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00:00This time on Rides Down Under, Aussie Truckers.
00:26Nicole continues work on the SAR build.
00:29We head to Alexandra for Victoria's biggest truck show, and Don visits Hallam Trucks
00:35to reveal the Golden Eagle Kenworth 610 build.
00:38But first, the Diesel Doctor team needs to get this build across the finish line.
00:46Yeah, so we're really out of the pumping this year at the moment with Diesel Doctor.
00:57We've got this big red beast behind me here.
00:59Today's the last day.
01:00We need to be on the road by tomorrow, we'll get some exciting things happening at Alexandra
01:04Duck Show.
01:05But there's so much work to do.
01:07The list is as long as my arm.
01:08There's wiring.
01:09There's a tonne of wiring to do.
01:11There's a ducktail to go on, sun visor to go on, tanks to go on.
01:16We'll be inside the Hellcraft steering wheel, gear steer, hand rails.
01:21Haven't got the Kenworth badge on it yet.
01:22Nothing.
01:23So the list is really long.
01:25We decided to name this truck the Golden Eagle for this reason.
01:28I purchased this little baby here, Golden Eagle, so we actually changed the Kenworth badge
01:32as well.
01:3323 karat gold and decided to paint inside black of it.
01:36So just playing this thing a little bit different, gold and black and also changed the little
01:40birdie on the side, the Golden Eagle on the side of the truck now.
01:43A little bit different to what we normally do for PCB.
01:45So this is the beast, the Golden Eagle.
01:48So we've got the Golden Eagle.
01:51It was rightfully named the Golden Eagle.
01:54Don found an antique wood ornament, which was gold.
01:57We were going to go get it chrome coated, but I loved the gold.
02:00And I thought let's incorporate gold throughout the whole truck.
02:03So we've got a lot of first things.
02:05We've got a 23 karat gold Kenworth.
02:08We've got 23 karat gold all throughout the truck, which is just...
02:12It looks amazing.
02:13And the light that shines on it, just beautiful.
02:16So P-striping on this truck's a big deal.
02:19Rick's done an amazing job.
02:21All the tasks I've been able to do in a short period of time.
02:24He's only half way there yet, 24 hours to go.
02:27So he's got a big task to fund him.
02:29I've got to give him so much credit.
02:30The workmanship's become amazing.
02:33Most of his truck's all hand painted.
02:34I don't know how he does it, to be honest with you.
02:36I just sit down and watch him and he's just freehand and just doing it.
02:39I've got no idea, but it comes out alright.
02:41In the end.
02:51As you know, TCB, we like our lights.
02:54So I haven't kept any lights on this truck yet.
02:56But I know there's a few and a few more to come.
02:58Unfortunately, they all didn't get here in time.
03:00It should be lit up and it'll be part of the show.
03:03This truck here, I've never heard of anyone who put 8-inch pipes on it.
03:06So I think we are the first, don't question me on that.
03:09But I think we're the first people to put 8-inch pipes on it from Silverback.
03:12So they gave us the monster stacks, which have come out amazing.
03:17You can't beat big chuffers.
03:19So Silverback has given us some 8-inch straight stacks, which has completely changed the look of this truck.
03:28I've never seen anything like this.
03:30It kind of looks a little bit like a Peterbilt, but it's still a Kenworth.
03:34So I'm actually really excited to show this one off.
03:38As well as the mud guards, which are the ribbed mud guards.
03:41So we're super excited to have some new stuff on the trucks, which, you know, it just makes it.
03:47Yeah, so Don came up with the idea of doing a vinyl wrap on our tank ends.
03:52And had the guy come out and we were talking about it.
03:55And I thought, if you just have it on the tank ends, it kind of looks like it was an afterthought.
03:59And I, like, why don't we incorporate it throughout the truck?
04:02Let's do something different.
04:04Let's put it in places where it's not been seen before.
04:06So the first idea was just to put it on the rear bar.
04:09And from there, the ideas just flowed.
04:11And so you will see little elements of this vinyl wrap throughout the whole truck.
04:15And it just looks amazing.
04:20The whole team put the efforts in.
04:22Well, it goes from Nick from the Exotic Designs.
04:25He done the Eagles.
04:26Even people like Genis Equipment supplied us a hoist.
04:29I mean, it doesn't sound like much, but to make the truck easy to work on,
04:32we did have it on the hoist lifted up.
04:34So Genis is a great team.
04:36They support us as well.
04:37We've got Silverback.
04:39Even Kempe.
04:40They come with the goods.
04:41Goes new machines to troll on this truck.
04:43And Nicole, she's wrapped with it.
04:45And Puppy, they think the equipment they supplied is second to none.
04:49Just makes their life so much easier.
04:50So they are so excited.
04:52So when we brought this truck in, the list started short with Nicole.
04:55And it's just grown, grown, grown.
04:57And I keep walking in here and adding to the list.
05:00I must admit, Nicole, she's been so good.
05:02Like, she's really working with me.
05:04And look, we called in Puppy as well, coming after ours.
05:07And both of them together, putting both heads, it's been unbelievable.
05:11The team effort in this truck is second to none.
05:14As I said before, we've had late nights and Nicole's really put her thoughts in.
05:19And look, I've put her under the pump.
05:21Like, there's been some stressful moments there where things don't line up.
