The amazing Bombay Truck Show
Isabella was lucky enough to head along to the Bombay Truck Show, where she got up close to some pretty amazing trucks!
My mum and I made our way Saturday morning 21 January to the Bombay Truck Show. With a bit of traffic to get through, we made it onto the Bombay turnoff to be greeted by the impressive sight of trucks lined up the hill. On arrival we could see the number of parked cars outnumbered the trucks, so I knew already there had to be hundreds of people in attendance.
What caught my eye was clearly it was a family event, with children of all ages, some proudly sporting their trucking T-shirts. There was a band playing from the end of a curtain side trailer, bouncy castles, a dedicated area for children with a choice of food options.
Rows of trucks, similar shapes and sizes, some old, some new, some restored so beautifully you wouldn’t know they were made in the 1960s and 1980s. I was impressed with the size, power and ability of some of these trucks. It was amazing to learn what these trucks can do!

I was excited to come across a truck that is manufactured in New Zealand, the rigid eight- wheeler International RH, built in Tauranga by Intertruck Distributors. It’s American style, proudly on display by Stephenson Transport Ltd from Waipawa.
The Kenworth Legend SAR 50th Anniversary Edition was impressive! With its Cummins X15 engine, this green machine has some of the latest technology that promotes safer and cleaner usage.
The mini Kenworth W900 hotrod – don’t be fooled by its size – this one packs a punch and was custom built by EDS truck shop. You can clearly see a lot of time and effort was put into this beauty.
Another Kenworth truck for Burnetts Transport and Earthmoving Ltd was manufactured in Bayswater Melbourne. Although the cab and chassis was built and imported from Australia, you’ll be surprised to know that the trailer was built in New Zealand.
Also making an appearance at the truck show was Hawke’s Bay R & L Beale Log Transport, with their Kenworth T659. They went home with two prizes, the best logger award and also first place in the people’s choice award.
We came across the 2022 Mack Anthem, with its tilt- assisted hood. What was interesting to learn is that Mack is part of the Volvo Group, so you’ll find that both Mack and Volvo truck parts were used to build this truck.
Another truck that seemed to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue was the impressive new Kenworth K220. Based in Tapanui near Invercargill, Dynes Transport Ltd trucks travel all over the country. It has the ability to haul bigger loads with ease and efficiency, and has more safety equipment now. The new model also has a digital dashboard.
Amongst all the newer model trucks were also some amazingly restored beauties; the 1964 Canadian Kenworth 848 ´Old Yeller´ was the first Kenworth to land in New Zealand; and the 1984 Mack Superliner owned by Kaitaia Timber. Both trucks come with interesting histories.

