros who own quarries. I picked it up in 2005.”

“In good nick, Mate?” I ask.

“Nah, it was a wreck. Knackered mate. Wasn’t going and had been tipped on its side at some stage. Full engine and gearbox rebuild – and just about everything else. Seven years hard labour to get it right.”

Thanks for not talking to us, John…who then proceeded to mention his other toys. “I have another White – a Road Boss. Look, we have a lot of trucks. A Peterbilt, an Autocar that is not restored but will be shortly at Shepparton. I’m sick of dealing with all these old things and am fortunately in a situation where I can get somebody else to do it. I also have a nice Dodge that I’ll do up myself.”

For a bloke that doesn’t talk, John’s done well. On the back of the White is a classic Mobil tanker. “That’s not mine. The Judd family from Wangaratta own it. He’s a nephew. I just restored it for him – and when I’m sick of using it he can have it back.”

Next to John Dowling’s truck is Des Walker’s V8 powered Diamond T – also sporting a tanker, this time in Golden Fleece colours.

“Originally it was owned by John Hall Freightlines. TNT bought Hall’s out so the truck was repainted in their colours, as you see it today. John sold it to my mate, Errol and from there it came to me.”

Des picked the tanker up near Walgett for the princely sum of $4000. “New brakes and linings were about it, apart from the paint job.”

Des has another Diamond T 630 on the way which is a single drive. “That will be painted in Road Freighters colours and will go under the tanker. My wife says she is the Finance Minister but she puts me in charge of the vehicles. Haha, someone’s had a flat spot!”

Yet another Diamond T belonging to Geoff Rae sits next to Des’s. The 1955 T is unusual in that it is a tray truck, apparently from new. GM power in the form of a 453T turbo, driving through a six-speed box and two-speed differential, Des spent a decade rebuilding the truck. As authentic as possible, the Diamond does however sport seats from a Ford Territory. “I’m getting’ old was Geoff’s only comment.

Lindsay McKenzie’s wife, Helen knows nothing about trucks so called hubby to fill me in on his 1979 W924 Kenworth. So now we know that it has a 350 Big Cam Cummins and a 15 speed RoadRanger. An ex Road Train hauler in the Northern Territory, Lindsay was gifted plenty of red sand when he picked it up three years ago.

“She was in pretty good nick when I got it. New tyres, replacing the intercooler and the biggest job: getting rid of the dust. The speedo works but it’s actually fast. So it probably only has 5 million clicks on it instead of 10. At least I hope so.”

Scott (Huffy) Hough is the new President of ATHS and this was his first meet in that capacity. A club member for 17 years, Scott has NINETEEN trucks on club registration! This weekend though he merely brought along his White 9000, a Pickup truck and an International XF4 prototype army truck. It is this last that attracts the most interest.

"There are only four of those in the world so it is fairly special,” says Huffy. “The government commissioned International (and Ford) to make four prototypes in 1969/70 with a view to replacing the Land Rover. The truck has a 304 mid-mounted International V-8 and a transfer case made by David Brown tractors. There are five output shafts – front winch, front differential, rear differential, rear winch and rear-driven trailer.

“In 1973 the government changed and the project did not go ahead so mine is one of those only four ever made. The vehicles had cost $100,000 each to make – a lot of money in 1970.”

Reckon it may be worth a quid or three now as well, Scott.

Since 1995 ATHS Australia has been keeping the history of American trucks alive.

Their motivation to attend meeting such as Lancefield is not to win awards – there are none. It is all about camaraderie, swapping stories, helping each other out with information on hard to find parts and simply having a good time.

Should any member of the public wander past and ask a question they are more than happy to oblige with a detailed answer. Even John Dowling.

Enough from me. Just feast your eyes on these lovely trucks.