More than 250 classic vehicles took part in Haulin’ the Hume on April 11.
Bruce Gunter was ecstatic this week when he announced that the 2015 Haulin’ the Hume classic truck run raised $30,000 for charity.
He says $25,000 will be donated to Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) and a further $5,000 will go to Goulburn’s Challenge Foundation.
Organised by Bruce and the Western Sydney Historical Truck Club, the biennial run covers as much of the old Hume Highway as possible between Sydney and Yass.
Classic vehicles numbering 260 drove through bypassed towns including Picton, Mittagong, Berrima, Goulburn and Gunning on April 11.
The oldest trucks were Model T Fords from the 1920s. The newest were prime movers from the 1980s.
This year’s Haulin’ the Hume was especially meaningful for Bruce and his father Geoff Gunter.
Geoff won’t be renewing his truck licence when he turns 80 later this year, so this was his last opportunity to drive Bruce’s 1957 Commer Knocker in Haulin’ the Hume.
The run rekindled Geoff’s memories from the 1950s. He shared the experience with his wife Judy and three daughters who took turns in the passenger seat.
But with Geoff behind the wheel of the Commer, Bruce didn’t have a truck to drive on the big day.
Patrick Vassallo came to the rescue and offered Bruce his 1980 International Transtar 4300 for the run.
A special bond between Bruce and Geoff led to the first Haulin’ the Hume in 2011. Geoff commented that it would be fun to drive the restored Commer along old sections of Highway 31.
Bruce mentioned Geoff’s suggestion to friends from Western Sydney Historical Truck Club and the idea snowballed, attracting 143 classic trucks in 2011.
“So many of the men that I’ve met on [Haulin’ the Hume] have lost their fathers,” Bruce says.
“They’re doing this to remember their dads. I’ve been able to do this with my dad and I’m extremely fortunate in being able to do that.”
See the full pictorial report in the May issue of Owner//Driver.
Photography: Tamara Whitsed