When John Duggan was a young aspiring driver he used to have Jimmy Barnes blaring out on his speakers, now he’s got his signed portrait on his Kenworth...
Rockhampton based John Duggan doesn’t mince his words when it comes to giving his opinion about the condition of the transport industry today and where it’s heading.
And, he has a fair idea of what he’s talking about, too, especially when it comes to operating and specifying equipment to last in the gruelling conditions of northwest Queensland. After all, he’s been in the game for the best part of four decades, and shows little sign of slowing down.
His latest acquisition, a Kenworth Legend SAR, boasts a blend of proven traditional components with modern technology, all finished with custom airbrushed artwork featuring legendary Australian singer Jimmy Barnes.
John runs a modest fleet of five trucks, including three legend series Kenworths: #32 T950, #195 T900 and the #32 SAR.
John's Legend SAR must be one of the best presented SARs in the country.
The other Kenworth is a T650 which understandably has also received John’s custom touch. And finally, a 3070 ACCO powered by a naturally aspirated V903 Cummins.
“I’m in the process of doing the old ’76 ACCO up,” John told Trucksales. “It’s pretty tidy for its age, we’re just cutting out a few pieces of rust, and it’ll be back on the road soon. I started my driving career in 1985 in one of them,” he added with a chuckle.
“I try and buy gear that I like to drive,” John said. “I’m lucky to have a long-time mate of mine, who has been with me for over 13 years, driving the Legend 900 and a young fellow in the Legend 950.
Most of our work is hauling ammonium nitrate and grain all over Australia, so we’re all away for long periods. We have long-standing contracts moving supplies to MacArthur River Mine and a feedlot at Charters Towers that keep us busy.
The Legend SAR
Brown and Hurley Rockhampton salesman Tony Urzi worked closely with John to specify the Legend SAR to operate in Queensland’s remote northwest region, including the severe service kit, remote transmission and differential breathers and extended grease lines to the clutch.
When Jimmy turned up to sign the truck, he was all smiles.
The deck plate is painted mesh, and the headlights and driving lights are both LEDs. There is a Red-Dot roof-mounted condenser located between dual round Grover air horns. The rear of the chassis includes Kenworth’s dolly-pull, and the rear mudguard bracket holds the taillights, rear of chassis air connections and stiff bar.
Before taking delivery, John took the Legend SAR to Icepack surfaces in Toowoomba for a complete final fit-up of a back of cab gantry mounted bunk air-conditioner and two lockable toolboxes.
“The guys at Icepack services did a magic job modifying the cabin inside,” John explained. “They cut out the inside of the bunk and neatly fitted extra shelves and roof lights to the top of the Aero-1 sleeper roof.
“They also fitted the hydraulics and neat stainless straps over the tank rubbers. Consequently, there wasn’t much change out of $100K when we finally drove it out Icepack services,” John added.
On the back is Jimmy as he is today and the truck doing its job hauling ammonium nitrate.
“But when I was learning to drive, drivers earned the right to drive good trucks,” John explained. “Mind you. I’ve driven my fair share of buckets-of-bolts when I was learning to drive, nothing like our Legend trucks,” he added.
“For years, Jimmy Barnes’ songs have kept me awake all through the night while I’ve been following the broken lines travelling up and down the road,” John said. “Jimmy’s a Legend in his own right, so it seemed fitting to put a Legend on a Legend.”
“The picture on the left-hand side of the truck is of the old original McIver SAR I used to drive at the Birdsville pub with a picture of young Jimmy around the time he released Driving Wheel.
Jimmy gives the truck the thumbs-up.
The image on the back is the Legend 950 with three flat tops of ammonium nitrate at the McArthur River Mine site and Jimmy as he is today.
“If you watch the official ‘Driving Wheel’ video clip on YouTube, hopefully, the right-hand side picture will make some sense,” John explained. “The Kitco SAR and cabover feature in the original video clip.
“But being a Queenslander, I requested the Story Bridge get included in the background. Also, I drink XXXX beer, so it was only fitting that the Castlemaine Brewery feature to complete the Queensland theme,” John said.
John Duggan with his pride and joy, the Legend SAR.
“When Jimmy came up to autograph the truck, he grinned from ear to ear. He was really impressed with the paint job and certainly took the opportunity to get a few shots with his younger self.
“Overall, I’m more than pleased with the outcome,” John concluded. “It took three weeks to complete all the airbrush work, and it was three weeks well spent.”
Photos courtesy of Mark Beutel Photography. Check out more of his work here.
Truck Specs
Engine: Cummins X15 Euro V
Horsepower: 600hp @ 2050LBFT
Gearbox: Eaton Fuller RTLO22918B 18-speed Manual Transmission
Air cleaner: 406mm Cyclopacs with 6” Stainless Raised Air Intakes
Fuel filter: Fuel Pro and fuel/water separator
Electrical: 160A isolated alternator
Front axle: Meritor MFS73L
Front suspension: 7.2 T multi-leaf
Power steering: TRW Ross TAS 85
Rear axles: Meritor MT21-165GP with Dual Diff Locks
Rear axle ratio: 4.56:1
Rear suspension: Air-Glide 460
Brakes: HD (P-type) drum brakes with automatic slack adjuster
Cabin & Sleeper: 1270mm Aero I Sleeper Box, Roof Mounted Deflector with Aero I with Side Extenders, Utility Spotlight LHS & RHS,
Interior: Mariner Blue cab trim, HD Diamond pleat vinyl Black Hard Trim, Limited Edition Gauges, 18” Chrome Plated four-spoke Steering wheel with Black leather grip & Red Stitching, 2x UHF Mounted Overhead Console, Black Leather ISRI PRO 6860/870 Drivers Seat with L&R Arm Rests KW Embroidering
Bullbar: King polished alloy Warrego four-poster bullbar with road-train, signs and covers
Extras: Severe service kit, remote trans/diff breathers, extended grease lines to clutch, chassis mesh type deck-plate painted, led headlights, LED driving lights, roof mounted air-conditioning condenser, dual round air horns mounted on cab.
