Craig’s Legacy

In-depth

17 Jan

David Armstrong owns a very special truck. It is a 1962 International R 200, called ‘Money Muncher’, and painted Katoomba Blue - an original colour. Powered by a 175 Cummins through a 10 speed Road Ranger running a 411 dif, it sits on about 95 to 100kmh quite comfortably. Dave bought a ‘69 model McGrath trailer to complement the truck last year and fitted gates and tarps to make it look authentic.

None of this explains why this truck is so special.

“It was mainly my son’s blood sweat and tears. His name was Craig and he passed away on 30 October 2015. Far too young. He pushed me and pushed me to get this finished and if it wasn’t for him it probably wouldn’t be finished.”

“Craig was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 14. Probably didn’t look after himself to what he should have – something of which we are all guilty. Over the past three years his health deteriorated. He got to the stage where he was legally blind and then his kidneys failed. We were taking him to Wagga, 100 km away for dialysis three times a week.

“We woke up one Friday morning and he was in a coma. We took him into the hospital and he passed away about four hours later. He was the driving force behind this truck. He had nothing to do with the trucking industry. He just wanted to help me and make sure I got it to where I wanted to be. He did it for love. I reckon he did eighty per cent of it. I’d get home from work at lunchtime and he would say, “Right, let’s go dad.” I had it parked up in a shed some 20 km away. We’d get there and he’d be straight into it. Didn’t matter what I did he was always there. The truck is really his legacy to me.

“We bought the truck out of a paddock in 2010 and I allocated a budget of about $20,000 to it, including the purchase which was $7,200. It was first registered again in June 2013. It was three years of blood sweat and tears!”

Looking at an original photo, there is an awful lot of work has gone into this truck.

Dave is a truck driver doing deliveries, mainly newspapers and magazines, for Central West Logistics out of Cootamundra. “I was on the railways when I left school until I was about 34. I wanted a change because it was all shift work so I thought I’d go trucking. Dumb move yeah! But I’d always wanted to be a truck driver and own a truck and here it is. Mostly I drive an eight ton Isuzu and I must say that reliability is everything.”

Dave loves taking his Inter to as many shows as possible, including the ATHS meets at Echuca. “I was there in 2014 but I couldn’t make 2015 because Craig was crook and I stayed home to look after him while my wife went to work. In 2013 I tried to go but the radiator shifted coming into Narrandera and smacked the fan. The garage where I left it said it was a great drawcard!

It’s been to Dubbo twice, Haulin’ the Hume, the Harden Truck show and the Sylvia’s Gap Run. When truck shows return you can bet I’ll be there. I’ve gotta get out and about and show people.

“I like old trucks, they have character and tell a story. The last rego label on this was 1986 and I bought it in 2010. I wanted to write, ‘I’ve been sitting around a while, parked under a gum tree, my only friends the birds who shit on me.’ ….but my wife wouldn’t let me put that down.

Footnote: David’s International ended up costing him $37,000 – that’s just for the truck. The trailer came in at $10,000 with the gates and tarp.