An east Cambridgeshire trucker scooped two trophies after going up against some of the country’s best juggernauts at Truckfest 2020.
Chris Sallis of P.J. Lee & Sons Highflier Farm in Ely won ‘Best Show Truck’ and ‘Best Company Owned Truck’ at the socially-distant Peterborough event.
Judging took place over the two-day event held at the East of England Arena on August 30 and 31 which was attended by 6,000 festival-goers.
For the first time in the show’s history, Mr Sallis retained the Best Company Owned Truck trophy after winning the same prize at last year’s event.
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He said: “You know you are in with a chance, but It is never expected that you will win and to retain the top trophy at the biggest event is amazing.
“I am told it is a first to retain the title in Truckfest history.
“I am also very pleased to win with the Scania first time out too. It makes all the hard work worth it and my Father John is just as much as part of this as I am.”
Mr Sallis entered with the farm’s Volvo 2016 FH which has covered more than 300,000Kms, as well as his personal 2004 Scania R500 show lorry.
The Volvo is painted in a special metallic grey colour, mixed specially for Highflier Farm along with Post Office red with the number plate N111HFF.
Detailed airbrushing on each corner in black show Peter Lee and the Highflier racehorse from where the farm takes its name.
The paintwork was carried out by Kirk Coachworks in Wisbech while the chrome bars were fitted by Bailey Ltd also of Wisbech.
The truck works all week operated by the farm hauling produces from the fields to points around Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.
When the truck is not working, usually on a Saturday, driver Chris along with his Father John, spend up to ten hours polishing the truck.
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Mr Sallis’ Scania 2004 R500 Topline, which has completed 1,800,000Kms, is a pure show truck.
He, along with a friend, completed the restoration work before the truck also went to Kirk Coachworks to be blasted and painted.
The back of the cab has airbrushed artwork showing the trucks driven by Chris’s grandfather and father then also the first truck driven by Chris.
The following weekend Chris drove the Volvo to Truckfest South West held at the Royal Bath and West Showground Shepton Mallet.
Again, he came away with a pair of trophies for Best Company Owned truck and Best Overall Working Truck.
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