Plumby.com: World Record Truck Push, 1986

Rich Plumb (that's me, the author of this website). Just 18 at the time of the Truck Push

The Beginning June, 1986

Every story has a beginning, something that will hook you in and keep your attention. So take a close look at the photo on the second page of this leaflet, with Frank Didsbury pushing a truck, while Eric Wallace is taking it easy. One thought jumps to mind....YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING. The goal was to set a World Record by pushing an 8½ ton lorry over 1000 miles, to raise money for 'National Deaf Children's Society'. That definitely got my attention in July 1986 when I first heard about a World Record attempt that needed volunteers. So I went to a meeting at 'Sheffield Auto Hire' and signed up.

At the time I doubted we could push an 8½ ton truck a thousand miles. But I never doubted that there were enough crazy people like me who were willing to give it a try.

World Record Truck Push - Promotion Leaflet Page 1

World Record Truck Push - Promotion Leaflet Page 2

World Record Truck Push - Promotion Leaflet Page 3

World Record Truck Push - Promotion Leaflet Page 4

Sheffield Star - August 2nd, 1986
'Pushing The Limits' - This is one of the early newspaper articles trying to drum up support for the Truck Push. There was already a solid crew by this time, we had already pushed the truck hundreds of miles in training, but we still needed more people if we were going to push it another 1,000 miles.

Sheffield Star - August 2nd, 1986

Sheffield Star - September 10th, 1986
As with all best-laid plans, something always goes wrong at the last minute. Because most of the volunteers on the Truck Push were unemployed (who else could spare 2 months for this), unemployment benefits were cut to them the day before we left.

Sheffield Star - September 10th, 1986

Everyone gathers at Sheffield Auto Hire ready to leave. About 80 people had joined the team at this point, most had been training for 2-3 months previously, but others had joined at the last minute. Along with the team that would push the truck, there were also cooks, drivers, mechanics and a Doctor

World Record Truck Push Team - Preparing to leave Sheffield, September 11th, 1986

Two days later, we arrived at John O'Groats. Everyone had traveled there in the back of support trucks, sat on top of tents and food that would keep us going for the next 9 weeks. It was a grueling trip, so we were just glad to be there.

John O'Groats - Mark (left, standing), Rich and ?? (sitting)

Frank Didsbury (right) is the owner of Sheffield Auto Hire and the main organizer of the whole record attempt. His inspiration was 12 year-old Rodney Creasey, a deaf boy he knew in Sheffield. Eric Wallace (left) also coordinated the Truck Push. He worked with Frank for several months to raise sponsorship money, find equipment and publicise the trip.

Eric Wallace and Frank Didsbury

With little to do while we waited to start, everyone just hangs out. I think the only reason these people were outside was because the pub was closed. Minutes later, they had mysteriously disappeared.

John O'Groats - ??, Michelle Bee (open arms), Walt 2, ?? (in white shirt), Porky Pig (real name?), Wayne Walker

There's really nothing to see in John O'Groats, except a pub and this car park. And we didn't spend too much time in the car park.

Mark at our campsite in John O'Groats. This was the first of many fields that would become our home for a night. The following morning, after spending just one day there, we were ready to start pushing.

Mark at our campsite in John O'Groats

A few stop for a photo in front of our support truck, the 'Roadrunner'. The original plan was to have two groups of pushers who worked in shifts, pushing for a couple of hours and then riding in the support truck to rest. But most preferred to just push the truck all day, so this support truck turned into a tent truck, driving ahead of the pushers each day to find campsites.

??, ??, Walt 2, Walt 1, Joanne, Michelle Bee, Malc, ??

The framework is assembled that will be attached to the back of the truck. This framework allowed up to 54 people to push the truck at any one time. On the flat, the truck could be moved easily with 15-20 people, but on the steeper hills, 54 never felt like enough.
A plan to build this frame out of aluminium tubing (to keep it lightweight) never worked out since it was too soft and would bend. So the scaffolding we used probably added another half ton to the weight of the Truck.

Pat (on top), Andrew Bell

Cold, wet and windy. The first few days after leaving John O'Groats were the toughest of the entire trip. Pouring rain and strong winds made pushing the truck up the steep hills of Scotland almost impossible.

