The countdown to one of Australia’s favourite truck shows is officially on, with the announcement the 2022 North Coast Petroleum (NCP) Casino Truck Show will be held on Saturday, August 6.
The NSW event is being coordinated by Richmond Valley Council, with support from the show organising committee.
Celebrating its ninth year, council’s events team is busily setting the scene for what is shaping up to be the best-ever NCP Casino Truck Show.
Council’s director service delivery Angela Jones said after having to cancel in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid, the events team was doing everything in its power to provide a day to be remembered.
Jones said with potentially 300 trucks with chrome and alloy shined to perfection and some 40 categories to be won, including the prestigious Tiny Lollback Rig of the Show, it would be a great day for trucking families and the general public.
She said exhibitors showcasing industry-related products and services would be on display, and Aussie FMX, one of Australia’s top professional freestyle motocross teams, would be back to entertain.
As well, there will be plenty of kid-friendly activities such as amusements rides and face painting.
“Local trucking companies will be joined by an influx of trucks from right around Australia, all vying for more than 50 trophies for best rig,” Jones said.
“Exhibitors will showcase a range of vehicles including working trucks, new trucks, customised trucks, rigid trucks, fleets, and vintage and restored trucks.”
Organising committee coordinator Darren Goodwin believes it is the perfect time for the event to return, given the feedback he has received from many drivers, companies and sponsors.
Goodwin said everyone he had spoken with was excited about making this year’s show the biggest to date.
He said he was confident said trucks from all over Australia would be attending and there would be cash prizes and trophies for the winners of all the categories.
“We started thinking about bringing back the truck show late last year and once we made the decision we have been receiving an incredible response from across the country, which is so encouraging,” Goodwin said.
“We’re also delighted to again welcome North Coast Petroleum as our naming rights sponsor, and so thankful for its support over the years.”
Goodwin also thanked the Beef Week Committee for its support over the past eight years, and looked forward to working with Richmond Valley Council’s Events team to make the show one of Australia’s most popular gatherings of all things trucks.
Jones said the show was a grassroots event at heart, and council was looking forward to continuing to work with sponsors, volunteers and the community to host a successful event.
She said council recognised events and festivals as a means to revitalise the local economy and would continue to support them to grow and prosper well into the future.
“Benefits to our community from events like Primex, Beef Week and the Casino Truck Show can be extensive, particularly when the draw is from outside the region,” Jones said.
“Many of our wonderful local businesses took a real hit during the lockdowns and border closures over the past two years so to be able to start bringing our calendar of events back to life will create much-needed economic stimulus.”
A full program of activities and further details on how to register will be released in the near future.
The Casino show was started in 2011 by locals Darren Goodwin and the late Tiny Lollback, who both loved the industry and their hometown.
The idea was borne following the demise of the Lismore Show. The inaugural show was held in the Primex grounds and remained there for three years before moving to the town centre.
Once the show moved into the CBD it just blossomed. Every year there seems to be more and more trucks and the quality gets better and better. In 2019 the number hit 251 trucks, up from the 207 of 2018.