A father inspires his son’s love of trucks
DRIVERS
Chris Atkinson loves his beautiful Mercedes-Benz 814 and all things trucking – his father is the reason behind his passion.
Chris Atkinson works at Mercedes-Benz Intercounty Truck & Van, Lincolnshire, and in his spare time has restored an 814 truck. He also recently won the ‘Truck Service 24hr Technician of the Year 2018’ award and credits his father for igniting his passion for trucks.
A passion which started young.
Technician Chris began his career with an apprenticeship at H&L Garages in 2007 – it was his father, Michael, who helped arrange this. As a child and teenager, Chris would often go along to the garage with his father when he was having his truck serviced. The manager got to know them well and when the idea of an apprenticeship was mentioned to Michael, he encouraged his son to apply.
Chris began soon afterwards and remained an employee once it became Mercedes-Benz Intercounty Truck & Van. He thoroughly enjoys working there and recently scooped up the award for ‘Truck Service 24hr Technician of the Year 2018’– it was his dad who first told him about the award after seeing an article in Mercedes-Benz Transport Magazine featuring last year’s winner.
He’s always loved trucks – his interest started when he was a child, “My dad has always been a Mercedes-Benz Trucks fan and got me in to them. From about the age of five I used to go to work with my dad and I loved seeing the trucks in his company – I used to climb inside the cabs and play in them,” explains Chris.
Restoring a classic.
Michael works for a marquee company and it was one of their trucks, a Mercedes-Benz 814, which stole Chris’s heart from a young age. He went on to work with a similar vehicle whilst he was doing his apprenticeship but little did he know one day it would be his. “The previous owner actually bought it from H&L Garages, so when I was in my teens, that truck would have come in to the garage for servicing but I was none the wiser and never would have thought that all these years down the line I would be buying it,” he says.
The truck was first built in 1995 and was initially used as a skip lorry. Chris purchased it three years ago, after the previous owner had made some changes, including putting a recovery body on it and changing the paintwork from blue and white to red and white.
Chris himself has added some extras such as a sun visor, top bar with air horns, side skirts, new fuel tank sender unit and a new rear bumper. He’s also stripped down the brakes and had the body re-painted, “I’m always doing bits and bobs to it, it’s nice to work on something older.”
A family love of trucks.
Chris also turns to his father-in-law, Paul, for help with his restoration project. Paul works at Intercounty Truck & Van too, holding the position of Workshop Controller, having been with Mercedes-Benz Trucks for 30 years.
He’s known Chris since he was an apprentice and he may have worked on this very truck when it entered the workshop for servicing many years ago. When Chris was originally contemplating the vehicle, Paul encouraged him to make an offer, promising to help him with the mechanics. “If I have any technical problems, I go and see my father-in-law as he has grown up with these trucks and worked on them, so he can always advise me. Though to be honest my truck has been great and I haven’t really had to do much.”
“He’s even more Mercedes-Benz crazy than me!”
– Chris Atkinson
Truckfest – 29 times!
The truck has so far travelled 675,000km smoothly and Chris has never had any problems during an MOT, “She’s a lovely truck to drive, I try to take her out three or four times a month,” he enthuses. Chris also takes his truck along to shows – the truck has showcased at six in total. Beforehand, Michael helps his son clean and polish his beauty ready for the crowds.
They both recently showed the truck off at Truckfest 2019, an event Chris is very familiar with, “My dad has taken me to Truckfest since I was born, this year was my 29th time – he’s even more Mercedes-Benz crazy than me!”
Both men had a fantastic time at the show, with Chris proudly displaying his vehicle on the Mercedes-Benz Trucks stand. His favourite aspect of truck events is meeting fellow enthusiasts, “The best part of the day was the public interest – lots of people taking photos and asking questions – it was a great turnout.”
Treat for Dad.
Chris appreciates his father’s help and support over the years, so much so that he now tries to repay the favour when he can.
In fact for Father’s Day last year he surprised his dad by bringing home a brand new Actros1 and taking him for a spin – Michael was thrilled.
A very happy father and son.
Although Chris is very pleased with his restored truck it isn’t actually his favourite Mercedes-Benz Trucks model, “The 814 is my second favourite of all time – my first favourite is a 1970’s tractor unit from the NG Series.” He’d love one but he’s realised those models are lot rarer and would require more work, “I thought I’d start with something small and see how I get on with the restoration.”
Michael, however couldn’t be prouder of his son and his achievements, as Chris describes it, “He’s over the moon.”
Chris is passing his love of trucks on to his own child – his young daughter Zara Elsie and has affectionately named his classic 814 after her. He also has his wife’s name, Christina on the passenger door (she helps to clean the vehicle and sometimes attends shows).
It’s safe to say this keen interest will continue throughout the generations of the Atkinson family.
What got you in to trucks?
Was it a family member or friend? Old how were you when your passion for trucks began? We’d love to hear all about it in the comment section.
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