Front: Irwin, Barry. Next Row: Wayne Walker. 3rd Row: Chris, ??, 4th row: Pat, Mark Leech, Malc, Andrew Bell

Sheffield Star - September 18th, 1986
The bad weather during the first days definitely took its toll, and the hills in Scotland were steeper than anything we had been up before. What could be worse than pushing an 8½ truck up steep hills in the rain and cold? Well, not much really.

Sheffield Star - September 18th, 1986

After 13 days of pushing, everyone gathers for a group photo on the back on the truck. To the left, you can see the push-frame disconnected and parked.
At the end of each day this frame would left by the side of the road at the point where pushing ended, while everyone drove off to the nearest campsite. The next day, we drove back to the same spot, connected the frame and started pushing again.

Tim (green jacket at back), Jimmy (arms up on the frame). Front: Mark, Geordie', Simon, Harold, ??. 2nd row: ?? (finger up nose), Stuart, ?? Malc, ??. Back center; Rich (me)

The red traffic light you see was not an inconvenience to us, in fact we planned it that way. Someone would always run ahead of the truck and press the button to make the lights change, forcing us to stop.
This would cause a lot of people to cross the street in front of the truck and stop to see what we were doing. Then we would ask every one of them for a donation. Sneaky, but we collected a lot more money this way.

The Truck Push passes through Edinburgh, Scotland

Sheffield Star - September, 1986
When the going gets tough... sure there were a few problems when we first started and some of the claims in this story are actually true (I do remember getting soaked). But these unforeseen problems were quickly fixed.
No one can be blamed for dropping out in the early stages because no one knew what to expect. But those who remained had already worked so hard to get to Edinburgh, there was no stopping them.

Sheffield Star - September, 1986

Police escorts were with us on every mile of the route. But as we entered each city, extra police were on duty as we could easily bring traffic to a halt.
Navigating the smaller streets could be difficult, getting stuck in a tight bend and pushing the truck in reverse was not an option.

The Truck Push passes through Edinburgh, Scotland

'FD1' rolls down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. We were 16 days and 300 miles from John O'Groats.

The Truck Push passes through Edinburgh, Scotland

Sheffield Star - September, 1986
This appeal did bring new volunteers, who were driven up to Scotland to join us.

Sheffield Star - September, 1986

Another field becomes our next campsite. Our support crew drove ahead of the truck each day guessing how far we would travel (we averaged about 20 miles a day). Then they would search for a campsite or building where we might be allowed to stay for free (and take a shower) or an open field (where we couldn't!).

Progress had been slow up to this point. About 20 people had already gone home and with several injuries, we were far behind schedule. But no one was concerned, the 60 or so people remaining were still sure it could be done.

A lunchtime break with a cup of tea and a sandwich.
Cigarette and haircut optional.

Stuart (drinking), Mark, Geordie, Steve Bee (smoking)

It's no fun washing up for 60 people. Malc must have done something really bad to get this punishment!

Malc

This was the biggest story written about the Truck Push. Every story to this point had been focused on the problems and the complaints of those that had dropped out. But the Truck kept on rolling, so this attempted to set the record straight.

Sheffield Star - October 6th, 1986

While pushing the truck on the flat, or uphill, most people would be pushing. Everyone found their favorite place on the frame and kept the same spot for the whole trip (that's me, front left). When the truck coasted downhill, everyone sat on the frame and rode along.

Welcome To Scotland? Sorry, we're heading South, so it's bye bye.

Leaving Scotland

The England-Scotland border was a significant milestone. We left the Scottish mountains behind thinking England would be much easier and that the worst was over. But with another 800 miles still to go, we were wrong.
The team was getting smaller by the day and the hills just got longer, not steeper.

Leaving Scotland

As soon as we reached Newcastle we paid a visit a local deaf children's school.
The purpose of the visit was to show the kids what we were trying to do, to raise money and help the schools buy equipment that would make their lives easier. But what it really did was to boost the moral of the team and show them that we were pushing this truck 1,200 miles for a very good cause.

A deaf children's School in Newcastle

The next day as we pushed the truck out of Newcastle, the deaf children's school we visited the previous day gave everyone the day off so the kids could come out and help us.
They cheered us on, took collection tins and collected along the roadside and for a while, I think the only people pushing the truck were the kids!! They followed us out to the edge of the city, then waved us goodbye.

