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There was a lot of shiny bling on display for the Mitre 10 Mega Ride in A Truck Day, held in October in Hastings
After a three-year break, the Mitre 10 Mega Ride in a Truck Day was back, and what a day it was. The trucking community and hundreds of visitors came out in the spring sunshine to enjoy it. You could feel a sense of freedom and relief at getting out and about without any restrictions. Just like the good old days.
The event was held at the Hawke’s Bay A&P Showgrounds and had more than 200 trucks attending. It demonstrated how keen truck drivers were to get out and show off their mighty machines and help a good cause, with some coming from as far away as Dunedin.
Funds raised from the Mitre 10 Mega Ride in a Truck Day go to several charities: Little Elms Charitable Trust (to support families of people using Hawke’s Bay Hospital), Hawke’s Bay Rescue Helicopter Trust, and local branches of St John’s Ambulance and Fire and Emergency NZ.
The kids were amped and ready to try out the many fun things the organisers had in store. As well as the thrill of riding in a truck, there was a mini excavator to have a lesson on, bouncy castles, train rides, and radio-controlled mini trucks. There was also that popular event, the truck pull, plus, music, food, and raffles.
The Truck Day organising committee chairman, Nigel Sherriff, says the day is an opportunity for the trucking community to mix and mingle with the public as well as being a fundraiser for different charities.
“Truck drivers spend a lot of time alone in their trucks; for many, it’s their home during the week. The truck show also gives them time with their families and friends. They put a lot of effort into preparing their rigs for the day. It’s a big thing for them.”
The Ride in a Truck Day results from a massive community effort and about eight months to prepare. Twelve committee members and 60 volunteers on the day help to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Nigel would like to shout out to those who helped put this together, including the Hawke’s Bay branch of Civil Contractors, who also held their excavator competition on-site, the Rapid Relief Team, who catered for the food, and The Madd Fun Company and Mardigras Events Hire.
Major sponsors for the Mitre 10 Mega truck show are Deakin Trucks (who unveiled the new Isuzu Giga range on the day), General Engineering, Napier Port, COFs, Hawke’s Bay Crane Hire, and JRP Trucking.
Mitre 10 Ride in a Truck Day 2022 winners
| DAF/Curtainsider | Waharoa Transport (KBW464) |
| Freightliner | Cat Wilson (McCarthys) (HHP590) |
| Hino | Agnew Transport (DCZ209) |
| International | Dodds (PFJ315) |
| Isuzu | Stephenson Trans (MBD600) |
| Kenworth | Dynes Transport (NLU78) |
| Mack | Ned Kelly (LW2342) |
| Scania | Justice Trans (PKR265) |
| Volvo | Tumu Transport (TUMU7) |
| Western Star | Blacks Trans (MDQ534) |
| MAN | Move Logistics (MSD568) |
| Mercedes | AWE McNicol Trans (LTT19) |
| 1 million kilometres+ | Woods Transport (HMR961) |
| Logger | Waikawa Haulage (PKL325) |
| Tractor unit | Halls Transport (HZZ835) |
| Stock unit | Foleys Transport (PCT422) |
| Bulk unit/tipper | Twist Trucking (PEZ521) |
| People’s choice | Burling’s Transport (NLK691) |
| Fleet | Shaun Thomson Log Cartage |
| Second overall champion | Brittons (BRIT34) |
| Overall champion | Allan Mills & Sons (1974kW) |
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Photography: Vivienne Haldane
