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Truckfest East rolls into Ipswich’s Trinity Park this weekend
Ice road Truckers star Todd Dewey will host Truckfest Picture: ROSS HALLS - Credit: Archant
The Crufts for trucks rolls into Ipswich just in time for Father’s Day, with literally tonnes of fun for the whole family.
Bob Limming, one of the directors of organisers Live Promotions Events who created Truckfest 35 years ago Picture: ROSS HALLS - Credit: Archant
“There are around 500 trucks, from the highly customised American trucks through to your everyday working trucks, all competing in their various classes,” said Bob Limming, one of the directors of Truckfest East organisers Live Promotions Events.
“It’s our first time in Ipswich, which seemed a good area given its proximity to the ports. It’s all about the truckers who work hard for a living and was set up in 1983 as an event you’d want to take the whole family to.”
Attractions include classes from best kept working truck and best kept vintage and heritage truck to best custom and paintwork to best in show; a manufacturers parade, Professional Recovery Drivers Club demonstration and James Dylan’s world record holding Stuntworld team.
One highlight will be the five tonne, 12ft tall, car crushing Slingshot monster truck.
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“I can do cars, vans, buses - if you put it out there I can basically clear it,” boasts Alan Vaughan, the youngest monster truck driver in Europe.
Want to know what it’s like roaring around the showground in the back of a monster truck? Nigel Morris and his Mac Tools Cruiser will take you for a spin, with the roof mounted Go-Pro live streaming the fun to Truckfest’s Twitter page so you can share the fun.
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The oldest working monster truck in Europe, it started competition life as Desperado and in the 1980s was one of the trucks to beat. Almost 40 years old and weighing in at almost 11 tonnes, it has a nice American V8 and a 200-300 horsepower engine.
“It’s got a good sound and as you saw you can have an adrenaline rush at 15mph sitting in the back,” said Nigel.
There will be a fun fair for the kids, who can also meet their favourite characters from Transformers, Toy Story and Lightning McQueen.
Getting everybody revved up in the arena will be Ax Men and Ice Road Truckers star Todd Dewey.
“I’m used to things being a little bit colder than this, but I’ll take the sunshine, some exciting people and a great weekend. My dad told me ‘listen, I don’t want you to grow up being a truck driver’,” he laughed.
“Well, here I am dad, I’m a truck driver and I absolutely love it. I always look forward to meeting the fans, they’re what makes the show which is all about family, truckers, their stories. There’s a lot of memories get made here on these weekends. There’s no other place I’d rather be then right here at Truckfest.”
Gates open 9am-5.30pm tomorrow and Sunday. More info at www.truckfest.co.uk
