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Mid Wales crowds delighted by classic lorry run double header
Last weekend saw two classic lorry runs combine to produce a tremendous double header, delighting Mid Wales crowds in the glorious sunshine.
The Tommy Williams – Heart of Wales Classic Lorry Run took place on Saturday and Sunday.
The collective of preserved trucks saw famous makes of old take to the tarmac, such as Leyland, BMC, Dodge, AEC, Austin, Guy, Bedford, ERF, Seddon Atkinson, Albion to existing makes of Scania and Volvo.
A beautifully restored 1953 Leyland Comet 90 shone in the Mid Wales sunshine (E A Bates )
Starting from Llandeilo both days, the convoy of 22 trucks toured the scenic best of Mid and West Wales.
Leominister hauliers Conods had two of their heritage fleet out, of a Leyland and ERF.
Ex-vehicle inspector, Mike Chandler of Llandrindod Wells had his AEC Mercury, while Bob Sutton had his ex M A Evans Scania 143m.
Saturday saw the procession head north to Llandovery to climb over the Sugar Loaf to Llanwrtyd Wells and Builth Wells.
Teifion Thomas driving Tommy Williams’ Austin with Conods Leyland behind (E A Bates )
Crossing the Wye and passing the busy showground, the convoy then picked up the A483 to reach a well-deserved coffee stop at Crossgates. Here, the collection of lorries caused a stir among the 60-plus group of motorcyclists assembled at the café, before it was off again, this time up the A44 to Rhayader.
Rounding the town’s clock tower, the convoy then took the main road up the Wye Valley to Eisteddfa Gurig, before dropping down to Ponterwyd and onto the seaside town of Aberystwyth. After lunch, the lorries took the coast road down to Aberaeron where they bared off left to head for home.
They then went on to Lampeter, then Talley, before returning to Llandeilo to the finish, with the convoy completing the 141 miles without missing a beat.
A throwback to the 1970s: The Dodge K series meets a classic Land Rover (E A Bates )
Bathed in sunshine, Sunday saw more lorries join the run.
Tommy Williams had three of his fleet out, of two Bedfords and an Austin.
Tommy had chosen to drive his 1946 OY Bedford, with the Austin being driven by Teifion Thomas, who had driven it in the late 1960s and early 70s while working on coal deliveries.
28 lorries in total took off for their 120-mile tour, leaving the station yard at Llandeilo to retrace their steps slightly, to a total of eight miles to Llanwrda where the lorries turned onto the A482.
The convoy then headed up the Dulais Valley before climbing the hills to drop into the Teifi Valley. They then crossed the Teifi at Lampeter before continuing onto Temple Bar and dropping to head down the Aeron Valley to Aberaeron.
Picking up the coast road, the drivers were treated to stunning sea views over Cardigan Bay to the dinner stop at the Internal Fire Museum of Power at Tan-y-groes.
A group of stock lorries pound down the Mid Wales tarmac (E A Bates )
After an interesting look around the museum and refreshments it was soon time to set off again.
The convoy continued south on the coast road to Cardigan where they picked up the A478 to Crymych, then Llandissilio to pick up the A40 again at Narberth.
Heading back up the A40 to Whitland, St Clears, and Carmarthen, the convoy finished back where they began at Llandeilo.
