PICTURE SPECIAL: Spectacular vintage lorry convoy rolls into Thurso
Thurso was not only buzzing with cruise ship tourists at the weekend but also a huge convoy of colourful historic lorries and commercial vehicles.
The annual Highland Historic Commercial Vehicle Road Run saw a procession of 80 vintage commercial vehicles leave Dingwall on Saturday morning and travel through Ross-shire, Sutherland and Caithness.
We met organiser of the event John Mackenzie, along with Caithness Chamber of Commerce CEO Trudy Morris, at Thurso Business Park where he said: “We’re a group of enthusiasts that are trying to keep the transport heritage alive.
“We’ve had the run for about 14 years now and we raise as much surplus funds as we can for various charities over the years. We pick different locations where we descend on and travel through the roads of the north of Scotland.”
John said the convoy started from the Highland auction mart in Dingwall and then journeyed through Alness, Tain, Edderton, Ardgay, Bonar Bridge, Lairg, Tongue and Bettyhill before finishing up at Thurso where the various vehicles parked up at the Weigh Inn hotel and the nearby business park.
“Most of the entrants will be staying at the Weigh Inn hotel where we’ll be holding an evening meal and social event to raise as many funds for charity.”
The good cause chosen for this year is Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance.
Trudy explained how the Chamber of Commerce got involved with the event and helped make the final destination a success for all the entrants. “John was passed onto us by one of our members and needed car parking space for these vehicles,” she said.
“We galvanised our local membership and, since they were staying at the Weigh Inn, Thurso Business Park seemed to be the ideal spot and not too far away for them.
“We got in touch with LionVolt and Denchi to ask if the lorries could park up as there wouldn’t be much activity up here on Saturday night and Sunday morning. They were delighted to help. It just shows the power of the Chamber network coming together.”
Trudy walked around the business park and Weigh Inn car park to look at the colourful display of historic cabs and commercial vehicles.
“It’s fantastic that they’re preserving these vehicles and it’s great for the public to see. There’s a lot of activity up here and a lot of people coming along to see the vehicles.
“It’s great they’re here and raising money for charity as well.”
A beautifully-restored 1961-vintage MacBraynes Bedford C5 coach was ferrying passengers to and from the Weigh Inn and Trudy said she had a friend who used to drive one of these. “Not that I’m that old,” she laughed.
More information can be found on the vintage run on the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/hhcvrr/
Drivers had travelled from across the Highlands and the wider UK, as well as from the Netherlands, to showcase their classic and vintage haulage vehicles.
The organiser added that all had gone smoothly and he thanked the Chamber of Commerce for helping resolve the potential parking issue.
