Fletch finds himself in Ivanhoe, NSW, looking for a story, and he doesn't have to go far to uncover one. His first stop is Carmichael Transport, where the owner John has some impressive machinery, including a 1960 B61 Mack Truck, restored to pristine condition over seven years. These Mack trucks were the biggest on the road in their time, tough as nails with a 237 HP engine recognised as one of the strongest.
John tells of how the truck was pretty much buggered when purchased, with only the chassis in reasonable condition. The truck was entirely stripped down and rewired, with new brakes, steering and a new paint job in Carmichael Transport livery. Its working days are over, but it's a tribute to trucks of that era.
Another of John's older trucks is a Mack V8 525 HP that he purchased back in 1986 and used to transport livestock to Adelaide from the Ivanhoe district. It's no longer one of his everyday trucks but is a valuable backup to the fleet. This one has travelled four million kilometres with the engine now on its third generation rebuild. It started as a 400, then a 440, and the current engine is a 525HP. John says they get about a million km before you need to rebuild the engine.
Another local is Peter Robinson, who proudly is the third generation of his family to run Robinson Transport, dating back to his grandfather in 1926. Peter shows some great historical photos of his grandfather, father, and his journey with Robinson Transport.
One favourite vehicle is his father's Dodge 7 Series with a 318 V8, two-speed, high-speed gearbox. This truck travelled over 750,000 miles, and when they took the brakes off, they were like new. His father's theory was to slow down well before you must come to a stop, avoiding the overuse of the brakes.
Peter's old family photos provide great insight into the transport industry and the rough terrain these vehicles encountered back then, not to mention the ingenuity required to keep their trucks on the road. A fabulous 96-year history that keeps on trucking today.