05:24But you know what?
05:25It's the part of the team.
05:26And we work together and make it all happen.
05:29We are seriously under the pump.
05:30There are so many people in my workshop at the moment.
05:33There's a lot to get done.
05:34We want to make Don's dream come true.
05:36We want to be at the Alexandra Truck Show.
05:39I've been putting in some huge hours the last couple of weeks.
05:42You know, 70 plus hours a week.
05:45I'm just as excited to have this truck at the show as I think Don is.
05:48So, you know, let's just make it happen.
05:51So, yeah, we're 24 hours out from having to leave the yard to head to the truck show.
05:55We've still got to get all the steps on.
05:57We've still got to have the rear bar needs to be finished.
06:00We've got lots of final touches, final fittings to get done.
06:04You know, as Don walks in at the 11th hour and,
06:08oh, aren't we putting mudguards here or don't we put more lights there?
06:11And I'm like, oh, calm down, Don.
06:14Look, Don has been like a kid in a candy shop.
06:17I've never had him in my shop so often.
06:20Like he has, we've been doing late nights and dinners here
06:23and he's been along for the whole ride, which has just been brilliant.
06:26He loves this truck.
06:28We are right towards the end.
06:30I still feel he's a little bit nervous.
06:32I'm a little bit nervous.
06:33I think together we've done a great job in project managing
06:36and I've had his back, like he's had my back, I've had his back.
06:39We've come up with ideas and we're at this point now where
06:43we are this close to seeing it in its final form and I'm very excited.
06:48So I got here this morning at Diesel Doctor and got some accessories here from Perlcraft.
06:53I must thank Pat and Sammy for Perlcraft.
06:55They've come to the party.
06:56How cool is that?
06:58Gear stick goes through there.
07:01Look at that.
07:02Once again, Perlcraft you have done yourselves.
07:13Absolute beautiful.
07:14I'm so excited.
07:15Put them in a truck and this truck is coming together just nicely.
07:21I'm really happy.
07:22So I can't wait.
07:31There's a test for them as well for Diesel Doctor.
07:33Look, you know, put them under the pump and this is a test for them
07:35and they've come out on top.
07:36I'm hoping people will enjoy this truck and appreciate the efforts that go into this truck.
07:41It's all handmade, like all the stainless steel, it's all handmade.
07:44Because I call it art.
07:45This is really art that this truck has come out on.
07:48You know, this truck, when I bought it, it was supposed to go up the north,
07:52do long hauls, road trade trips and things like that.
07:54All the drivers are putting their hand up for it.
07:56But I've decided there might be a company ute for me to drive home with.
07:59So I think I might keep at that for the moment.
08:11Coming up, Don heads to Helen Trucks to unveil the fully completed Golden Eagle Kenworth 610.
08:25Righto, Don.
08:26Your truck's just come out of the detailers.
08:29It looks awesome.
08:30It's been a real pleasure watching it all come together.
08:33Tell us a bit about what you've done here.
08:35Well, basically, we organised this truck through Helen Truck Centre.
08:38So I'd like to thank Helen Truck Centre for the efforts and design years have done to this truck.
08:43And then Diesel Doctor picked it up and we brought it back and it's a bit of TCB bling on it.
08:48And things like we've covered the lights and the skirts in the interior.
08:53We've put a certain amount of lights on it.
08:56Done a deck plate.
08:57I got up to 8,000.
08:58I counted 8,000 lights and stopped counting.
09:01And this one we did something a little bit different.
09:03We did the sign writing in gold.
09:04So that's why this truck's called the Golden Eagle.
09:06It's actually 23 karat gold leaf.
09:08So it is gold.
09:09So no one tried to rob it and take it away on me and cash in the gold.
09:14But look, I'm really proud of it, what we've done.
09:16We've done an exhaust on it, which I don't believe I've seen a 610 at the moment.
09:22First one I've seen.
09:23And I've got to say, it's probably the best 610 SAR that's rolled out of here in my time here.
09:28So yeah, it looks awesome, mate.
09:29It's a credit to you.
09:31Yeah, it's a lot of effort and time and a lot of hours.
09:35But look, the product's the product and we're really proud of it.
09:38And we just want to thank everyone involved, especially the Hallam Truck Centre.
09:42Young Joshy.
09:43He's put a lot of effort in it as well.
09:46And the whole team.
09:47It's just been great.
09:48And it's another delivery for TCB.
09:50It's just great to be a part of doing trucks like this.
09:53You know, we just love, you know, the result.
09:56And, you know, everyone loves a good looking Kenworth, right?
09:58Yeah, exactly.
09:59Congratulations, mate.
10:00Thank you so much.
10:02Hope everyone else enjoys it as well.
10:03There's the keys.
10:04Peace.
10:05Peace.
10:20Don, just taking delivery of the new truck, mate.
10:23Looks a million bucks.
10:25Appreciate it.
10:26Still needs parts though.
10:27You've got 67 others and how many trailers?
10:31Yep.
10:32They all need parts.
10:33He's a good sales pitch.
10:34Yeah.
10:35We need parts.
10:36Yes, we do need parts.
10:37And where are we tonight, Benny?
10:38Tell me.
10:39So we're at our annual end of financial year clearance sale.
10:43So we're at Hallam Truck Centre.
