MORNING GLORY

> SYDNEY PICK-UP FANS BRAVE THE COLD FOR A KILLER MEET-AND-GREET

FUll-size pick-up trucks are possibly the hottest vehicular trend going right now, and the response to Pickup Trucks Down Under’s (PTDU) first Sydney meet-and-greet sure backs that up! PTDU’S John Flanders enlisted the help of 2020 SMOTY winner Aaron Gregory and Oxytech Powder Coatings’ Scotty Barter to gather all their mates with off-tap commercial vehicles, resulting in 110 trucks of all descriptions pre-registered for the informal gathering on 26 June.

“John and the PTDU crew held a Melbourne meet-and-greet recently, and the success of that inspired them to reach out to Aaron and I about putting one together in Sydney,” Scotty explained. “We didn’t want it to be a show, but we wanted a cars-and-coffee vibe so it wasn’t just standing around in the work car park.”

The clear – if chilly – winter weather had everyone out in force early, with trucks rolling into Oxytech’s Smithfield car park long before the official start time of 8am. Participants came from as far away as Newcastle and Wollongong, bringing a wide variety of pick-up styles with them.

Scotty and Aaron had put a stack of effort into working out a parking plan, figuring they’d be able to squeeze 100 trucks into the Oxytech driveway and car park, and by 10am all of that space had been taken. The crowd was further swelled by plenty of spectators coming to check out the rides, and there was a steady stream of foot traffic up the driveway as non pick-ups were left parked on the street.

Hot coffee and delicious food from Ynot Crepes and Little Bird Kombi Café kept the masses fed, and the Top Blokes Foundation also had its giveaway ’66 Mustang fastback on show.

But the focus of the day was the casual get-together to check out each other’s trucks – which covered everything from stockers to blown pro street monsters; 4x4s to reardrivers; and in all manner of sizes.

“We’re stoked to support John and the PTDU crew by hosting today,” said Scotty. “We’re itching for their next meet-and-greet.”

BOTTOM: Mark Hooker’s Nissan Sunny shop truck was a delivery rig for a Japanese Harley dealer in a former life

ABOVE: Scotty’s ’56 Chev rides on an HQ panel van chassis, runs a blown 308 and airbags, and is powdercoated inside and out!

RIGHT: Dan’s F100 packs turbo Barra power, Brembo stoppers, IFS and coil-overs all ’round