Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2012.
Victor William Laurie (Jnr) was born in Texas, QLD, in June, 1940. Growing up, he worked ring barking, rabbit trapping and splitting posts with his father Victor (Snr). It was during this time he first developed his passion for trucks and transport. Victor later worked for Pollard's Livestock Transport in Texas delivering sale cattle throughout the Darling Downs and northern NSW.
Victor ended up purchasing his first truck, a 1953 AR180 International, from Pollards and along with his father and brother carted livestock and hay for them on a sub-contact basis. He eventually traded the International for a new F700 Ford in 1963. By now, he was living in Warwick and had decided trucking was the life for him.After meeting his wife, Dianne they established Laurie's Transport operating a growing fleet of five linehaul and regional prime movers, carting grain, produce and general freight to the local and southern markets. In 1977 they sold the business and purchased hotels in Yetman, NSW and later in Maryvale, QLD.The Laurie family sold their last hotel in 1984 when Victor was keen to resume his life on the road full time. He went back carting livestock, fuel, bitumen and mine ore covering vast distances from Queensland to the Northern Territory and the top end of Western Australia for the next fifteen years. Victor's last load was on his seventieth birthday. He returned from Darwin with three freezer vans. Since he retired Victor's love is restoring vintage heavy vehicles; a task he undertakes with great passion and pride. His restored fleet consists of a 1953 AR180 International, a C1800 392 V8 International towed to truck shows and events by a 1979 K125 cab over Kenworth 692T appropriately named, The Bitumen Boeing. Each vehicle proudly displays the Laurie name on the door.Victor and Dianne have retired to Toowoomba where he spends his time studying the Heritage Truck scene, catching up with old mates and maintaining his pride of Internationals.