10:45We've got a mountain of parts up for sale for one day only.
10:49We've got a special function tonight for some VIP customers like Don.
10:55Who's one of our VIPs.
10:56He's got a big checkbook.
10:58I forgot my checkbook actually.
11:00You'll have to ring my wife and tell her to deliver it real quick, eh?
11:04So tonight's a great night.
11:05There's a lot of food, drinks.
11:07Yep.
11:08So we've got our sales staff here.
11:10We've got some suppliers.
11:11So key suppliers like that really help us out with the sale.
11:15Castrol, Fleet Guard, Meritol, Ryco.
11:19They're all here in support and pack our parts, I should mention.
11:22Even though they haven't turned up yet.
11:24But they'll be here very soon.
11:26It's just a great evening.
11:27We just try and get as many customers as we can through for the night.
11:30We've got Bigger Than Texas Barbecue going.
11:33So who doesn't love a barbecue?
11:34Exactly.
11:35So what this is all about, you get guys like me in.
11:38Yep.
11:39Show us around.
11:40Show us what parts you've got and explain them.
11:42Like I've spoken to a few boys just before.
11:44Not only getting the technical side, show us what they do, how many kilometres they do
11:48and the filters and all the reports, which is great for us.
11:52When we're sitting back in the office, we actually don't see that.
11:54So to see it on pen and paper and it's great news and parts behind us.
12:00They're trying to really maybe spend a lot of money here tonight, I think.
12:04I'm a little bit worried.
12:05This Texan barbecue might cost me a few thousand dollars, I think.
12:08And there is an open bar, so hopefully they do get a little bit warm up
12:13and the cheque book comes out.
12:15Don't worry, I'm onto him, don't worry about that.
12:17It's all about giving back to the customers as well.
12:20Don's been a fantastic supporter of Hellum Trucks Centre and our other sites over two decades.
12:28And this is just part of the service that Hellum can give to us.
12:31It's great.
12:32We can bring in any time, get parts, have nights like this, have a bit of fun, joking around.
12:37That's what it's all about, so let's get into it.
12:40And hopefully walk away with the Pee Wee 50 and we can see Don on later.
12:43No, I think so, mate. I might hurt myself.
12:45Next, there's no rest for the Diesel Doctor team.
13:01It's back to work on the SAR.
13:03James's Equipment is a distributor for global leading brands such as Bendback, Sturtle Coney,
13:17Fiesbath.
13:18So we spy hoist lifting equipment, specialised testing equipment throughout Australia in all segments.
13:24Whether it's a car dealership, right the way through to a car enthusiast, or a truck dealership,
13:29right the way through to truck enthusiasts.
13:31The difference we see with the Bendback hoist is not just with the ergonomical technology
13:35that we use when we're operating the hoist and lifting the hoist.
13:38It's all about safety and longevity.
13:40We can put anyone under the hoist and we know they're safe.
13:43With the Bendback hoist, there's no complicated buttons to use.
13:47When we want the hoist to go up, we press the button.
13:49In return, then when we want to lower the hoist down, it's just a matter of lifting the handle,
13:53and that releases the safety locks.
13:55We just press the button and it steadily brings that car down.
14:02In our Bendback range, we have the two-poist hoist, which is very, very popular.
14:05But we do the four-poist hoist, and that's anything from a car to a truck in the four-poist range.
14:10So the versatility for whatever you're using in any type of application in a workshop,
14:15we've got the hoist there to accommodate that.
14:29We're back at a 1953 Chev.
14:31It's been a long time coming, but we've been waiting for parts,
14:34trying to source parts and these old things.
14:36It's just not as easy as I thought.
14:38But anyway, it's all happening now.
14:40I've got a good friend of mine, Shane, from Valley Grunt,
14:42who's a pretty famous bloke.
14:44He's going to cross the parts for me, and he's here today.
14:46Big day for us.
14:47He's upgrading the braking system, and he's going to push it all together.
14:51Shane loves taking his sort of jobs on.
14:53The truck's as old as him.
14:54Well, actually, Shane's probably a little bit older, I reckon,
14:56but it's up his alley.
14:58This is what he does.
14:59He loves it.
15:01The truck's starting to come together now,
15:02so we're doing brake lines now and upgrading the braking system.
15:06The engine is getting rebuilt right now as we speak,
15:09so there's a plan ahead.
15:14We've got the SAR back from the Painters.
15:20Long time coming again.
15:22We've just been waiting for parts from the stage.
15:24There's a bit of a mishap,
15:25so it took a lot longer than I thought was going to happen.
15:27But anyway, parts are here from the stage.
15:29What a day it is.
15:30So exciting for us.
15:32Going to open those boxes up soon and see what we've got.
15:35But also we've rebuilt the motor.
15:37A big bad boy sitting beside me here,
15:39but there's some more goodies going on this.
15:41Firewall's back.
15:42So now the plan is to start bolting together.
15:46There's some parts that have got to come for the motor.
15:47Some shiny bits, obviously, come for the motor.
15:49So they're not here yet, but they are coming.
15:51The parts have come.
15:52I've ordered some nice big stacks from the States,
15:55some watermelon lights that I wanted,
15:58and some other bits and pieces that we can't get in Australia.
16:01So I sourced them from the States, brought them over.
