Taking the five-o-nine story + photos n australian truck photography Andrew Stropp Gray used to think the classic W-model was his ultimate truck. That was until he came face to face with the mighty Kenworth C-Series... Like most trucking stories Stropp s starts with family. His Dad, Len, operated earthmoving equipment and a couple of trucks. Growing up in this environment was always going to have an influence and, according to Stropp, it s from Len that he developed his love of good machinery. Based in Ceduna, on South Australia s coastal edge of the Nullarbor Plain, Stropp has long been a strong supporter of the Kenworth brand. It was the classic W-models that used to catch his eye, however, a chance encounter with a C501 convinced him the time had come to upgrade. I was up in the Territory last year with my cousins from Bendigo, Stropp confesses. We were coming out of Litchfield National Park, cutting through the back roads to Darwin. A C501 came out of the bush pulling triple crates... it looked absolutely awesome, smiles Stropp. Two more triples road trains from the same company were up ahead. Road works gave them the opportunity to round up the road trains, but deciding to have a chat with their drivers, they stopped when the trucks pulled over. Stropp made a beeline for the C501. It was driven by an old black fella, he recalled. A really nice guy with big cowboy boots and a big hat! He was friendly, so I asked if I could have a look inside. He said no worries and I jumped in the driver s seat... said there and then, I ve gotta get me one of these. Flying back to into Melbourne, Stropp headed home to Ceduna via the Kenworth dealer in Adelaide. I saw Mark Clements at CMV and told him I wanted a new T509... and I wanted it in time for the harvest, which was only three months away! Taking the five-o-nine - Page 1
Apart from its classic look, Stropp wanted the C509 for its reputation as an Australian engineered tough-truck that endures in harsh conditions... Getting the truck delivered before the harvest was the first hurdle. The second was telling his wife Dianne. According to Stropp, once she calmed down, he explained that it was all part of his downsizing plan and that by selling his old truck, an aerodyne and a couple of tippers they d have enough to pay for the C509. Downsizing the business had already been discussed; a strategy they d agreed would reduce overheads and simplify the operation. Besides the transport operation, Stropp also runs an earthmoving business. The company operates a range of Kenworths; from T600A tippers through to an S2 water truck. Depending on the day, there can be up to six W-model prime movers in the yard. Stropp even has a 30-year old K-Series he s vowed to restore. The third hurdle facing Stropp turned out to be the toughest... the wait for delivery. I like things done there and then, having to wait three months took a bit of the shine off. When Mark (Clements) and I went over to the factory to pick it up, I was excited, Stropp admitted. The way they treated me was just brilliant, they couldn t have done enough. I had an absolute ball, it was terrific to see how they build these trucks. The big day happened to coincide with Mark Clements s 50th birthday, so as Mark headed home he gave Stropp the C509s keys and left it to him to get the new truck back to Adelaide. I hadn t driven in Melbourne for 20 years and was petrified, he admitted. I rang my cousin and, thankfully, he wasn t too far away. So we drove out of town together that night, recalls Stropp. Three weeks later he picked his new C509 up from CMV. According to Stropp, you couldn t wipe the smile off his face! He wanted a classic conventional truck, and says his C509 carries that style forward while offering industry-leading standards in reliability, comfort and power. Apart from its classic big-truck style, Stropp wanted the C509 for its well-earned reputation as an Australian engineered tough-truck that endures in harsh conditions. Stropp does some bush work out to the mines and also wanted the option to pull triples if he ever needed. Taking the five-o-nine - Page 2
If everything gets too political, I can head north and go and work where things are simpler, Stropp explains. I m not a city boy and didn t buy this to run around town. Give me the bush any day. With the wheat harvest kicking into gear, there s plenty of work around to keep the new C509 on the go. I left school when I was 14 years old. I could read and write well enough to get by and worked on a loader pushing scrub. I used to drive out to Nundroo on a Sunday night with no licence and stayed there for the week. recalls Stropp. Once Stropp turned 16, he got his provisional licence... and a new Monaro. I worked with Dad and learnt all I know from him until I was 18 when I got my semi licence. By the time Stropp was 24, he had three trucks but a change of fortune saw him back in Ceduna without any trucks. Stropp was now married to Dianne and they decided to have another go with a secondhand cab-over Kenworth. A good grain season saw Stropp trade the cab-over to run interstate for four years. I put in a bid with SA Water, which I won... I m still doing the work today. I raced around to purchase two tankers and a cab-over Kenworth. We have been Kenworth ever since. After a few W-models, I then purchased my first big late-model truck, a 97 cab-over Aerodyne. You can t kill a Kenworth. Their strength comes from being built so well and the C509 is no exception. Its big, but functional, he explains. The visibility is excellent. I love the flat dash and having a 50-inch sleeper is great. Out on the farm, the C509 kicks up a huge cloud of dust as Stropp drives out to the silos. The truck crosses two paddocks to reach the loading area. Once loaded, Stropp has a quick chat with the farmer while he completes his paperwork, before heading back into the Ceduna silos. Out on the farm, the C509 kicks up a huge cloud of dust as Stropp drives out to the silos. Gray s Transport owners, Stropp and wife, Dianne. The pair have built the company from scratch using second hand Kenworths. Their C509 (pictured) is the company s first new truck Taking the five-o-nine - Page 3
Everything I know has been self taught; and I learnt very early on that it pays to buy the best quality trucks and machinery, states Stropp. Stropp has been asked to be the transport representative at Viterra s Silos. The company s storage and handling network consists of more than 100 grain sites across regional South Australia, Victoria, and seven port terminals in South Australia. I have been carting into here for 25 years and knew all the committee members. When one of the older guys resigned I was approached to stand, Stropp said of his appointment. I said I would stand as long as they knew that I would be there representing the transport side. I think I may have rocked the boat a little. His other involvement with the local community includes helping to build a dirt circuit track, and turning his yard into a classroom for the kids at the local school. The informal association with the school came about when he attended his first parent / teacher interview. The interview finished with Stropp telling the teacher to stop trying to turn the kids into doctors or lawyers, being a builder or truck driver isn t that bad. Stropp found out later the school had a meeting to discuss what he d said and asked if he was interested in having some of the kids from the school come down to show them around and tell them his story. Taking the five-o-nine - Page 4
Two busloads of kids, 68 in total marched through the yard. The class ended up doing a project on transport, sending him a large poster as a thank you. Everything I know has been self taught; and I learnt very early on that it pays to buy the best quality trucks and machinery, states Stropp. I m proud of what we ve achieved, our gear, the Kenworths and I know the C509 was the right decision. I ve driven it to Perth a couple of times and it s proven itself a comfortable and quiet truck. What more can I ask? Above: The legendary W-model Kenworth used to be the mainstay of the Gray s Transport fleet. That was until Stropp pulled into the yard with his new C509 Taking the five-o-nine - Page 5