Vale Lester Cheong

Life With Kermie

11 Aug

Today, August 11, 2022 the Victorian truck-loving fraternity gathers to pay its regards at the funeral of Lester Cheong who passed away late last month. Lester was a great friend to many in ATHS and the HCVC. Always willing to offer help and advice, often with a good dose of good natured sarcasm, Lester will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

This short story comes from 2013 when we first crossed paths at the ATHS annual event held at Echuca. Rest in Peace mate….

IT’S A MATES THING

Lester Cheong (R) and Steve Ellis are mates. Mates who love trucks but don't have an endless supply of cash to throw around on their 'wish list'. They are also sensible enough to realise that they don't have the time to spend all their time playing around with a toy - unfortunately everyday life gets in the way.

The solution? Buy a truck together.

THE truck is a 1964 B61 Mack that displays a life on the road. The responsibilities for their joint toy is divided along the lines of Steve doing the mechanicals, and Lester doing the dress-up work. On that basis - given the old girl runs smoothly - Steve is way ahead and Lester probably needs to pick up a paint brush some time soon.

"I painted the chassis," says Lester, somewhat indignantly. "I put an ash tray in it the other day and when the girlfriend asked which half does Steve smoke in? I replied, the turntable!"

The boys have only had the B61 for six months, finding it in Wollongong. She was shipped to Australia in November 1964, arriving in February '65 and was assembled at Mack in Brisbane. Dispatched to Max Winkler's Truck and Trailer Sales in Sydney, it was sold to Rod Henry at Johnson, near Dubbo. Rod owned it until 2004 and then moved it on to Camden Turf Farms. Four years ago Paul O'Brien bought it with the intention of doing it up, which never eventuated, and so it came to Steve and Lester.

"I'd always wanted one that was original", said Steve, who’s business, Diesel Trans is at Garfield, Victoria. "This has the 711 quad box and quick diff. I rang Lester and asked if he wanted to go halves. At $10,000 we reckon we got it cheap."

Lester's been in trucks since he was 19. "I started on interstate up and down the east coast. Then came two years of national service, which I loved, and then I went back on the highway. I did local for a few years with Mobil, then went back interstate, carting bitumen which I'm still doing."

The truck needs a bit of work on both inside and out but the boys reckon they've plenty of time to trick her up.

Lester hails from Warrandyte - a long way from Steve's stomping ground -which poses the obvious question of how they exchange the driver's seat.

"We have a secret hiding place which works for both of us," said Lester.

"We've been through a lot together," adds Steve. "So it's not a problem. It's for two mates to really enjoy. Come and have a look at her at the end of next year."