16:04Let's get it happening.
16:05The front end, we designed that.
16:07Put the front end on airbags, so the steering.
16:09So, you know, when we go out and go to some truck shows or whatever,
16:12we can be like a little hot rod.
16:14Just drop the front down and it'll look cool.
16:20Decided to go fiberglass guards on the back of this,
16:22and they're dropped down real low.
16:24I like the real low look.
16:25It's cool.
16:26So we're not sure how we're going to mount them on yet,
16:28so we've got to make the bracket system up for that,
16:30and that's Dez's doctor's problem, not mine.
16:32It's another little thing I've thrown in there, a hurdle there.
16:35So we've got them on.
16:37We'll just see what the brackets we need, fit them up,
16:40make sure they sit nice and straight and low.
16:42So that's that look.
16:43I really like all the wiring hanging out at the firewall.
16:45It just looked a little bit messy for me, so never done it before.
16:48So we've made a false firewall for this thing.
16:51It's got to fit it up now.
16:52It's back from the painters.
16:53Give it a dummy fit.
16:54Make sure everyone's right.
16:55Make some boxes up.
16:56Try to hide as much as we can.
16:58I just want that nice, smooth, cool look.
17:01The idea from the firewall is I like cars as well,
17:04so I go to car shows and things,
17:05and if you look at the real nice cars getting around,
17:07all the engine bays are nice, clean.
17:10Basic, but clean, and I thought,
17:12why can't I bring that to the big boys?
17:15So I'm going to just try it, see how it goes,
17:17and hopefully it looks cool.
17:18One question everyone asks me all the time,
17:20is this actually going to be a work truck or a show truck?
17:22Not really sure yet.
17:23Might be my daily driver just to come to work.
17:25Might be my new work toy, so not really sure.
17:28When we pulled the motor out of this,
17:29I decided to pull it down, strip it.
17:31I'd rather do things right.
17:32Clearly I did.
17:33She had a few kilometres on it.
17:35So we just gave it a good freshen up,
17:36gave it a full rebuild from the block up.
17:38New head, turbo, all the accessories inside.
17:42Just want to get it right, so when we start it, drive it,
17:45my peace of mind, it's all done.
17:47This is really at the fun stage now.
17:48As I said, it took a lot of time to get parts in,
17:50but I've got them all in now.
17:51It feels like all my Christmases have come at once.
17:54I'm like a little boy, you know,
17:55with little boxes and ripping off all the packages
17:58and see what's in there.
17:59So I'm really excited for today.
18:01I really want to see all the goodies in the box
18:03and put it all on.
18:17Yeah, very exciting times for the SAR.
18:30It's been painted.
18:31All of our parts have been painted.
18:33We've got stuff that's come in from the States
18:36and this is the fun part,
18:38is getting to see all of our hard work,
18:40putting it all together
18:41and just watching this beautiful mammoth truck be created.
18:46The firewall has gone off to be painted,
18:48colour matched to the chassis
18:50and we're going to start installing it now
18:52so then we can start getting the engine in.
18:54So this is the first process to building it all back.
18:57So we're going to just move forward with getting this on.
19:02Looks fantastic.
19:04Love it.
19:05So Don's got a, he's got very specific ideas and plans in place.
19:17Go down.
19:18To, to get, just to make it look different
19:23and make it look like something that's never been seen before.
19:26So we're hoping to get pointy, like bullet head nuts for this.
19:31But first and foremost, we need to make sure that it fits
19:35and that it's going to do the job that it needs to do.
19:43Yeah, you'll notice I'm only sort of touching the edges and the insides,
19:47trying not to get anything on here.
19:49And there's so many obstacles to getting this firewall
19:52and it's been a really tricky build from the very beginning.
19:55And, you know, it's a credit to a lot of people have, have had a go at it,
19:59but we're getting here and this is the fun part.
20:02So seeing what it all looks like.
20:06So this time we get to see what the boxes, the stainless steel boxes will look like
20:26up against the red firewall.
20:28We've been waiting a long time for this.
20:30These have been sort of sitting in my shop for, yeah, about that long.
20:35So we'll polish all this up.
20:37But if you want to pass me some nuts and we'll get this on.
20:40Anything custom, anything that's fabricated, all of John's ideas,
20:45they're things that we haven't done before.
20:47You can't buy them off the shelf, especially some of the trucks
20:50that we're working with.
20:51They're old and they don't make the stuff that we need for them anymore.
20:54So it is very custom and this stuff does take time.
20:57It does take time and it takes time to get it right
21:00and to source products and import them.
21:05So today it's really hard to find good workers these days.
21:19So I just bring my family with me.
21:22This is my son, Mark.
21:24Yeah, he's been a real help and a real asset to the team actually.
21:28Very fast learner.
21:30Helps make my job a lot easier.
21:40The whole idea behind this is to keep it super clean.
21:44Make it look like it's never been touched and it's never been driven
21:47and to keep it that way.
21:48So by creating all of these elements, it enables us to keep it looking like it's brand new.
21:54Coming up, we're off to Alexandra for Victoria's biggest truck show
21:58where Don reveals the golden eagle to the mad passionate trucker community.
22:03We're at Alexandra, so it's a truck show they have annually.
22:22We're a major sponsor now.
