Invercargill truck show

By: Dean Middleton, Photography by: Dean Middleton

Date: 14.12.2016

The coveted 'King Rig' trophy was won by this immaculate Hokonui Rural Transport K200, which was also awarded 'Best Kenworth'

Invercargill truck show The coveted 'King Rig' trophy was won by this immaculate Hokonui Rural Transport K200, which was also awarded 'Best Kenworth'

Invercargill truck show This stunning FH16 was one of the TSL's many entrants in the show

Invercargill truck show Best Truck 20,000 to 100,000km was Central Southland's Freightliner Coronado

Invercargill truck show Runner up to the 'King Rig' was this K200 Kenworth and was one of many prizes awarded to the Eden Haulage crew

Blue and green do look good together. The Switzer Valley Transport Kenworth won 'Best New Truck under 20,000km' and the Summerland Western Star won 'Shiniest Rims'

Invercargill truck show Blue and green do look good together. The Switzer Valley Transport Kenworth won 'Best New Truck under 20,000km' and the Summerland Western Star won 'Shiniest Rims'

Invercargill truck show This Southern Transport Mack Trident took the 'Best Logger' award

Invercargill truck show 'Best 600,000 to 1,000,000km' was won by Dixon Haulage K108 Kenworth

Invercargill truck show 'Best Stock Truck' went to this Murihiku Haulage International

Invercargill truck show A dozen D T King Trucks made he parade, including this new FMX Volvo

Invercargill truck show Halls drove away with the 'Best Western Star' prize

Invercargill truck show A pair of Summerland's freightliner Coronados joined the convoy

Invercargill truck show Satherley's Heavy Haulage joined in on the action

Invercargill truck show This stunning Freight Haulage FM Volvo won 'Best Volvo'

Invercargill truck show 'Best Mack' went to McNeill's Granite pictured here being rounded up by their classic Mack Superliner

Invercargill truck show 'The Colonels Last Stand' from Ryal Bush Transpor won 'Best Gravel Truck'

Invercargill truck show TSL won 'Best Mercedes' with their spreader 'Dusty Devil'

Invercargill truck show McNeill's crane truck was awarded 'Best Hino'

Invercargill truck show 'Best Freightliner' was handed to this Argosy from NSTH

The support of the local Southland transport operators was phenomenal again this year. Southern Transpor alone had more than 25 trucks entered in the show

Invercargill truck show The support of the local Southland transport operators was phenomenal again this year. Southern Transpor alone had more than 25 trucks entered in the show

Invercargill truck show

The annual Invercargill truck show

Labour weekend rolled around quickly again this year, and along with it, was the annual Invercargill Truck Show and Parade held on Sunday. A preliminary ‘truck ride for kids’ event was held on the day before with trucks from 18 different transport companies taking more than 250 excited kids around the local Invercargill streets. Sunday dawned a little gloomy and remained overcast for most of the day, however, the rain forecast earlier in the week thankfully stayed away. In the morning, approximately 130 pristine trucks began lining up in the New Zealand wool Handlers yard on Fox Street, and by the time the trucks were all parked up for judging, the line extended all the way back down Bill Richardson Drive, meaning an entire industrial city block of trucks was on show.

As with previous years, Southland transport companies showed huge support with many local fleets entering 10 or more trucks. Southern Transport alone paraded more than 25 rigs.

This year, the coveted ‘King Ring’ award went to Hokonui Rural Transport’s K200 Kenworth, which was prepared for the show by 19-year-old Bradley Curtis, who is in the process of achieving his heavy transport licences with HRT. Bradley spent more than 18 hours polishing the truck, which left few debating the judges’ decision to award it the ultimate prize.

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