After a nervous few days watching the wild weather in the region, organisers were relieved to see clear skies and a bumper turnout for the Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show in Bathurst at the weekend.
More than 130 trucks were on display for the event which is now an annual gathering to pay tribute to former show organiser and highly-regarded local operator, Dane Ballinger, and to help foster camaraderie in the community and industry.
“We were very lucky with the weather. We even had snow and flooding in the week leading up to it,” said co-event manager Haylie Osborne, from Designer Events.
“It was a bumper crowd and everything went the way you would hope.”
Osborne says it’s important to have an event of this kind at Bathurst, a hub in the region for transport.
“It’s just an enjoyable day for everyone to get together, more so than the trophies, and to remember now, unfortunately.”
The stunning T909 from Haran Haulage was the winner of the Sam’s Choice award this year.Osborne says it’s hard to single out a highlight on such an emotional day, but she always loves seeing Dane’s young son Sam award his favourite truck the Sam’s Choice Trophy, which this year went to the Kenworth T909 from Haran Haulage.
“That’s pretty special, and I think it’s probably the favourite for everyone to win too,” said Osborne.
Freightlinx’s 100 Year Mack Super-liner, ‘Lest We’ – a tribute to our ANZAC soldiers, was crowned Truck of Show.
This stunning Mack from Freightlinx was awarded Truck of Show. Photo: Brett PozzaThe Dane Ballinger show will be held again next year on the third weekend of November. Visit bathursttruckshow.com.au for more information.
For more event photos, make sure you grab the December 9 print issue of Big Rigs, our last edition for 2022.
The results from the 2022 event are:
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