22:24So we just come here and support the local community around here.
22:27I think it's great.
22:28But all the trucks here, there's so many nice trucks.
22:31Like you walk around, so many good builders now.
22:34So it's just talent.
22:36I love it.
22:37The transport industry in show trucks is just growing.
22:40And they come from everywhere.
22:41I know there's trucks from Brisbane, come from Sydney, which is great.
22:44Brings the community together.
22:45For Alexandra, it's great.
22:46It's free entry.
22:47But you have to look around.
22:48It's absolutely raining here today.
22:50It hasn't stopped all night.
22:51But families still come out.
22:53They bring little ones.
22:54In prams.
22:55I can't believe it.
22:56It's great.
22:57It's been a lot of hard work for this truck.
22:58But we've got it here and people...
23:00I love it.
23:01People appreciate what we do.
23:02So they get pleasure.
23:04I get pleasure.
23:05So that's what it's all about.
23:06It really is.
23:07So the Golden Eagle, we went beyond this one.
23:09We actually really thought about it and just did a little bit of things different.
23:13Like the tanks and the coverings on the back lights and the pink striping on it.
23:19There's a lot of gold pink striping on this truck.
23:22We just put our minds together.
23:24A lot of it, you know, we argued and everyone's got different opinions.
23:28But you know what?
23:29It turned out.
23:30It's great.
23:31Everyone's enjoying it.
23:32I love it.
23:33After this weekend, hopefully I'm going to have a break.
23:34I've been going pretty hard in the last couple of months.
23:36So I've had no sleep in the last week, believe it or not.
23:39You know, I've been getting three, four hours sleep at night.
23:41That's a lot.
23:42So I think I'll have a break and work on our next project.
23:45So it's been a really massive week for us at TCB, trying to get all these trucks ready.
23:50Especially the new one, Golden Eagle.
23:52But we got it here.
23:53I think we arrived at 1, 1.30 this morning and back up at 4 o'clock.
23:57But we're here.
23:59Beautiful weather.
24:00As not.
24:01I think it's about 7 degrees.
24:03But you know, everyone's out.
24:05People are still coming out and enjoying themselves.
24:07It's great.
24:19Huge week this week.
24:20I've had lots of help in my shop which we've really needed to get this truck across the line
24:25and to get it to this show.
24:27I was determined.
24:28I just wanted it here.
24:30My heart is happy.
24:31There's a lot of things that this truck has that I've never seen before.
24:34I've been up and down the strip and I've looked at other trucks.
24:37There is nothing like it here today at this show.
24:40I'm super proud of what we've been able to produce.
24:44Things like the rounded rear bars which are wrapped in vinyl.
24:49The deck plate with the landing lights on it.
24:52This Golden Eagle is really a Golden Eagle and she shines.
24:56She's beautiful.
24:57We're working until 10 o'clock last night.
25:00The truck got here at 1 o'clock this morning.
25:03I don't know why I'm not tired but watching everyone enjoy my truck.
25:08Watching everyone look at the truck and point and even talking to them and engaging with them.
25:14It's made it all worth it.
25:15Absolutely worth it.
25:16This has definitely stretched my skills.
25:19I have learnt so much.
25:20And I'm now even more willing to take risks and push boundaries.
25:24And I suppose reach the same heights and goals that Don is wanting to do with his trucks.
25:29And, you know, what a great team.
25:31He's put it in for me as well.
25:32He was in the factory with us until 1 o'clock in the morning.
25:35He was there.
25:36He was feeding us.
25:37It's a group effort.
25:38It was a group effort from all of us.
25:40I don't mind having Donny in the workshop.
25:42But as long as he doesn't keep throwing new things and more things to do at me.
25:46It's like, let's just finish one task and then throw more at me after that.
25:51But, you know, it'll be good to have my workshop back.
25:53Everything, all the tools back in their place and starting a new project.
25:57I'm looking forward to it.
25:58Next thing's the 108, the SAR and a couple of trailer repairs.
26:02So hopefully I'll just start small maybe with the trailer repairs.
26:05But the 108 is going to be my big one to get back on the road next.
26:10So I'm with Dylan Gregson.
26:23So Dylan Gregson will give you the history.
26:25His father was my first employee.
26:28He's become very close mates.
26:31His father was absolutely done.
26:33I can't speak highly enough of him.
26:35But Dylan, I've known him since he was a little boy.
26:38I've watched him grow up and he looks more like his dad than his dad.
26:41He blew over on hot.
26:43Split image.
26:44You'll think they'll be twins.
26:46So, since you're a little baby, you're on TCV trucks all the time for your dad.
26:50You know, he bought you the trucks.
26:51I still remember that.
26:52But what's your fond memories of your dad and TCV?
26:55Oh, on the trips, going wherever we're going.
26:59Had some fun times as a kid.
27:02Going up north.
27:03I think we're going Sydney at times.
27:05Things like that.
27:06Cutting panels.
27:07And remember, once Dad used to have to soften the fuel out of one tank to another tank.
27:13Oh, nice.
27:14Yeah.
27:15And Dad was, I was lucky enough to be the one that sucked in the hose.
27:18But your dad, he was old school though, trucker.
27:21His beliefs in the old school truck and the way he'd done things was second to none.
27:26Loved it.
27:27Loved it.
