tanks and the arse end has been re-bushed;
springs have, of course, been replaced and
each of the cross members are now pressed
steel and all the copper air lines have gone to
God too. Slide rails and u bolts and the short
motor are all new. This was all done to keep
the old girl on the road.
I think that it should be regarded as a
restoration rather than basic maintenance,
don’t you? And a restoration job is always
done with love.
It may not seem the best financial plan to keep
her on the road but, in one sense the FTK has
been a school of learning –in welding, painting
(she is yellow now to match the rest of the
fleet), repairs and driving. Over the years Rob
has suggested retiring the FTK and replacing
her with a new truck that will have things like
air conditioning, suspension and a radio that
actually works. The response has always been
a resounding “No” and not just by Adrian and
Brian but the rest of the crew.
Rob and Adrian have been running Mulgoa
Quarries at Penrith where the Flintstone is
parked each night. Rob, Adrian and their
brothers all stepped in when their father, John
was tragically killed in 1986. Over time the
5 brothers, Bill, Rob, Adrian, Bruce and John
have found their different niches in life.For Rob and Adrian it was the continuation
of the business their father decided to start
when he was studying dentistry at Sydney
University. John decided that he didn’t wish
to follow in the footsteps of his father and
become a dentist – he much preferred larger
equipment and with his parents’ support
ventured into earthmoving. Since that first
job on the Pacific Expressway (now the F3),
the company has grown to employ almost 80
people with an impressive fleet of machinery
and trucks. However, it is undeniable that the
Flintstone Mack takes pride of place both on
the road and in their hearts.INDUSTRY LEGENDAUSTRALIANEARTHMOVING.COM.AU 30