Just Magic

Above: At work for 34 years, Mack R Series NT9524 is now owned and operated by Hamilton’s Derek Smith. Right: Purchased new by Road Metals in 1988, NT9524 began life as a tractor and tipulator unit at the Clyde Dam construction.

By Colin Smith

WHEN DEREK SMITH TAKES A REST BREAK FROM working the Waikato roads in his 1988 R Series Mack, it’s not uncommon for strangers to begin asking questions.

Chances are it’s a request for a photo of the iconic workhorse or an offer to buy it. Derek’s happy to oblige the photographers but parting company with the twomillion-kilometre bulldog won’t happen anytime soon.

Derek, 77, and the Mack – which will be 35 years old next year – have two decades of history together and plenty of stories of their own going even further back. And they continue building on that history by working five or six days a week based out of Hamilton where the sight and sound of an `80s vintage R Series gets its share of attention on the road.

The 11-litre, 300hp Mack R686 RST 6x4 was registered NT9524 on July 21, 1988, going to work for Road Metals Co Ltd carting aggregate on the Clyde Dam construction.

NT9524 was christened ‘Just Magic’ and started its life as a 6x4 tractor unit working in a `tipulator’ configuration. But Road Metals had made the purchase with some forward planning.

“Because we knew that the [Clyde Dam] contract was limited, we ordered a longer wheelbase knowing that its life as a semi would eventually change to a truck and trailer, which it did in 1990,” says managing director Murray Francis.

Throughout its working life at Road Metals and later

Francis Construction, the Mack was driven by Billy Sargeant. Billy’s time driving NT9524 represents about a third of the 43 years he spent with the company.

“The semi that Billy towed became a 4-axle trailer with a tandem dolly under it and we replaced the turntable on the truck with a second-hand Domett Fruehauf tip deck. We managed to get a 44-tonne rating for this unit, but three years later some questions were asked about the dolly. So it had to be replaced with a ball-race,” says Murray.

As a truck and trailer for Road Metals and later Francis Construction, the Mack mainly worked on Canterbury roading projects and at times it towed a bottom dumper trailer.

“We would also bring coal from Reefton to Christchurch,” says Murray. “That was Billy’s favourite job.”

Another early story about the truck concerns its engine.

“When we ordered this truck, we ordered it with a 350hp 4-valve motor,” says Murray.

Murray says there is a photo of the truck having just arrived in Christchurch with his father Stan Francis, Billy Sargeant and himself discussing the 300hp 2-valve motor they had discovered.

“I was pretty upset about that and so was Billy. I wanted Billy to drive it back to Palmerston North to the Mack factory and get the motor changed to the 350hp 4-valve that was on the sales contract,” says Murray.

“My father did phone Mack, who informed him there were no 350hp 4-valves available. And because this motor was still unproven, they suggested he was better off with the proven 300hp 2-valve.

“Stan accepted this, but I was not so accepting. Anyway he was the boss and he paid the bills, so it was a fruitless argument on my part.”

The engine swap was never made and the 300hp unit has certainly lived up to its reputation for being well proven. The same motor is still at work in 2022.

Murray Francis has fond memories of `Just Magic’ and the other R Series Macks the company has owned.

“I’d say a lot of our success as a company is down to the R Series. We started with four of the 237hp’s which were a brilliant truck and the 285hp, 300hp and 350hp models which followed were also all bullet-proof trucks.

“I always joked the drivers would wear out before the truck would. We had one R-Series on the West Coast which went through three drivers in a month with back problems. They were rugged trucks.

The R Series was a design that appeared in 1964 and was in production for nearly 40 years. It’s arguably the most recognisable of all Mack models.

NT9524 working as a truck and trailer with ribbed side Domett tippers.

“When we got it, my father said he could hardly tell the difference from the old 1974 5-speed models. Until he looked inside.

“Our first R Series were very basic and our 1977 trucks like `Daddy Cool’ and `Running Bare’ were a little bit flasher inside. But `Just Magic’ had the Western trim. It was a pretty flash truck in those days.”