27:28He died doing what he'd done.
27:29Yeah.
27:30Unfortunately.
27:31I suppose that was the best way for him to go.
27:32Yeah.
27:33Loved his job.
27:34But Steve, when he started, I was still at home.
27:36So, parking the trucks at home and to rock up there all the time in his big footy socks
27:40and shorts.
27:41Not much would change anyway.
27:43I think that's pretty much what he went out.
27:44Yeah.
27:45I used to go around the Dons.
27:46I used to have to help wash trucks.
27:48That was my job.
27:49Yeah.
27:50If I didn't do that right, I'd know about it.
27:53I remember a few Don's you've done the Kong Wars for kids?
27:55Yes.
27:56Yes.
27:57We've got pictures of that in the house still.
27:58And even a bit different to what it used to be.
28:01But yeah, the trailers used to be in there.
28:03It was pretty polished, clean.
28:05Everything like that.
28:06Tarp.
28:07It's the way it was back then, wasn't it?
28:09Yeah, it was.
28:10Yeah, yeah.
28:11So, we loved it.
28:12Can't speak highly off of me, as I said.
28:14If I had 20 Steve Grixons, I'll have 20 more trucks.
28:17He was just a superstar to me.
28:24So, obviously you grew up around the trucks.
28:26But you're still coming to these events after so many years.
28:28You must have some sort of passion though.
28:30Yeah, love it.
28:31Love it.
28:32I think Dad's been in it for a little while.
28:34And then obviously I'll come along and pretty much, when I was born, Dad was on the road
28:39in a truck.
28:40And I think you've got a new one at that stage.
28:42It was in a different truck.
28:43And yeah, from day dot I've been in the trucks and love it.
28:47It's the respect you've got for the drivers out there.
28:50I know what Mum had to go through with Dad on the road and the appreciation of them.
28:55It's not just the truck.
28:56It's the lifestyle and love it.
28:58Yeah, love it.
28:59That's the way it is though, isn't it?
29:00If you're a truckie, you're a truckie.
29:02You're not home every night.
29:04It's not a nine to five job.
29:06It could be gone a day.
29:07It could be gone two weeks, three weeks.
29:09It's just the way it was.
29:10Just got to keep Australia moving.
29:11Yeah, that's it.
29:12Nothing better than young fellas on the trucks or the kids these days.
29:16It's not like it used to be though.
29:18Let's not forget about your brothers too.
29:19Oh yeah, their brothers used to come along, but we'd better not take their glory out of it.
29:23There was a tribe in the truck.
29:25A family affair though, wasn't it?
29:26It was, yeah.
29:27And Dad, we only had shoes on in the trucks.
29:30Nothing like that.
29:31It was a very rigorous program that Dad ran.
29:34It was white on the feet before he got in until he drew on one of the aerodynes with
29:40white leather interior and the blue pen.
29:42Dad could have probably murdered us on that day.
29:45His dad, then me.
29:47But you know what?
29:49That's the way it was.
29:50Old school.
29:51Keep them clean.
29:52Keep them shiny.
29:53But still do the work.
29:54That's what it was all about.
29:55That is it.
29:56Alright.
29:57Nice seeing you again, mate.
29:58Likewise mate.
29:59Look after yourself.
30:00Look at you soon.
30:10Next up, Nicole's back on the SAR build.
30:17Today's a big day for the SAR, I'm really excited.
30:33Got a lot of the chrome stuff coming for the motor and all the goodies, accessories that's
30:37come along.
30:38Powder coatings come.
30:39So now it's just a matter of getting the boys, get them wrapped up and start putting
30:43together.
30:44So all the chrome got done by master electric plating just down the road to carry them down.
30:48So we just like to use people locally if we can support their business as well.
30:52So they've done a great job.
30:54I went down there in the ute just trying to pick up, I thought there was only a couple
30:56of pipes and there's three layers of goodies there so I was really excited.
31:00We'll be up to Jesse now, the mechanic, to put some goodies back on the motor, shine
31:04it all up.
31:05Today we're working on the engine for the SAR.
31:09Don is quite happy.
31:10He's very happy that his chrome bit is already here in the workshop.
31:13So today we're going to put it back together, all those chrome bits.
31:17That's only part of the engine and there's heaps of parts that we need to put it back together
31:24and they still got more chrome and some other bit and pieces that we need to order and we
31:31need to make this truck happen, to make it one truck or don't project.
31:35This kind of job I do it for a long time for being a mechanic.
31:40To be honest I started my career when I was 14 years old.
31:44In this kind of field I already over 30 years.
31:47This particular engine, which is Cummings engine, it's not too hard to do if you know
31:53what you're doing.
31:54But I got young guys that work with me so I need to be slow so that they can learn how
32:00to do this job properly.
32:02In engine rebuild we start tearing down all the parts.
32:05So we start from the cylinder head, the bottom parts, until it come up to the engine,
32:11just the engine block alone.
32:12So from the engine block we strip the engine block, removing all the pistons,
32:18con rods and everything.
32:19And then after that, if all the parts have already been dismantled,
32:24we clean the blocks and we inspect.
32:26So whatever needs to be done on the block before we put it back together,
32:30we make sure that we repair or if the blocks need to replace, we replace.
32:35Chrome beaten pieces that we send away for chroming, what's all those parts is fit to this engine.
