Once again Mangatainoka was the place to be on Sunday 31 March, as the big trucks turned up for the annual Tui Truck Stop Show & Shine.

Photo: Motor Truck Distributors brought along three classic Macks, much to the delight of the spectators.

The show at the Tui Brewery at Mangatainoka gets bigger every year, and this year saw the largest turnout of both trucks and spectators, with 149 trucks registering for the event and the venue being pretty much at maximum capacity all day. Trucks from as far away as Pukekohe, Hawke‘s Bay and Taranaki entered, and $1200 was raised for the show‘s regular beneficiary, the Mangatainoka Reserve Restoration. Mark Pittar Transport from Whirinaki in Hawke‘s Bay attended the show for the first time, bringing along their immaculate 2019 Kenworth K200 logger that only went on the road a day earlier.

Also attending for the first time were Uhlenberg Haulage from Eltham who brought along five of their fleet, including three classic Kenworths – a 1979 W924SAR, a 1982 W923SR, and a 1986 W924AR. Singer and musician Sonny Tatana entertained the crowd, and for those wanting to escape the heat, there were free brewery tours throughout the day. Truck show organiser Rosie Rogers said she was overwhelmed with the response to this year‘s show. “We never know what‘s coming and what the weather is going to do, but we feel quite blessed that so many truck owners and drivers want to come here.” Rosie said she appreciated how much effort all of the drivers and companies put into attending, taking time out of their busy schedules to prepare the trucks for the show, as well as having them off the road for the day.

“The drivers and the companies make such a big effort and I‘m blown away when a company like Menefy Trucking Ltd from Palmerston North turn up with almost their entire workforce. They come along every year and this year they brought 16 trucks. We also have a lot of local support with Wairarapa‘s Beale Transport too.” This year for the first time a trophy for the Star of the Show was awarded. Named in memory of Pahiatua truck driver Lincoln Johanson who died in February 2018, the trophy was jointly awarded to three stunning trucks entered by HES Earthmoving of Takapau. “We were good mates of Lincoln‘s and the trophy is awesome,” said Josh Allen, one of HES Earthmoving‘s drivers. “We knew him and he was an amazing man, and to win this amazing trophy in memory of him is unreal.”

Photo: The industry turned up en-masse for a show that‘s growing with each year.

Photo: Wairarapa‘s Beale Transport are big supporters of the annual Tui Truck Show & Shine.

Photo: Menefy Trucking Limited brought along 16 of their trucks and owner Bryan Menefy is pictured accepting the Best Fleet award.

Photo: This Kenworth K200 was from Mark Pittar Transport.

Photo: A 1979 Mack R797 owned by Bryan Wood of Ongarue Transport.

Photo: Yellow and red are always a winning combination when the sun hits them, and Murdoch Transport‘s trucks were no exception.

Photo: The inaugural Star of the Show trophy was jointly awarded to three HES Earthmoving trucks. From left Bevan Todd, Jack Satherley (holding the trophy), David ‘Peachy‘ Peters and Josh Allen.

RESULTS Tui Truck Stop Show & Shine 2019