The children's parents talk to several members of the team while we take a break.
It's a chance for the kids to climb on the truck and see how we manage to get 50 people all pushing the truck at the same time (one of the most common questions they asked us).

The platform built on the back of the truck was a good spot for the kids to sit while we pushed the truck with them on it.

Crossing the Tyne bridge in Newcastle.

I'll never know just how many people watched us from the roadside as thought '...they're nuts'.
But when we spent a few hours in Newcastle with some of the deaf children we were helping, we knew it was all worth it. And besides, we knew we were nuts anyway.

Gary (Garibaldie) with 2 children from the deaf children's school

Between towns, the only way to raise money for charity was to deliberately slow down the traffic that passed us and ask them to donate. To do that meant standing in the middle of the road while collecting, a dangerous occupation. Sure it made some drivers mad, but this was for charity, we thought it was worth it.

Standing in the road with collection tins might have been dangerous, but it could be just as bad while you were pushing the truck. Some drivers, while speeding past us, were suddenly compelled to make a donation. But instead of slowing down, they would launch a handful of coins out of their window and speed away.
So when you least expected it, while walking down a quiet road, you could get smacked across the head with 32 pence in small change!

Sheffield Star - October, 1986
The 5 week Truck Push was turning into a 10 week Truck Push as we were running a long way behind schedule. While training for the push during the previous 3 months, we calculated how far we could travel in a day (I think we could travel 25-30 miles per day). But to continue to do that day after day proved to be impossible.

Sheffield Star - October, 1986

Sheffield Star - October, 1986
Sheffield was home to everyone on the Truck Push, so everyone planned to take a few days off while we were there. But it also marked the halfway point.

Sheffield Star - October, 1986

Sheffield Star - October, 1986
A bit behind schedule, but the Town Hall Reception with the Lord Mayor of Sheffield was waiting for us. It had taken almost 5 weeks to reach Sheffield, the same amount of time we had planned to complete the entire trip! So we knew another 5 weeks were required to reach Lands End.

Sheffield Star - October, 1986

Sheffield Star - October, 1986
Now here's a feel-good story for you....
A husband leaves his wife at home (who's 8 months pregnant) to join the Truck Push. He rushes home to see their new-born baby at the half-way point, then leaves them again to continue with the Push for another 5 weeks. Now that's a dedicated truck pusher.

Sheffield Star - October, 1986

Birmingham City center. Whenever we passed through big cities, we would take a break there and park the truck in the city center. Everyone would then spend the day with collection tins trying to raise money for the Deaf Children's Society.
Curiosity would always attract a lot of people just to talk, and therefore bring more donations.

We've only pushed a Truck 800 miles, why are these guys so tired?

Bristol City Center. Another day for the team to take a break from pushing the truck and spend the day with collection tins, asking passers-by to donate.
Although some places had refused to let us push the truck through the center of town (I think Bristol was one of them), we would push the truck to the outskirts, park the frame and then drive into the center, thereby not causing any traffic problems.

As the truck rolls along level ground, the driver would occasionally have to run the engine to keep the air brakes pressurized. If the pressure was too low, the brakes would switch on automatically, bringing us to a stop.
On very rare occasions, the engine would have to be run while we were going uphill, making the pushers mad because anyone who saw this would think we were driving, not pushing. But the truck was NEVER DRIVEN AN INCH, we would all have felt like cheats if we had.

With over a thousand miles traveled so far, one of the wheels on the frame finally gave in and collapsed. Everything quickly came to a stop while repairs were made. Luckily we had a few spares and we were moving again in less than 30 minutes.

After a night of strong winds, the frame was blown over and damaged. After righting it and fixing the sponsors boards, it remained that way for the rest of the trip.

Entering Devon in the Southwest of England. Although we were getting very close to the end, it was already November and the weather was getting worse.

Everyone is wearing their waterproofs for a reason, I think it rained almost every day towards the end.

You can never miss a chance for a photo, but let's keep it real; these guys look like they are posing for a studio portrait. Did David Bailey take this picture?

Pat (back), Malc, Dean, Tim, Front: Andy, Chris, Mark

Traveling between towns, the Police continued to escort us everywhere. There had been more than one traffic accident caused by the Truck Push, either by cars overtaking us into incoming traffic or by people driving past, staring at the truck and driving off the road. Occasionally we created backups miles long, and the Police would ask us to pull over regularly to let them pass.

