If you like trucks and tractor pulls and the smell of burning rubber, then Tooradin is the place to go around the middle of January each year.
With a $25 entry fee it is not the cheapest event on the trucking calendar but you do get bang for buck if the above appeals and looking at the queue of people lined up to get in, the organisers have created a successful formula.
This year (so I was told) there were some 112 trucks on show which was down on the number when I last attended two years ago. That said, there was plenty of quality on display as the accompanying photos illustrate.
One such was G&D Inverno from Dalmore in Gippsland, who specialise in dangerous goods, carting chemicals to wherever they are needed, and who brought four trucks along to Tooradin for the public to drool over.
Giuseppe, known to all as Peppi, and his wife Danielle have been in business for 26 years – since Peppi decided to branch out from working for his father and go it alone.
“My dad was a truck driver as well,” said Danielle. “So I grew up running around in the passenger seat, learnt how to service trucks and I would go to truck shows with him. He told me to never marry a truckie but I knew what I was in for when I married Peppi – and who listens to their parents?
“Mind you, when we got married we said that we were never going to have a truck of our own. Now we have seven.”
“I figured if I was going to drive a truck I may as well own it so that’s how it started,” added Peppi.
Two of the trucks the Inverno’s brought along were Legends, an eight year old T900 which was Rig of the Year in 2020 as well as awards at Casino and the Dane Bellinger Memorial Truck Show. The other Legend, a much newer SAR won at Alexandra last year.
So they are no strangers to winning but as Danielle is quick to point out, their success is down to their two sons, Jeremy, 23, and Christopher, 19.
“They do everything to make our trucks look as they do – all the polishing and cleaning. We come to the shows to support what they are interested in doing. And it’s not just for the shows; they are like this every day of the week.
“Whenever the trucks are home the boys are very rarely inside. They are in the shed fiddling, polishing, whatever it takes. They will come to an event like this and walk around, studying and looking to see how they can do things even better for the next one. We are very proud of them. Their attention to detail is second to none.”
The boys work has paid off, as the Legend SAR will be at the Brisbane Truck Show Best of the Best next year as winner of Alexandra.
“I have the hard task of keeping it in this condition for the next eighteen months until we go up there,” laughed Peppi. “I‘ll come home at the end of the week, the boys open the door and see food crumbs on the floor. “DAD! You’ve been eating in the truck, what’s going on?”
With that attitude the SAR should do well at Brisbane and any other event it attends.
And the Inverno’s did well at Tooradin winning Best Fleet, Best Kenworth Legend, and Runner-Up Best Prime Mover in 6 months-2 years, 5-10 years and 20-35 years, so well done lads.
As a postscript, the boys don’t drive for the family but both did apprenticeships. Jeremy is a full-time mechanic and Christopher is in his second year of engineering.
“They get trades behind them first and if they want to go driving after that…”
Doing it differently after fall
I first interviewed David Rule, who owns Budget Tennis Courts, 10 years ago at Koroit where he won Truck of the Show with his Kenworth T650 – a rigid tautliner.
Now he was at Tooradin with his other truck – a K100 tipper. The truck is a 1985 model but looks superb both outside and in.
Originally a prime mover owned by Lamattina from Clyde it was a market truck. Two owners later, Dave bought it and did a bare metal restoration.
“Originally it had an 8V92 in it and that dropped a liner. Very few people can work on those now so I put a fully rebuilt Caterpillar 3406E in it. The truck has only done 900,000km from new, so barely run in.”
Apart from being “a pain in the arse to get in and out of” Dave loves the truck, so we were sad to hear that it and the T650 are both up for sale.
“Unfortunately I fractured my back. I’d like to say that I was on top of the 650 and a huge gust of wind blew me off but unfortunately nothing as flash as that. I caught Covid back in September, got really crook, went to bed and passed out for two days.
“Whilst I was unconscious, I fell out of bed and fractured my back. Luckily my son found me. Two weeks in intensive care and its onwards and upwards now. I will just have to do it differently in the future.
“I’m not selling the business but just have to do it differently and one of those differences is that my son who works with me can’t drive a manual. So I’ve bought an auto for him.”
So if anyone is looking for a classic 1985 K100 in absolute mint condition and low miles, Dave is asking around $110,000.
For that you’ll not have to spend an extra cent. If you’d like something newer, he’s after around $130K for the T650. You can call him on 0415 543 321.
Good luck with your back and the future, Dave.
Tooradin: Trucks, tractors, burnouts and lots of smoke and noise. What’s not to like?
Truck show trophy winners
- Bob Searle Memorial Trophy (Rig of the Show): A & K Dorling 2023 Kenworth T909
- Stuart Baker Memorial Trophy: G & D Inverno 2024 Kenworth Legend SAR
- Pullers Choice Trophy: Jamie’s Transport 2019 Kenworth T909
- Best ‘Old School’ Trophy: Huon Grange 1977 Kenworth SAR
- Stephen Gregson Memorial Trophy: Southern Sons fleet (2023 Kenworth T909, 2007 Kenworth T950, 2019 Kenworth T909, 2014 Kenworth T909, 2024 Kenworth T909 and 2024 Kenworth T909)
PRIME MOVERS
- Up to 6 months: SJS Haulage 2025 Kenworth K220
- 6 months to 2 years: JBN Cartage 2023 Kenworth T909
- 2 to 5 years: A & K Dorling 2023 Kenworth T909
- 5 to 10 years: Ashmore’s 2018 Kenworth Legend 900
- 10 to 20 years: Transall Motors 2013 Kenworth Director Series T900
TIPPERS
- Up to 6 months: Ashmore’s 2025 Kenworth T659
- 6 months to 2 years: Fowler’s Asphalt 2024 Kenworth T610 SAR
- 2 to 5 years: Brown’s Stockfeed 2021 Kenworth T909
- 5 to 10 years: Ashmore’s 2018 Kenworth T404 SAR
- 10 to 20 years : Melbourne Civil Group 2012 Kenworth T908
RIGIDS
- Up to 2 years: SJS Haulage 2025 Scania 500G XT
- 2 to 5 years: K & R Bro’s 2024 Kenworth T360
- 5 years plus: Advanced Tree Co. 2021 Scania G410
HEAVY TOW TRUCKS
- All Ages: All Car Towing 2006 Kenworth SAR
VETERAN
- Any truck 20 to 35 years: Campbell Earthmoving 1997 Kenworth K100G
- Any truck 35 years plus: Marson Repairs & Hire 1965 International DCO 405
BEST FLEET 2026
- G & D Inverno (2024 Kenworth Legend SAR, 2018 Kenworth T900 Legend, 2010 Kenworth T408 SAR and 1998 Kenworth T401)
For more pics from the Tooradin event, grab your free copy of the January 30 issue of Big Rigs from the usual outlet, or lock in an annual subscription posted to your door. Get started by clicking here.