Quick, name the most iconic Mack Truck model. What was the name that first popped into your head? The B-Model? Of course! R-Model, Superliner and maybe, just maybe, AC would have been other accepted answers.
More than a handful of B’s made it Trucktoberfest to partake in the festivities including the show ending parade. Some trucks made just a lap or two while others seemed content to make loops until dizzy. With each go around the traffic diminished allowing for the remaining trucks to gain speed. A few adventurous drivers even took to the 15% grade. Below we have some coverage of those trucks including one of the hill climbs. I had to run up the overgrown side of the grade to beat the truck the summit. I just barley made it.
Now even the though the title of the video mentions B-Models keep an eye for a 1984 DM886SX. It’s one hell of a heavy truck.
I felt like I had the keys to the kingdom this past Saturday at Trucktoberfest. I was able to wander through the Mack Museum and Customer Center as if I owned the place. If a door was open I went through it. If a truck was unlocked I checked out the cab. Nearly every corner of this building is jammed with historical bits and pieces relating the the Mack truck 115 year legacy and it’s all open for close inspection. The 1,000,000th engine manufactured by the Hagerstown plant? Touched it. Turbine powered Cruise Liner? Saw it. Anechoic chamber? Screamed in it. It’s hard to find one thing that impressed me the most during the visit but if I had to choose one item it would be the Dyno/Environmental testing chamber. Like I said before, if a door was opened I went through it. In this case the entry way resembled an old meat locker door. On the other side was the control room seemingly intact from when Mack still used this building as a test and research center.
I can only imagine the trucks this room played host to back in the day. Superliners in their earliest form, R-models of all types, the vertigo inducing MH, special combinations and platforms of nearly every modern era Macks that never reached the public eye. While sitting on a ginormous dyno, trucks in this test chamber could be exposed to wind speeds of up to 60 mph while experiencing arctic temperatures or broiling desert sun. I was told that with a flick of a switch the room could be brought to near zero degrees in less than a minute.
This room now plays a part in the restoration of many old trucks found around the museum grounds. Right behind the control booth was large storage area jammed full of parts of nearly every sort including engines, mirrors, brackets, and even diecast trucks. There even were a few cutaway display engines.
Moving on I soon found myself in the anechoic chamber. Free from confusing echos, Mack engineers could test cab insulation methods, engine dynamics and even exhaust note circulation. Below is a video highlighting all the cool locals I have mentioned.
Along the perimeter of the museum lies a test track with banked turns and series of increasing inclines. At the end of the day many of the trucks in attendance join together for a parade of power. Full coverage of said event can be found below.
Below, a few more related shots. Tomorrow, even more old trucks. Plenty of new trucks. Mack military trucks and more, more more!
Saturday I went to Trucktoberfest held at the Mack Museum and Customer Center in Allentown, PA. The event was hosted by Mack Trucks in conjunction with the ATHS, ATCA and SPAAMFAA. While not exclusively for the Mack brand I would say 98% of the trucks in attendance wore a bulldog on the hood. There were some other makes in attendance by a brand with deep roots to Pennsylvania, that’s right, Autocar.
We’ve seen this truck a few times before with the most recent sighting being at the ATHS National Convention in York, PA. The owner of this 1976 Autocar S64TF is Denver Sharp. Under the hood you’ll find a Cummins 290 small cam formula. Gearing is provided courtesy of a RoadRanger RTO 12513 (13 speed?) transmission. Rear axles are Eaton 402’s with a 4:33 ratio. All this equipment hangs on a Freightliner air ride setup.
Seeing as everything took place at the former Mack Truck tech center there was a banked road track complete with steep inclines and other challenges. Toward the end of the day participating trucks were able to step out and stretch their legs a bit.
That is just a small taste of things to come. Check back tomorrow for complete coverage of the day’s events.
Found on road dead. Not this old F-750. I’ve seen it around town the past day or so hauling bobcats, soil and its own butt in a brisk manor. I can’t tell you much about other than the obvious like color and general shape. Probably a gasser under the hood. At one point in time you couldn’t flip through Truck Trader without seeing hundreds of these trucks. Today, not so much.
Just when you think the entire National Grid fleet is nothing but Freightliner bucket trucks along comes a Freightliner RamVac truck. A truck like this one has many uses but in this case it is used clear settings for new power poles. I’m not sure what is on that low-pro International DuraStar in the background but it almost made for a double bingo.
While we’re at it, here are some retreads from past bingo boards. While the equipment might not be new the angle of the photo sure is.
Fourteen years ago today this country suffered a series of terrorist attacks that claimed the lives over 3,000 individuals. Some were regular people working away at their office desk. Others were the countless fire and emergency service personnel who rushed to the scene in a brave attempt to save as many lives as possible. Life has a habit of relentlessly moving forward and as it does the events that stun and impact multiple generations tend to fade with each passing year. This year take a moment to stop and remember those that we lost. The police and emergency personnel of NYC, the military staff at the Pentagon, the average citizens of the Twin Towers and hijacked flights. Say a prayer for them, their families, the friends. Forget those that perpetrated the attack but instead remember those who survived and those who sacrificed all. This United States survived that dark day and God willing it will continue to do so for years to come.
As the video below will demonstrate the only true way to arrive at a classic truck show is by convoy!
The saying goes that birds of a feather flock together. This time the birds happen to be IHC cabovers.
Or Mack Superliners
A long standing tradition at the Endless Mountains show has been the slow truck race. For those unfamiliar with the idea the slowest truck really does win the race. Drivers pick their lowest gear, step off the clutch and let it roll. No brakes allowed! The first one across the finish line is the loser. Video to arrive at some point in the future.
Today concludes the photo coverage of the show but there will more video in the near future.
The Northeastern PA chapter of the ATCA holds their annual truck show in the Endless Mountain region part of the state. Did you know the highest peak in the area is the North Nob of Elk Mountain at 2693 feet? Now you do.
The mountains posed no challenge to the mighty trucks that traveled to the show but did provide a nice backdrop. Some trucks are just meant to be in photos like this 1968 W-900.
Or this 1977 Kenworth K100
Some of you might have noticed a nice looking Brockway 360 from yesterdays coverage. Here it is in video form.
Let us start the coverage of the ATCA Endless Mountains chapter truck show with a photo from the end. There are hundreds of reasons to stay at the show all day and take in the events including the slow truck race, the numerous raffles, the good company. Eventually the fun does end and everyone must leave. As it happens most people leave at the same time. Convoy!
This year happened to be the 25th Anniversary show with many trucks from the past returning to help commemorate the day. One such truck was this 1928 Maccar model 66. I had never heard of a Maccar prior to this show I’m willing to bet this name plate will be new to a few of you as well.
Here is an ’67 International Scout with a diesel. Now, I’m now expert on Scouts but it was always my understanding that a diesel power plant was not available until the mid 70’s but yet this little SUV audibly had that diesel clatter. Custom job? Super rare factory modification? Who can say.
The first of many videos to come along with more photos.
Believe it or not only three Autocars were in attendance at the 25th Anniversary show of the ATCA Northeastern PA truck show and of those three I only took photos of two! Don’t judge. It was hot. I walked by this 1929 A-Car numerous times before I realized what it was. This truck came well before the era of big and brawny units like the 1966 DC seen below.
No mistaken identity with this model. Pit fenders. Massive external air cleaner. Heavy rears. True Autocar in all forms.
Plenty more to come from this show in the following days. Stay tuned.
