A record number of 287 trucks participated in the Power 100 Convoy for the Cure in Townsville on Sunday, May 25.
The convoy raised $205,893 for research into a cure for brain cancer.
This was the 10th anniversary of the convoy, which boasted 19 more trucks than last year.
A Northern Stevedoring Services (NSS) Mercedes-Benz was the lead truck for the second successive year after raising more than $40,000.
The large fleet award went to DS&DL Drain Transport from the Burdekin, and the small fleet award went to Ellsley Metal Recycling.
A total of 101 bikes also took part in the convoy, which meandered more than 10km in distance.
It was a massive logistical exercise for organiser Todd Martin and his hardworking volunteers as the trucks were being parked along the marshalling area on Webb Drive from 7.30am.
Just after 8am, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli arrived and spoke to Big Rigs.
Then the premier walked along Webb Drive inspecting the trucks and talking to their drivers and supporters.
Big Rigs spoke to numerous drivers, including Darrin Thomas, who was behind the wheel of the NSS lead truck, a Mercedes 2653.
“It is such a good truck and just like driving a car and has an automatic gearbox,” Darrin said.
Nortrans, which had 23 trucks, was once again a big supporter, and Mel and young Brodie Kuilboer were part of the support team.
From Hughenden, which is 390km west of Townsville, were Dylan, Brita and Wyatt Coffison.
They were in a flashy Western Star owned by the family company Coffison Transport.
At 9am sharp, the convoy took off from Webb Drive with several police escorts.
More than 15,000 men, women and children lined the streets as the trucks cruised past with drivers honking their horns.
Spectators sat on chairs beside the route, on the back of utes and other vehicles, or under the shade of tents in yards and on footpaths, and they waved in appreciation.
The convoy raises money for funding into research of DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma), an aggressive and rare type of cancer that forms in the brainstem and almost always occurs in young children.
Residents were kept up to date with the progress of the convoy along the 25km route by live radio crosses from station Power 100.
There was lots of flashy chrome as the trucks cruised along Ingham Road and across Blakey’s Crossing, onto Duckworth Street, Dalrymple Road, Thuringowa Drive and Riverway Drive.
It finished at Ross Dam Park for a family fun day, which was attended by more than 1000 people.
Along the route, some trucks took a short break to allow other traffic to travel.
In total, it took the last trucks about 45 minutes to reach the dam park.
Most of the trucks parked on the park grass, and there were big line-ups at the food, drink and ice cream stalls.
- For more pictures from the event, grab your free copy of the June 6 issue of Big Rigs from the usual outlet.