Next to my American Truck Pictures site (mackmuppet) I have decided to create an extra blog for the European Truck Pictures.
Welcome to the Blog with pictures of the most beautiful European Trucks. In this Blog I will try to give an overview of European Trucks driving around. Scania's, DAFs, Volvo's and other trucks from especially Europe old and new will be shown and added to this log to give a complete overview and impression of the European trucks. If you have any additional information, pictures, prints or documentation, please send a reaction via one of my messages and I will add it, after contacting you by mail.
At the age of 66 and after being the number 1 and winner in the Dakar rally 2009, Jan de Rooij has decided to stop rallying. At Valkenswaard he got a lifetime Dakar award from the TSO organization. Next to the award a song was made for Jan and hundreds of fans gave him a big hand for all the exciting years and actions Jan has delivered before, starting in 1982 in the Dakar rally. Jan thanks for all and stay a big sponsor of your son Gerard in the rally sport!
The winning DAF NAT 2800 6x4 of the 1982 Paris to Dakar rally was also at the farewell party of Jan de Rooij. The beautiful "nose" made me enthusiastic enough to follow all the developments of the trucks in the Dakar rally since that time. Although the 6x4 concept was not the most efficient way to become a winner the DAF did it between the Porsches and Mitsubishis of those days. Great to see this DAF after 27 years, bringing back those memories.
For the tribute to Jan de Rooij several Dakar trucks were at the pre prologue in Valkenswaard. This is the Bull, the 1985 winner of the heavy duty truck class. A great truck with an enormous sound and that really smells like a Dakar truck needs to smell! No emission rules were known at those days.
The machine that did it in the Dakar rally was this one....The DAF with over 100hp, two engines and ofcourse driver Jan de Rooij. With speeds of over 200kmh he passed the Peugeot 405 of Ari Vatanen in 1987 through the dessert. He was the winner of the Paris to Dakar rally 1987, another edition that we will never forget!
in 1982 the two DAF NTTs visited my village and I was infected by the Dakar virus! Dafs that went all the way to the african dessert and came back with victory...Jan de Rooij was the winner. In 1983 he had the funny suitcase DAF that did not make it to the finish. In 1984 again a strange creature: the double cab DAF: two cabins and two engins. 1985: the Bull. The aerodynamic DAF was fast...very fast, again with Jan de Rooij. With a lot of damage at the end he made it to become the first heavy weight truck in Dakar again. In 1986 the Turbotwin was born. A DAF 3600 with a smaller cab for less damage and two engines to produce over 1000hp. It needed some more development and in 1987 the Turbotwin II was a real monster that won the rally again. In 1988 the most advanced DAFs ever made were born: the Turbotwin X1 and X2. Unfortunately the X2 crashed and the co-pilot died. The X1 was back on the sand saturday november 7 2009 for one more time with good old Jan de Rooij. He stops in the rally racing and made a great performance for his departure. The Dakar legend made me a real fanatic and delivered a lot of excitement, during the Dakar days every year. Thanks Jan being the best rally truck driver ever!