32:56This is going to be ready to go on the truck.
32:58It's part of the aesthetic look.
33:00If you're doing this kind of project, you know, you add up not only the performance,
33:05so at the same time you mix up with the looks and how the people will look your project.
33:12But somehow you still need to work.
33:19The rock cover on top, it's got a lot of grooves in it,
33:21so I just want to give that, instead of having it all polished,
33:24give it a bit of a touch up inside the grooves.
33:26It's got a big Cummins logo on top, so we'll dress that up as well.
33:30Just give it that spark and light when people look at it.
33:32This truck, when we bought it, it's just a bit of a little project,
33:35but it's just blown right out.
33:37So just one thing leads to another and we just kept adding and adding and adding.
33:40And I don't know what the cost is, I don't really care,
33:42but I just want to look shiny.
33:44I want people to appreciate for what it is.
33:46On this SIR, we've got a dummy firewall on it as well,
33:49and we're going to try to get that from the top and make it come right down to the curves
33:54and the bottom where the motor sits.
33:56Just give it a clean, smooth look, and that will just follow right through the whole truck.
34:01People ask me about the lights on this one.
34:03I'm not sure, really.
34:04I haven't really gone that far.
34:05We're still doing all the mechanical stuff, really.
34:08So once we get the mechanical stuff on, I'll try to draw it up and see what I want on this thing.
34:12So what I want to do is I'll purchase some guards out of the States.
34:15They sit really low.
34:16I'm not sure I'm going to go on job sites or not,
34:18but this probably will be a working truck.
34:20I'm not really sure yet.
34:21Or just park it in the shed.
34:22I'm not sure.
34:23But I don't know, they sit really low and they're heavy
34:25and we've got to make up all the bracket system on it.
34:27Make sure when it twists and bends, they don't crack.
34:29It's got to the stage where it's really exciting,
34:32but just want it done at the same time.
34:34I know it's still a while off, but just want it done.
34:37I can picture it in your head.
34:39I just want to put it out on the road and hopefully people appreciate what it is.
35:01The boys are just in the workshop doing other odds and ends.
35:04There's plenty of work here to do.
35:05So they're just waiting for those parts to come in.
35:07And once that's in, they'll get it rolling.
35:09We've got one of the trailers in here to do a bit of maintenance on it,
35:12which is one of our road train trailers.
35:14So they do work hard.
35:15One of the boys found a couple of axles were cracked,
35:18which is not a good sign, I suppose.
35:19But these things do work hard.
35:21Run across Australia in the dirt and stuff like that,
35:23wherever they go in the mines.
35:24So it's just wear and tear.
35:26As simple as that.
35:27So we just purchased a couple of new axles
35:29and then we've got to weld all new saddles on them,
35:32line them up properly.
35:33Because if you're a mill out, she's not going to track right.
35:35So the boys are onto that now.
35:43Last week, we bring two trailers on the pit.
35:45And to be honest, normally, it's a normal protocol in this company
35:51that we bring all the trailers at the end of the year.
35:54We already bring at least six trailers.
35:57And those two trailers on the pit, they are unfortunately not really lucky
36:02because we found out some major repairs that need to be done.
36:05One of the trailers there is a flat deck.
36:07And it got two axles that need to replace.
36:10Another one is a drop deck.
36:12And unfortunately, it's got a cracked axle that need to replace as well.
36:16So it's always happened to us that end of the year, any gear, any prime mover, any trailer that we use,
36:25apart from doing the preventive maintenance and normal maintenance,
36:29we bring all of them on the pit to be inspected.
36:32Because it's my job to make sure that all those gears are road worthy, road safe,
36:38when we put it back on the road in the next year.
36:55Axle is part of the foundational parts of the trailer.
36:57They are considered as structural.
37:00So if there's any dummies there like cracks on the heavy sides of the axle,
37:06there's no point that welding them and put it back on the trailer
37:10because chances is it will give you some headache in the future.
37:15So replacing them is not only preventing the accident happen,
37:20we make everyone safe at the end of the day.
37:23I ordered two brand new trailers for this one.
37:27Unfortunately, when we are on the process of putting it back together,
37:30we found another part of the axle.
37:32There's a crack as well that need replacing.
37:35So I'm quite behind at the moment, probably a few days,
37:39just to put it back again this trailer.
37:41I'm waiting for parts.
37:44All the trailer manufacturer, they have a specific design.
37:48It's designated to a specific application.
37:51So when they construct the axle,
37:53they can choose whatever parts they want to use.
37:56So they can get any supplier that they want to get the supply.
37:59Next up, we're back at the Alexandra Truck Show.
38:07We meet Craig Membry and his moving tribute truck,
38:11built in honour of his son.
38:13Alexander Truck Show, mate, 2025.
38:29It's been a good turnout, actually, considering the weather and everything.
38:33It goes to show how much people love trucks and this sort of stuff.
38:36So it's been crazy, actually.
38:38I love getting all the kids up there and having a look
38:39because that's where it starts, mate, you know, from the kids.
38:41And they're loving it.
38:43And if they want to jump up, I'll get them up there, mate.
38:45It's not one of those things you sort of say,
38:47nah, don't get up there.
38:48Get up there, mate, have a look.
