Back in 1960, at the tender age of 17, I got myself up to Alice Springs. There I saw, and fell in love with my first roadtrain. Within days, I got myself round to see the transport mob, filled out some paperwork, did a "test drive" around the block, in a 1957 FC Holden 'ute, and was handed my "C" class license to drive road trains.

All those years ago, they weren't like todays multi wheeled, massive horsepowered, aircond, commputerised, boring trucks. There were B Model MACK, Leylands and Fodens. There were a couple of Viscounts, built by Rotinoff of London, and ex army GMs, draggin' up to 3, 45 foot self tracking trailers.

We were really a mob of hairy arsed teen agers, some driving the longest roadtrains in the world, of that time. I/we never really got into trouble with the law. In fact coppers were a great mob of blokes.

So, many many years later, I sat down and started writing about those mad days, and the mad bastards I worked with. I only have the "book" on e mail, and have sent quite a few to todays young transport drivers.

They can't understand how most of us lived through it all.

Anyway, about 5 years ago, I wrote to every transport magazine I could find in the country. I advised them that they could have the stories, FREE OF CHARGE, if they wanted to print some of the 50 plus short stories.

It is marked "Fiction" to protect the guilty. Me being one of them. Some of the short stories do contain "adult themes" and "coarse language" I tried each magazine 4 times each over the last 5 years. I didn't even get a,"Thank you, but no thank you". Nothing.

Quite recently I asked an old friend who is/was in the transport/magazine industry as to what is wrong with the magazine mob.

His reply was that there is no longer time, or room for stories about you old farts, and how you worked so bloody hard.

I sent him a copy of my "book", called, "When CO-ORD was King". He loved it. CO-ORD was coordinated rail road transport. Off the rail, onto the roadtrains, then it was Darwin, Larrimah, Mt Isa and N/W WA.

I suppose that it's progress.

Regards.

Pipes

Pipes hi.

Yes I did read your book, the adult themes and all, possibly why your stories are not published for general reading.

I did enjoy the read and could read similarities into your stories to some of my own early driving experiences. East coast highways at times were boring but we did enjoy a good laugh.

Once again I did enjoy and thank you.

I too would love to read it.

Pipes, you have a story about trucking to tell that would would be very welcome on another forum I frequent, for old trucks and old truckies, and blokes (and non blokes) who just love 'em....  Historic Commercial Vehicle Club (Australia)  try HCVC Forum .... http://www.hcvc.com.au/  

I would be happy to receive a draft on HCVC behalf and see about editing it for general public consumption....  with either a PM from here or on HCVC (Sarge)

Sarge.

I have read both of them....and being a truckie of a few years now ....can relate to some of what Pipes has written.....and the way he thinks in the books.

Was a very intriguing ...and colourfull ....read...and I intended to keep the copies Pipes sent me ......but me old computer "ate" them while trying to transfer them onto this one.

So if your feeling especially mellow and charitable Pipes....could I please have a copy again ....please????

 

Cheers  Keith

Only read a little so far and a great read  -  Well done

Spent a few hours reading the first half last night.

First rate!  Great stories & written in a very readable Aussie fashion.   An education for me.

I am just about to go and sit in my squatters chair in the sun to read the rest (rather than wade through the Sunday paper).  Can't put it down.

Well done Graham & thanks for the copy.