Another change that was made while the Mack was working at Francis Construction saw the Domett tipper deck replaced by an Adams & Currie one.

“The Adams & Currie deck didn’t match the Domett Trailer’s ribbed sides and I was disappointed with the decision by my brother to change it” says Murray.

The history of NT9524 is inextricably linked to Billy Sargeant.

“Billy was a legend in South Island trucking. He started with us in Twizel on a 237hp R Series 5-speed in 1974, towing a bottom dump carting filter sand to the canals” says Murray.

“`Just Magic’ only ever had one driver. Billy wouldn’t take holidays because he didn’t want anyone else driving it.

“He dedicated his whole life to work and driving, and he was exceptionally fussy. He polished the bonnet so much you see the yellow undercoat appearing.”

Billy Sargeant died in February 2017 and his memory is celebrated today.

“At the same time that Billy died we got delivery of a new Trident and we called it `The Sargeant’. It’s a tribute to Billy who is a very important part of Road Metals’ history.”

Francis Construction sold “Just Magic” in 2000 and Derek bought it in 2002. In between it was owned by Webb & Son from Taupiri.

“They only had it about a year. I bought it for $38,000 in 2002 to do tipper work,” says Derek.

It was the truck that saw Derek return to the truck industry. He’d started driving in 1965 in Auckland and worked throughout New Zealand. He joined Dibble Transport in 1981 and stayed there till 2001 when he spent a brief time selling horse floats before buying the R Series and returning to the industry.

Since 2002 most of Derek’s work has been for HEB Construction. Remaining in 6x4 rigid tipper configuration the Mack can work at 21 tonnes.

“Most of my work is for HEB Construction. They’ve been really good to me, and I only occasionally do some work for other people.

“Mainly we do roading, bridges, motorways, sewerage and drainage work. I’m carting sand, metal and spoil. Sometimes there’s a bit of demolition work.

“A few times I have run as a truck and trailer with HEBs low loader to help them move some equipment around,” says Derek.

With regular work the Mack continues to clock up the kilometres. Exactly how many isn’t clear as the truck has had several hubometers fitted over the years.

“I estimate it’s done a bit over two million kays. It had done over a million when I got it and I’ve done another million in it,” says Derek.

Clockwise from top left: At work on a Christchurch roading project; The interior remains mostly original with new floor mats and replacement door trims; `Just Magic’ name has been carried since 1988; Derek Smith repainted NT9524 in 2009.

“The engine has 46,600 hours on it when I looked the other day.”

There’s no secret to the Mack’s longevity.

“I’m real fussy with the maintenance. I change the oils and filters every 10,000km. The injectors have been done and it’s had a couple of new heads on it,” says Derek.

“Everything I own I look after with oils, filters and regular maintenance. I’ve never had a blown engine.

“Other than a couple of selectors I haven’t touched the transmission and I’ve never touched the diffs.

“It’s had the suspension rebuilt on it. It’s all genuine Mack stuff. These days a lot of the Mack’s are mainly Volvo stuff.

“All the work is done at Truck Stops in Hamilton. They’re a brilliant crew of guys and gals. They are more like friends really.

“It looks good for a truck which is 35 years old and is still working every day. It wasn’t too bad when I got it and I’ve looked after it, so it still looks good now.”

Apart from liking the old school looks and enjoying the driving, Derek says there no doubt about the Mack’s strongest attribute.

“It’ll go anywhere. Off-road it’s bloody good and what we do is hard work. We are carting out of quarries, sand pits and building sites.”

The trucks rides on heavy duty leaf spring suspension with the rear axle rated at 44,000lbs and has a 12-speed semi-synchromesh transmission.

Derek says the brown and white colours suit a truck from this era. In 2009 he decided it was time for a repaint.

Most of the truck is original. Inside Derek says he put new carpets and mats on the floor and had the door trims replaced.

