What did happen to Ron the Con and his MAN wrecker as the last time I saw him was in Piraeus in 1990.
LB76:
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Blimey, had a bit of a guilt feeling come over me when I saw this photo. Reminded me of the time when I was parked up at the New Customs, Tehran (or should I say, outside it in the dust bowl) having just tipped that day but I needed 4 tyres to be replaced to have any chance of being able to backload from Giresun with the usual hazelnuts. I happened to mention this to another Brit driver who said that he could help me out there for the usual going price of £20 a tyre…no questions asked! I agreed and him and his mate came back a little while later rolling some decent looking tyres on their rims which I then proceded to fit on my trailer. Afterwards, I went over to where his truck was parked to pay him only to discover the wagon parked next to his was now missing 4 tyres. “Bloody hell” I exclaimed “where’s the driver of that truck?” “He wanted to go into the centre of Tehran and go on the ■■■■. Serves him right for leaving his vehicle unattended” he replied. I had planned to leave the following morning for the border but decided to leave straight away!! Bloody Simon’s drivers 
I think that sums up the attitude of a lot of Brit drivers and is one of the reasons we had the worst reputation on the road. Thanks for owning up, we’ve all done things we’re not proud of but not even e Turkish or Bulgarians international drivers would treat eachmofher’s property like that!
I have read everything I can about the Middle East run, having never been there! It seems that, at the beginning, the hardships were physical- roads, weather, unsuitable vehicles. Nevertheless, everyone involved, locals and drivers, helped each other out. Later on, the problems were human- overcrowding of the roads, rate-cutting and crime (rock-throwing cigarette children, gangsters everywhere en route and the above-mentioned behaviour of the drivers themselves). When did this change happen? When did it deteriorate from tough-but-honest to tough-because-of-dishonesty?
I think you’ve very much hit the nail on the head.
In the early days the drivers saw themselves as professionals. later on the world and his wife were on the road and many of the lads would have been unable to hold down a job in England.
There were still a ■■■■■■■■■ of professionals but companies desperate for Drivers were hiring just about anybody. Many were quasi criminals.
At OHS I used to give the wannabe drivers quite a grilling before we took them on. The first stunner would be when I asked them " When you get off the ferry at Zeebrugge where will you head for." You would be staggered to learn how many couldn’t answer that question. They were straight out the door!
In the end we took on good drivers with no continental experience and sent them out makee learn with our 'old timers"
That worked well because we then dispensed with the dishonesty in drivers claiming they were experienced in order to get the job.
Love this guys racing slicks. Suppose nobody would want to steal them 
Stupot:
Love this guys racing slicks. Suppose nobody would want to steal them
Hiya …IS HE the driver…yes i know …he dose look abit of a lad…did i look that young 40 years ago…
John
Hi John.Yes he WAS the driver.Jim was just ‘‘baby faced’’.A lot of us were in our early 20s.jim was very well spoken and came from a well to do farming family,like a lot of us he was in it as much for the adventure as the money.I think in those days it was a little easier to get a start with a company.The main problem was the insurance excess if you were under 25,especially for M.E.When i had my own motor i was 23,i paid £1000 for an old ERF and the insurance for ME from Astrans agent was £5000 
.I think we ALL looked a little better then.Mike
Archie Paice:
Hullo,
I’ve been trying to think of the bloke from Knaresborough, was on for Whittles (long before I was) he had a few motors, he used to go by the name of Bostumus. If I am not mistaken there was a write up about him in one of the Rags, he was one of the first to buy a magirus deutch ? Later in life I met his son, he moved to France and was running a French motor. Come on Malcolm, you must know.
Cheers, Archie.
Hi Archie,i think the guy your thinking of was Alec Grieve who traded as Butomas. I first met him in teheran at the start of the revolution. He was parked at the side of the street near the customs with his maggie d whilst most of the other brits were in Davies turners Compound. I think he was there for over a month. It was one of his trucks that went on fire down the tapline a couple of years later with a Whittle load on,there was talk of a delivery of brass valves having dissapeared from the trailer. It was being driven by a red haired scotsman who previously worked for OHS.
Regards Jamie.
chazzer:
What did happen to Ron the Con and his MAN wrecker as the last time I saw him was in Piraeus in 1990.
