Now in its third year, Beaulieu’s family fun event, TRUCKMANIA, a super-sized celebration of all things truck-related, featured hundreds of trucks and a wide variety of trucking activities. Over 10,000 visitors and participants, 2,000 up on 2014, enjoyed the two-day show held in the attraction’s parkland over the May Bank Holiday weekend, with even bigger displays and more trucking action.
Equally as popular with participants as visitors, the event saw another increase in the number of vehicles attending this year with over 250 trucks of every size and age on display.
Major trucking companies in the southern region attending the event included Harris Transport, Adams Morey, Dalton’s, with their eye-catching film-branded trucks, JPI Warehousing, Gary Parsons, Turners, TWT Logistics, Breadmore Commercials, L Hunt & Sons and Southampton Maritime Transport. On Sunday, Race2Recovery Dakar Rally trucks put on an end of show parade.
Alongside them were a range of vintage and veteran commercial transport including a 1920 Model ‘TT’ Ford, first shown at Beaulieu in 1960, an Esso Petrol tanker complete with milk churns on the back, Maidment plant hire trucks, a trio of Jeff Townsend Livestock trucks with beautifully fashioned wooden trailers and a number of vehicles brought along by Bournemouth & Poole Preservation Society included a Yellow Bus.
Channel 5 trucking star and Twitter sensation, Mark Dixon was on hand to meet visitors and commentate on all the activities throughout the two days alongside event presenter, Kevin Harris.
Monster trucks, Big Pete and the Grim Reaper wowed the crowds with two daily action packed displays, demonstrating their sheer size and power in the Monster Truck Arena.
In the Main Arena, visitors got involved in Tug-a-Truck, pitting their strength against a Harris Transport lorry cab to see how quickly they could haul one over the finish line. This fun activity appealed to all age groups, with whole families having a go and everyone receiving an I’ve Pulled at Beaulieu medallion at the finish. In a new feature for 2015, the Harris Transport Memorial Challenge, teams of five from the show’s participants and organisers took part in a tug-of-war to win a team trophy. The first recipients were the Beaulieu Events team.
On both days, Beaulieu’s visitors were invited to vote for their favourite truck in the People’s Choice Awards, Sunday’s winning vehicle was a Scania 620 8 wheel tipper, specially built for road maintenance work. Its owner, Charlie Doyle from Maidenhead had graphics on the cab and sides, dedicated to his favourite country and western singers. The winning Monday vehicle was a Dalton’s truck, driven by Jooles Harding with graphics dedicated to the popular The Hangover comedy film. They both received winners’ trophies.
Both Truck-agility and the People’s Choice awards were sponsored by Adams Morey Ltd who also brought along a selection of their DAF and Fiat commercial vehicles.
Also supporting Truckmania again was the British Army who trooped in with a large display of modern army trucks including a ‘roller-coaster’ troop deployment carrier, a Combat Support Tanker and a 32 ton recovery vehicle. Visitors were encouraged to climb on board and experience these modern military vehicles and both adults and children could test their fitness on an inflatable assault course. To add to the atmosphere, a band performed during the day from the back of a modified Army truck.
Visitors could enjoy Truckmania as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction which included the National Motor Museum, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and gardens.
Truckmania will return on 29 and 30 May 2016.