The Mack still displays its original `215’ Road Metals fleet number and the “Just Magic” name on the bonnet that it has always carried. Derek has added the New Zealand and USA flags on the bonnet.

“I put my name on the door, but I kept the `Just Magic’ name. They reckon you should never change the name of a boat or a truck.”

These days it’s a rare sight to see any `80s era truck still in regular daily work.

“Fifteen years ago, you might have seen the odd one working but most of them are show ponies now. A lot

Road Metals pays tribute to Billy Sergeant with this 2017 Mack Trident named “The Sergeant”.

Early days for NT9524 working as a tractor unit on the Clyde Dam hydro project.

of people want to buy it for that.”

“It gets plenty of attention. One of other things that gets a lot of attention is the air starter. I think it frightens a few people.

Collector interest in the Mack means selling it wouldn’t be difficult.

“I was grabbing a coffee at the BP in Ngaruawahia a while back and a guy came up and asked if I was the driver of the Mack. He said he’d like to buy it.

“I’ve probably got 10 buyers waiting for it. I’d easily get my money back.

“They are really sort after now over in Australia. They are selling for $80,000 to $90,000 over there.

“But I’m not worried about what it’s worth. I make my living out of it.”

And Derek plans to keep on working and says the Mack still has plenty of life left in it.

“I reckon it’s got another 20 years in it at least. I might not get there but I’d like to keep going till I’m 80,” he says.

“I plan to keep on going. I’d be bored stiff if I wasn’t working.” T&D

Derek Smith has owned three Mack’s and has clocked up over a million kilometres since buying the R Series in 2002.

57 years of trucking. And also the oldest.

There’s a common theme through Derek’s driving career and the photo albums which chronicle it. In the process of building bridges, gas lines, airports and aluminium smelters, Derek has been involved with plenty of New Zealand’s landmark infrastructure projects.

Derek’s truck ownership goes back to 1965 and a partnership with Blair Pirritt. They purchased three trucks from Laurie Powell at Auckland Cartage – an Austin, a Morris and a Thames Trader. Derek traded his 1958 Gold Flash Ford as his part of the deposit.

The pair started on tipper work and a small amount of wharf work but then started carting scoria and metal to the Auckland Airport construction job. Their next move was into J6 and TK Bedfords.

“We put a lazy axle into the J6,” says Derek.

“We started working for McConnell Dowell Construction on many jobs around Auckland. We carted rock from Stevenson’s quarry in Penrose for the roads that linked to the Auckland Harbour Bridge clip-ons.”

Blair went out on his own in 1969 and Derek bought a Commer TS3, once again putting a lazy axle in the truck.

“In 1972 I bought a new Dodge six-wheeler from Brian Gill’s in Huntly. It cost $22,500 on the road with a Perkins V8.”

He worked that truck on the Maui gas line projects from Taranaki to Auckland as well as the gas lines to the Kinleith and Kawerau mills.

“I worked all over the North and South Island for McConnell Dowell.”

In 1980 Derek bought a new International T-Line with a 300hp Cummins and much its work was at the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter construction and some work in the Dunedin region.

Deciding to stay closer to home in Hamilton, Derek bought into Dibble Transport working with Barry Stamp, Jeff Dibble, Alf Quaife and Trevor Woolston. The T-Line was fitted with a new T & G alloy bin and a four-axle trailer for bulk fertiliser, lime, and maize work.

An International S-Line followed in 1985 and Derek became a Mack owner in 1988 with a new SuperLiner that came down the build line at MTD in Palmerston North very close behind the R Series he owns today.

In 1993 he changed again to a CH Mack and in 1996 he bought a T601 Kenworth and ran that till selling out of Dibble Independent Transport in 2001.

From the new Dodge in 1972 Derek has remained faithful to American trucks.

“I’ve always liked American trucks. They look like trucks, and they’re built really tough,” Derek says pointing to the rugged suspension and the double chassis rails.

“And the Macks and Kenworths we get here come from Australia. They’re built even tougher for Australia, and New Zealand gets the benefit from that.” T&D