He was there a couple of years either side of that at least, either working with Theo or on his own. He sold us some ferry tickets through his girlfriend too. He maybe still there but there are not so many old Brits going down, they are all taxed and on R&M 
truckerash:
How could this thread not include this fine example?
AnIt’s unclear what happened to the AEC after Bob Paul part ex’d it for a new Scania. Nevertheless, some years later it appeared in Oldhams livery.
Hiya… i found this photo on a AEC site. it is said to be a 1940’s M3 mammoth major with a later 1960’s mk5 cab fitted…
…is this the cab…it’ would have some tales to tell if it could speak
John
Hiya a little bit better photo…the copy rights belong to homer simpson on flikka
i don’t think the guy who owns the truck knows what he got hold of
John
M&C Jamie:
Archie Paice:
Hullo,
I’ve been trying to think of the bloke from Knaresborough, was on for Whittles (long before I was) he had a few motors, he used to go by the name of Bostumus. If I am not mistaken there was a write up about him in one of the Rags, he was one of the first to buy a magirus deutch ? Later in life I met his son, he moved to France and was running a French motor. Come on Malcolm, you must know.
Cheers, Archie.Hi Archie,i think the guy your thinking of was Alec Grieve who traded as Butomas. I first met him in teheran at the start of the revolution. He was parked at the side of the street near the customs with his maggie d whilst most of the other brits were in Davies turners Compound. I think he was there for over a month. It was one of his trucks that went on fire down the tapline a couple of years later with a Whittle load on,there was talk of a delivery of brass valves having dissapeared from the trailer. It was being driven by a red haired scotsman who previously worked for OHS.
Regards Jamie.
Hullo Steve,
Spot on, thanks mate, it’s real bugger when you think of something or somebody and you just can’t get the name ain’t it ? I wonder what he’s doing now, the old yard that he was in was completely empty when I last passed through, maybe it’ all high rise flats now, I must check. Not on the same subject but it saves me an email. How are you ? Keeping well I hope. Have you tried the new machine out yet ?, either a trip up to Nakon Rachasiema, or a trip over to Kanchanaburi, I have spoken to both quite recently and they are both fit and well.
Thanks for the reply to my post, see you next January.
Sewady Krup, (spelling), Archie.
There does not seem much wrong with the HJ Atlas Daf and rental trailer etc. ( prior to the pilfering ).
I wonder why such was just left and abandoned when it looks like some goodwill from a fellow Brit would have got it towed back somewhere locally for repair?
Maybe the driver went off to try and seek such help only to return to find the picture we see !
There’s a few “foreign trucks” creeping into the tread. Can we keep it British please? Merci 
Here we have Geoff Frost posing on route to Iran with his “beloved” AEC which he drove JHW of Camberley.
He later went to work for Astran driving a V8 Scania. No comparison really…
Whats going on with the o/s wheel arch .
What model is the Aec,front track looks a bit narrow?
hi all,
cool thread,love the old photos ash 
.when you are driving in the desert,which is the o/side and which is the n/side
regards andrew.
Jazzandy:
I think that sums up the attitude of a lot of Brit drivers and is one of the reasons we had the worst reputation on the road. Thanks for owning up, we’ve all done things we’re not proud of but not even e Turkish or Bulgarians international drivers would treat eachmofher’s property like that!
Being the recipient of the tyres I suppose I was as guilty as the bloke who actually stole them. Not that I’m seeking anyone’s approval or disapproval. I’m just relating a story of the sort of things that went on out there. It did seem to be a ‘dog eat dog’ world when I was doing runs out there in the mid 70’s. Survival of the fittest springs to mind and one’s lorry was of paramount importance in all aspects to getting the job done. Unfortunately, an ideal world it ain’t.
I appreciate you ‘fessin’ up and you obviously feel guilty so that’s good.
Maybe we should have a ‘Truth and reconciliation’ thread!
I really feel for the guy who had his tyres knicked. Replacing those tyres would have been a nightmare. I lost a week in Tehran when two of my tyres burst in the Railway customs when I drove over a hidden broken pipe.
Eventually the agent found two brand new tyres which the company paid for. I lost another three days at Bazargan when the customs would not allow me to ‘export’’ them.