Barry Hughes

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2011.

Barry Hughes was born in Lithgow, NSW, in 1942. His family moved to Oberon, near Bathurst when he was 5.  He had a deep passion for trucks from age 9 and would drive his father's 1937 Chev, picking up potato bags after harvest and off siding for the produce trucks going to Sydney markets. He hated school and left when he was 14.  He worked at a local sheep station and then started driving farm tractors and a TD18 bulldozer for $6 a day no sickies, no holidays and no super.

At 18, his strong desire to drive trucks led him to sell his new FC Holden for a new J6 Bedford table-top. Legally he wasn't allowed to drive it until he was 21, but he did.  He was never picked up while doing local work and 2 seasons wheat carting at Grenfell NSW, or while carting vegetables to Melbourne markets.Barry was never a fan of the Department of Motor Transport and would avoid paying the dreaded and unfair Co-ord and road maintenance tax.  He made it onto John Laws Motovatin Man Album under the name Sam, the Tricky Truckie. He was also involved in the 1979 blockade at Mount Victoria.As business grew he purchased K Bedfords with Leyland motors.  He was one of the first in the district to build and use 20 foot dog trailers and cart livestock to Sydney markets.  Next came a new 650 MAN and 38 foot McGrath trailer and stock crate followed by 2 LPS 14/18 Mercs with 3 deckers and freighter 3 way spread trailers.

In 1965 he obtained a fuel agency with BP which lasted 30 years. For this he purchased R-model Macks, W-model Kenworths and 36,000 litre Highgate tankers, an Allison tri-axle low loader for shifting heavy equipment, and an LTL Louisville with logging trailers to haul pine logs to the local mills. Barry drove for 40 years until he sold his business and beloved W Kenworth in 2000. He is currently restoring a B61 Mack and 20 vintage tractors.