This shows an average day, with most places on the frame taken up and about 30 people pushing. At the back, you can just see (the arm) of those that walked along behind, doing the important job of collecting. They probably walked twice as far as anyone else, since they zigzagged all over the place instead of walking straight down the road like most of us.

Here's 'Joe Ninety' asleep in the pub. I don't think it was the truck push made him so tired, it was probably all the singing!

Sheffield Star - November 14th, 1986
With just 70 miles to go, there's nothing like a sad story to get us back into the newspaper! There was no danger of quitting, but those last hills really did slow us down. We all thought the South of England would be flat, but the hills just rolled into the distance and never ended.

Sheffield Star - November 14th, 1986

We see the South coast for the first time and we know that Land End is over those hills in the distance (well...it's a long way over those hills). But it's there and we know it.

Only about 8 miles from the end, we were struggling to push the truck up one of the last hills, so even the Police escort jumped out of his car to help us.

Phew, it's a good thing they put this sign here, wouldn't want to take a wrong turn now.

The 'First And Last' pub in England (depending on which way you're traveling), and we didn't even stop for a pint!

Frank had been pushing the truck almost every mile of the way. With all the organization that had gone into this Truck Push, I'm sure he'd been kept busy day and night.

I don't think the truck would have moved faster down this last stretch, even if it was in top gear. Everyone gave a last burst of speed and ran the truck to the finishing line, Lands End. It's hard to see in this photo, but there's a group of people holding a 'Finishing Line' banner at the end of the road.

Congratulations all round, 65 days of pushing had paid off. Here it looks like we pushed the truck to within 6 inches of the Lands End Pub. I think we could have got it a bit closer myself.

Sheffield Star - November 18th, 1986
I love the line in this story that says 'a push like this may be useless in itself...'. But when you stop to think about it, it still amazes me that so many people believed in such a crazy idea as to actually make it happen.

Sheffield Star - November 18th, 1986

Winding down, but with a lot of work still to be done. The framework and sponsors boards attached to the back of the truck had to be dismantled and packed up, to allow the truck to be driven back to Sheffield.

Hard to believe that we had made it.

Wayne and me at Lands End. Those of you with sharp eyes will notice that the shoes I'm wearing here are the very same shoes I was wearing at John O'Groats!! They were so worn out and the soles were so smooth by the end that I asked every member of the team to sign the bottom of them, and I've kept them to this day (I'll even post a picture of those signatures soon).

We had all trained for about 3 months to get ready for this trip and it took over 2 months to complete.I think everyone was a bit thirsty by the end.

A few of us gather for a final picture. It was going to be a quick shot, but everyone else saw a good photo opportunity and decided to join us. Within a few minutes, the following picture was taken at the same spot.

Almost everyone that made it to Lands End (about 30 of the original 80) line up for a photo for the newspapers. I don't think the picture was every published, but a few small stories were.

The Sun Newspaper - November 19th, 1986
Without a doubt, the most disappointing newspaper story printed about the trip was this in 'The Sun', the largest newspaper in the country. A photographer and journalist came to Lands End and interviewed several members of the team. But 2 days later, this is all they printed, and the biggest publicity we could have hoped for turned to nothing. The Sun Newspaper SUCKS. But I'm not bitter.

The Sun Newspaper - November 19th, 1986

Sheffield Star - November 20th, 1986
And we all lived happily ever after...well...not quite. Reality set in as soon as we returned. I don't know what happened to most people after the truck push, whether they found work or remained unemployed. I was lucky, I called my boss and got my old job back the day after I returned. But I lost touch with almost everyone, and forgot many of their names too. Sorry.

Eric and Frank present Rodney with special equipment that can record TV with the subtitles, allowing him to pause it and read the subtitles at his own speed. It sounds like simple equipment, but I'm sure it was a big help to him.

Mark and Rodney, after the presentation.

Sheffield Star - August, 1987
As you read many of the newspaper articles, you'll find a lot of conflicting information about how much money the Truck Push actually raised for charity. The goal was to raise £500,000, but in the end we raised £30,000.

Sheffield Star - August, 1987

Sheffield Star - September, 1987
One year later a small group of us visited Hazelbarrow School in Sheffield and presented them with cheques totaling £29,000 we raised. Half went directly to the school and the rest to the National Deaf Children's Society.

Sheffield Star - September, 1987