The brains behind this amazing event, Marieka Morcombe of N & J Wood Ltd, was extremely happy with the successful turnout – admitting at one point she was worried they would need to turn people away as they had nearly reached full capacity! Thankfully it didn’t come to that.
If you’ve never been to a truck show, I strongly recommend you attend the next one in your town. There is so much to learn about the trucking industry and I can’t wait to see you all at the next one.
When you think about the clothes you wear, the food you eat and even the things in your home, you can guarantee that they have spent time on the back of some of these amazing trucks. Remember trucks play a vital role in New Zealand as well as those that work in this field.
See you at the next show, Isabella.
Wheels at Wairarapa
Clareville Showgrounds Carterton held the first-ever Wheels at Wairarapa event over Waitangi Weekend. A three-day show consisting of Day 1: Cars, Day 2: Trucks, and Day 3: Machinery. I attended the Truck Show and Shine – with more than 40 trucks on display, it was a great turn out with loads of people coming to see them and a piping hot day for all to enjoy! Here are some photos I got of the trucks, drivers and/or owners.
AWARDS
The show also included some exciting awards. Here are the winners of each category.
New to 100,000kms | Brausch Contracting |
100,000 to 500,000km | Martinborough Transport |
500,000 to 1 mil | K.D Contracting |
Over 1 mil kms | Temple Haulage |
Best Isuzu | Brausch Contracting |
Best Scania | Martinborough Transport |
Best Mercedes-Benz | CR Grace |
Best Hino | Kieran Oliver |
Best Kenworth | Kieran Oliver |
Best Volvo | Ellison Cartage |
Best Western Star | Ellison Cartage |
Best Mack | Kieran Oliver |
Best Other Make | Robin Wildbore |
Best Linehaul | Shannon Bulk Haulage |
Best Logger | Brausch Contracing |
Best Bulk truck | Kieran Oliver |
Best Curtainsider | Shannon Bulk Haulage |
Best Stock truck | Martinborough Transport |
Best Tractor Unit | Robin Wildbore |
Best Paint Job | Martinborough Transport |
Best Lights | Martinborough Transport |
Best Oldest working truck | Brian Gattsche |
Furthest distance travelled | Christopher Bell – Edgecombe |
Best Vintage | Christopher Bell |
Best Refurbished | Robin Wildbore |
Best Fleet | Ellison Cartage |
Truck of the Show | HP Transport |
People’s Choice | Martinborough Transport |
Driver Tim O’Hallovan
Tim has been driving since he was 14 years old. He took some time away from trucks and worked in the Fire Service returning behind the wheel two years ago to drive this stunning truck. He tells me this Kenworth is Australian spec and was used over there as a road train towing three trailers. Now it tows general freight and heavy haulage. Tim transported a digger all the way from Cape Reinga, top of the North Island down to Invercargill down the bottom of the South Island. It took him four days!
Owner Dell Moreland
Dell describes himself as a nerd, he is Star Wars mad and it shows when you see his truck! There is a definite Star Wars theme going on which even includes the lights. Pictured here with his dog, Dell tells us this truck is based in Wellington and carries a tank behind it with oils or chemicals most days.
Driver Patrick Chapman
This truck has only been on the road a week! It is brand new and Patrick has only done two loads of logs in it so far. Previous to driving the Scania he spent a year driving the company’s Freightliner Coronado. He has been driving about 15 years and enjoys the freedom of being out on the road.
Owner Chris Rasmussen
Chris got this pickup when he was 15 years old. It was his first car and 51 years on he still owns it!! Originally it was a flatdeck but Chris changed it to a wellside. He loves that his Chev is unique and is a member of the Northern Classic Truck Club. He fully restored the pickup 13 years ago.
Mack Trucks celebrates 50 years
Manfield Park in Feilding hosted the Mack Trucks 50 Year Anniversary Truck Show on Saturday 22 October as part of events held over Labour Weekend celebrating 50 years since Mack Trucks arrived in New Zealand. We headed along to take a look and join in the celebrations.
Proud owners of Mack Trucks new and old travelled from all over the country to take part in the show. Some of these Macks are working trucks, while others are kept in storage and are only brought out for special occasions like this one!
The show was a huge success with Manfeild reporting that they had the most people through the gates in 20 years!
I went to the show with my parents who were over on holiday from Australia and my children. We packed a picnic, it was gorgeous weather and there was plenty to see and do including some race cars going around the track. It wasn’t only cars that raced around the track though – yes, you guessed – some trucks did too, and boy are they fast! It was an awesome family day out. The day started off with a convoy at 7.30am where all the trucks met up to then travel to the park together.
The day ended with most of the trucks doing a lap around the track tooting their horns before they exited the park after an amazing show day! There was a voting booth and the public got to vote for which Mack Truck they liked the most, and Truck of the Show went to Glen Allingham from JAKS Trucks Auckland.
Trucks on display
Gore in Southland is famous for its brown trout fishing – it’s a fact that Gore is the brown trout fishing capital of the world. But every Queen’s Birthday Weekend, the town’s next most famous thing comes to town – The Gore Truck Show.
This year saw the show swamped with around 130 trucks from as far afield as Christchurch. With 50 years of Mack Trucks being built in New Zealand, there were 38 of them on display and it was fitting that a Mack took out best in show with Nick Young from Southern Transport taking home the trophy with his very sharp Mack Anthem.

The show has been running since the late 1970s and has a very busy and committed committee with Rhonda Wilson at the helm running it, which ensures us that it will be around for a long time to come.