I received this story which is in 3 parts from Mike Sargent. He has given me permission to post it on this site. Here it is:
“The only problems I remember having with Simons apart from the fking dog in the yard was when I was on the way to Tehran in early december 75. As you remember it was the worst winter in Turkey for about 40 years. i stopped at Sivas for the night, left the motor running at about 1200revs. It was minus 35c, bit fresh. In the morning we started off after about 10ks there was a fking big bang and the engine started to misfire. We tilted the cab and had a look. It turned out that nr 5 piston had broken a ring partially seized and bent the push rods. We drove back to a little garage in Sivas and stripped the engine, me and the turks. After waiting a day I managed to get a phone call to Jim Haley and explained the problem. I asked him to send the parts airmail to me. He said no it was too much problem with gumruk for importing parts but no prob he says cheerfully Bernie is leaving UK tomorrow I’ll give all the parts to him, he’ll be with you in a week. F**king brilliant tight ■■■■■■■■ So I lived in the garage for a week. After 10 days I thought even with the snow he should be here now. Another day for a phonecall and the magic Haley says sorry but Bernie’s broke down in Yugo with a broken gearbox. Didn’t think to give my parts to another driver, duh. After nearly three weeks he arrives after which we spend two days digging the truck out so we could build a ring of bonfires round it to thaw everything out after which we repaired it and off I went to Tehran, first spending 5 days in the queue at Gurbulak-Barzargan. I left UK just before xmas and got back at easter. 17 weeks that trip took and I got the princely sum of £550 trip money. Oh what fun days.”
Part 2.
“I have to add a postscript to the previous story in case it sounds far fetched for taking so long. When I eventually got the truck repaired the TIR carnet had expired so I had to drive back to Ankara, leave the truck, get a lift to Taci Kocman in Istanbul and get new papers sent from UK. Then return to Ankara, get the carnet renewed, customs exam, resealed, everything put on paper by an attorney that I was in Turkey for breakdown etc. This cost just over a week. Then 5 days on the border. When I got to Tehran I spent another 3 weeks clearing customs because the consignee had invoked a delivery delay clause and was refusing to pay duties. Then I returned to Giresun to load nuts. I waited 6 days to load because Jeffrey wanted to load 40 tons on the road train. Two loads in one to recoupe a bit of money. Driving back was a nightmare because of the weight, avoiding weighbridges, police, etc.When I got to Dover they sent a 6 wheeled unit from the yard to take the first 20 tons on the trailer which had dolly wheels so could be turned into a 20ft trailer. When he came back from Cadburys we transhipped 10 ton from the motorwagon into the trailer and I delivered the whole lot. Another 3 days f**king about. So there you have it.”
Part 3.
“When I eventually got the truck repaired I left Ankara. At Zara I saw 3 english trucks parked for a break so I stopped. It was 2 trucks from Chapman and Ball and John Galsworthy (Goldie) from Brit European (Carmens). I decided to run with them so off we went. Now as many of you will remember, the winter of 75 was one of the worst for many years in Turkey. I mean there were even signs saying watch out for wooly mammoths crossing the road! Because the winter was so bad the turks had a big problem with fuel deliveries so had instigated a rationing system for diesel. When you arrived at a garage you were only allowed to buy diesel for 100 turk lira (about £3). This was OK for a Tonka but not very generous for a big truck. OK, the turks were fair, everone got the same but it meant that our progress was like the tortoise and hare. From garage to garage all the way to Gurbulak. When we arrived at Gurbulak, surprise, surprise, there was a queue of about 25kms so we started thinking days rather than hours. It was about minus 15 and we were all low on diesel so took it in turns to all sit in one truck to keep warm. After 3 days we had also run low on water. Washing didn’t matter but for cooking and tea we decided to pool all the water into one can. Goldie was designated tea manager. We tipped all the water into his can. We had about 15 ltrs. Someone shouted they’re moving up so we all jumped into our motors to start (after 3 days you don’t really want anyone to pull in front of you). As we pulled forward I heard a big bang and thought, oh sh*t, someone’s had a blow out, another job to do in the cold. As we moved up I saw on the ground a big, flat, white thing but took no notice. When we stopped after about 300 metres (a good result), we decided to have a brew so turned to the tea manager for the water. Where’s the can gone he says. I left it on the catwalk. I then remembered the big, white, flat thing I had seen. Yes, exactly, when he drove forward the can fell under the wheel and he drove over it, duh! After we discussed hanging Goldie from the wing mirror we decided to get one of the turk lads from the village to get us some water. Now this lad wasn’t slow. I get you water but you pay. OK, we didn’t have much choice so we negotiated a price. He came back with 2 cans of water (about 20ltrs). We paid him and away he went thinking christmas had come twice that year. We had to pay the lad 500 turk lira for the water (about £15). NOT A DROP WAS SPILT.”
. Also the kids who used to climb in the back of the trailer to smash several boxes open for inspection expected a payment which was also usually a packet of ciggies. I seem to think that after Young Turk had done your paperwork there was always another backsheash included. This eased off a bit after the military takeover which I think was at the end of 1980 or 1981 but it wasn’t long before it carried on again as normal. Hopefully somebody else will remember exactly when it was.
And just think what Jeffrey’s reaction would have been! 