38:49And, you know, they love it and maybe they're in the future.
38:51So that's what it's all about.
38:53And that is what Don loves as well.
38:54So, you know, getting the young ones in there
38:56and getting them out there and, you know, they're the next up-and-coming.
39:00We've been pretty busy here with everyone stopping
39:02and having a look at them and stuff like that.
39:03So you sort of explain a bit to them and stuff like that.
39:05But just looking at the crowd, that's crazy.
39:08I was here last year and I think it's probably bigger this year.
39:12It's like you see everyone with their kids and, you know,
39:15they've got their dogs, whatever.
39:16It's great, mate.
39:17It's really good.
39:18Good turnout.
39:19Don's been focusing on the 6-10 and you can see why, mate.
39:21You know, it's come out great.
39:22The shed there have done a great job and under pressure too.
39:25So, made it happen and that's what it's all about.
39:28I got to move it today for him.
39:29Beautiful, mate.
39:30You know, it's got all the mods and cons and all the stuff in it.
39:32So, yeah, it's been really nice work, mate.
39:35So, you get to have a look over it and check out all the detail in it.
39:38There's a lot of hidden detail there.
39:40So, still waiting for an air con.
39:41I've got a heater.
39:42But, yeah, it takes about an hour or two to get going, you know.
39:45But, yeah, I need an air con, mate.
39:46100%.
39:55This truck was just going to be a cool truck.
39:59Back in 2011, probably around about the 15th of March,
40:03I purchased this truck off CTR Trucks with Peter and Andy.
40:06And the time, two days later, Rowan passed away and I went to America,
40:12Mid America Truck Show and come back with a lot of ideas.
40:15This truck was just going to be a cool truck just to do up as a project.
40:18I'd never had a 9-0 before, but there was a lot of trucks named after their grandfather and their father.
40:24And I thought, well, let's do it up about me son, Rowan.
40:27And a lot of people heard about it and knew about it.
40:30And we end up building this truck up as a showpiece in memory of my late son, Rowan.
40:35Amazing people just popped up from everywhere to do it.
40:39I didn't ask anyone for a cent.
40:41People like Kenworth Factory, El Mahatchee was the boss over there at the time.
40:45And we quoted to get it all up the scratch.
40:48I said to my blokes at the time, I said, get a quote.
40:51I don't know how far we'll go and to see what we do.
40:54We got $80,000, $90,000 of parts to re-chrome this, re-bling it and back to the original standards.
41:00And I thought, that's too much.
41:01I paid $145,000 for the truck.
41:03That's still a little bit on it and just see what we can do.
41:06Two days later, all the parts turned up.
41:08They didn't pay a cent.
41:09Hallam Truck Centre paid for the mural on the back of it.
41:12Trucker's Toy Store robbed me painter, painted it in his own time.
41:16We got Dulux paint.
41:17Everyone got behind it.
41:18It was just an amazing, amazing story.
41:20And I thought, well, Rowan's got to turn a bad thing into a good thing.
41:24So I ended up talking to Beyond Blue to try to get permission.
41:28Beyond Blue wouldn't turn me calls.
41:30So one of my girls at the time working for me rang up Hawthorne Book Pool Club,
41:34tried to get on to Jeff Kennett and left a message.
41:38And then we got a phone call back from Ros, who's the secretary.
41:42About two hours later, she said, I'll forward the message on to Jeff
41:45and see if he's interested in returning the call back.
41:48About an hour later, in my reception at the time, she turned around, she said,
41:52Oh, there's a gentleman on the phone. He sounds real arrogant.
41:55And he said his name's Jeff Kennett.
41:56I thought, wow, I've got to get this right the first time.
41:59I can't stuff this story up.
42:01So I took the call and told Jeff me story.
42:04You can imagine how many Thai kickers you can see in his life.
42:07It changed the world.
42:09But anyway, Jeff said, I'll come down and see you this week.
42:12And I said, well, the truck's not ready yet.
42:13The truck's probably six months off.
42:15And he said, whenever the truck's ready, I'll behind you.
42:17I'll get permission from Beyond Blue authorisation to use all the logos and all that type of thing.
42:22So that's how it all started.
42:24And it turned into one powerful, preventable suicide truck.
42:28I know this truck saved life.
42:30I love it.
42:31And my son's memory goes on.
42:32Rowan should be here standing next to me like Jack was before.
42:35But unfortunately, things don't go to land in life.
42:38And like I said, there's help out there.
42:40Suicide's 100% preventable.
42:42Suicide is 100% preventable.
42:44Next time on Rides Down Under, Aussie Truckers.
42:56We meet the team at Silverback.
42:58The legends behind the chrome stacks and guards on the Golden Eagle build.
43:03Don catches up with Craig to talk about the inspiring Searing the Future project.
43:08Stephen from Genesis Equipment gives us a lowdown on the world's best workshop gear.
43:14We head to Bendico for meat stock.
43:16Trucks, tunes, bull riding, top grade barbecue meat.
43:21All that and more on Rides Down Under, Aussie Truckers.
43:25This program is proudly brought to you by Genesis Equipment, Kempe Australia and Silverback.
43:31Our crew stays at Quality Inn Robertson Gardens.
43:35And Hunt's Hotel in Liverpool.
43:40This program is brought to you by Fuzzy Media.
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