Ooh Jimmy Mack,
When are you comin’ back
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas 1967
Some years ago I was at a pub quiz when a roll-over question came up for a lot of money.
"I am next to Pete, Jimmy & Ken in
I knew the answer but unfortunately, Iwasn't the person who was being quizzed.
Afterwards I spoke to the quizmaster and told him the answer which amazed him.
He had been using that same question for years around the country and nobody had ever guessed right. I didn't give the game away but never got the chance to attend any of his quizzes again to try for myself at the big money.
The reason I knew the answer was that I was passionate about the subject.
When I first visited the States in 1989 we stopped for coffee at a truck stop in rural
They all seemed to have so much character and it was definitely not female.
They were unconditionally macho vehicles, not a smooth curve in sight.
In those days you could see two distinct types
- The flat fronted COE (Cab Over Engine) which looked like a pug
- The Conventional which had a long nose and which were the ones I loved best.
The 5 main makes were
- Kenworth
- Peterbilt
- White - now called Freightliner
- International and
- Mack.
I was hoping to take some truck pictures this time, as I'd always had this page in mind for the blog but I haven't had a chance at the right time. Apart from that, since Volvo came on the scene, all the rest have also softened their lines, probably to make them more aerodynamic and in my view, have lost the character that I loved. I haven't seen a COE at all on the road over the last two years so I guess they've all been consigned to the museums. Anyway, as I was determined to blog this subject, here's a few photos that I have 'plagiarised' from elsewhere.
This is a White Freightliner COE
Here's a Jimmy
This ones a Pete
And finally, a Ken
I guess you have all by now, got the answer to the quiz.
I know that pictures of trucks is not everyones cup of tea but thank you for indulging me.
3 comments:
Fascinating, really, even to someone who isn't drawn to trucks (except that I'd give nearly anything to see the sleeping quarters, but haven't quite figured out how to approach the trucker).
Those massive trucks are macho and often scary. I'm often reminded of Steven Spielberg's early film "Duel" when I have a giant TRUCK in my rearview mirror!
I was determined to fit in a page about the big rigs but it was hard work to make it even remotely interesting.
It was then that I realised that they don't hold any fascination for me anymore
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