Mud Dust and Potholes Part 1

Here is another film from the Ian Saffin Collection: Part 1 of Mud, Dust, and Potholes. We travel from Adelaide to Darwin, then to Oenpelli in Arnhem Land, NT. Here we are, in a 1972 butterfly hood White 4000. The 4000 is powered by a 335 Cummins. Originally, the truck started life with a 5 x 4 Spicer, but changed to a 13 speed, riding on SSHD 44000 lbs on Hendrickson suspension. On its maiden trip to Darwin, it was driven by Bruce McDonald and Brian Umpherston who was the branch manager of OGR White Dealership in Adelaide. The first driver of this truck was Peter Jennings, then Bob Gumbleton who enjoyed the nickname of Kojak.
The 4000 got off to a troublesome start with various problems, but when all the issues were rectified it became a legend of the South Road. It began its career pulling a single trailer but eventually progressed into pulling doubles for the rest of its working life under McDonald’s ownership.
In part 1 we see a trip to Darwin which was taken in November 1975 with Bob Gumbleton and Ian Saffin. It was Ian’s first trip to Darwin. They drive from Adelaide to Darwin, then up to Oenpelli to load buffalo meat and return back to Adelaide. We start off north of Pimba where we get bogged not far from Spud’s Road House, but we eventually get free by going backward and forwards numerous times until the White regains traction. We also have a driver travelling with us from Cains Transport, Portland in a COE Kenworth. We then travel towards Darwin where they pull up at the Batchelor turn off. Here Kojak draws a mud map for the Cains driver to follow to where he has to unload in Darwin. We travel through the East Alligator River at the Border Store Crossing, where the general store is meshed and boarded up, and even the seats are bolted to the floor! Here we see the 4000 going up the Hayes Creek jump up, the boys start heading back home, past the Devil’s Marbles and through Alice Springs.
We travel through and around the floods in the vicinity of Marla Bore. You’ll see Kojak cooking a meal of buffalo meat on his little gas stove.
We then see the 4000 commence pulling doubles leaving the Ampol Roadhouse in Alice Springs and heading back home towards Adelaide 1976.

[@driver3025]

Proper Truckin

[@paulgriffiths8359]

These are a amazing insight into our transport history
We can clearly see so much of our past
In recent years the question has come up fir discussion about when the first tri axle trailers arrived on the scene
I have said mid to late 70's
Looks like it may have been earlier
Thank you for sharing this history with all of us

[@stevel1451]

No it was earlier, around 74. I had one of the first Fruehauf tri- axles built in Melbourne. We had it on trial for couple of trips up the South rd. to see how it performed

[@petersabolewsky4983]

From a time when men were men, and so where the women.

[@sandasturner9529]

Lol so true