John and Tracey Rehe (2025)

28/12/2023

Thanks for all the wonderful Christmas messages and comments on my Christmas post everyone. I hope you had a lovely time with your loved ones.

I'm still trying to find the time to respond to all the messages. I'll get there eventually.

Something special happened this year.

Desperado turned the big 40 and I wanted to do something to mark the occasion.

Whilst the thing I've been waiting for hasn't completed yet (I'll let you know as soon as I receive confirmation) I wanted to commemorate Desperado turning 40 with something special before the year is out.

So I'm offering a LIMITED BIG BOUNTY pack that I've never offered before.

For the heavily reduced special price of $199 you can save over $100 off the full value price of $307.95 for the following:

1: The complete set of original posters with certificates of authenticity and silver embossed memorabilia stickers
including - Lady Trucker, Desperado Collage and Classic Desperado Poster

2: a special 40-year retro-designed Desperado T-shirt (premium quality) I'm still working on the special design - running a day late with that one

3: plus an engraved 'DESPERADO' dog tag with ball chain.

For anyone who has already bought the original posters or a T-shirt, there is something special coming for you too.

Send me a message and let me know or give me a few days to post about it.

If you've been holding off there probably won't be a better time than now. Send me a message on the John and Tracey Rehe
page if you'd like to purchase or you have any questions.

If you get your order in early enough tonight I will be able to send your posters off tomorrow. The t-shirts have to wait until the printers are back to work late next week.

24/12/2023

Can you believe it's been 40 years? Yep, and I have something very special coming up for you before the year is out. If you are busting to hear about it beforehand you can send me a message and ask. :)

Thanks for your friendship, love, comments, engagement and support throughout the years.

And thank you for those who have supported my side ventures and are now sporting 'Desperado' and 'Long Live Silver 92s' goodies and representing old school tastes.

It means a lot to me that you enjoy the old truck photos and memories we share and I love hearing (your) old stories and seeing your old truck pics too.

Us dinosaurs from the golden era (the fast years) of trucking are getting on now, aren't we? Haha.

Happy Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year to you and your loved ones.

Here's wishing everyone the very best and a special mention to those who are missing loved ones who are no longer with us. I feel for you. ❤️ 🙏

17/12/2023

Secret Santa has literally struck in the form of a good-hearted Samaritan who sent me a message a couple of days ago and said that he would like to gift one of these shirts (or one of your choosing from our shop) to a truck driver or former truck driver who has been doing it tough.

I was bowled over by Tony's act of generosity. Thank you for having such a kind heart. ❤️ 🙏 He wants to remain anonymous so I won't share his surname.

Understandably, you may not want to tell the world that you are doing it tough so just send me a message if you prefer or if you'd like to tag someone below.

01/12/2023

Friday night flashback to the first Desperado, Circa. 1980.

The day of delivery on the way from Melbourne to Bendigo.

John never liked the paint pattern on this...

but it wasn't worth rolling it onto its roof just to get another paint job. ;)

It only lasted a matter of months looking like this before he tipped it over in Queensland.

The chromed bull bar looked pretty sweet for a while.

24/11/2023

Gearing up with some vintage bottles and cans...because you can't have a Detroit Silver 92 without some spare oil receptacles, can you?

We're on the lookout for a couple of goodies for Road Candy Truck.

Would you happen to know where we can get hold of a one hundred and sixty kilometre speedo and a matching tachometer?

20/11/2023

Do you know what the worst thing about writing our book, The Expressmen - John and Tracey Rehe’s Book - Limited Edition is?

It's going back in time and delving deep into memories and recollections of the past.

And do you know what the best thing is about writing our book?

It's the exact same thing.

Oftentimes, sorting through the old photos and writing about the past makes me feel kinda down in the dumps.

This can be especially profound when thinking about details of those loved ones who are no longer here with us in the human form.

When Mum and Dad decided to buy this Kenworth, way back in 1977, I'm sure if they knew the tragic event that would take place not long after they picked up the truck, they never would have bought it.

This photo was taken in Rochester, Victoria, that same year.

You'll notice the L plate on the bull bar.

My sister's fiancé, Trevor, was learning to drive the truck when he called in with my father to the Rehe's family home to meet John.

At the time I knew of John and his family but I hadn't met them.

Dad always spoke with the highest regard of, Basil, John's father and what a great man he was.

He really looked up to him as a man of enormous integrity.

Dad loved to catch up with John and Tex on the road when he got the chance to have a chat (and a couple of posts of tea) in a roadhouse and he always returned home with stories from the road.

His ability to keep on and on and on and on...talking, earned him the nickname of Turbo. It was a name that my father shared with pride and a smile.

Kerry's finace, Trevor, liked a chat too and he was a bit of a larrikin.

For fun, he raced motorbikes on the weekends and my sister used to travel with him to go to race meets on weekends with bikes on the trailer.

They looked to have a fun future ahead of them after they were going to marry...but, sadly, that wasn't meant to be.

It came as a the worst kind of shock to receive the news that Trevor was killed in Dad's truck near St. Arnaud when he was driving, bobtail and ran off the road.

He was only 22 years of age.

The direction of my sister's life was altered in a split second with that tragic accident and when she was old enough to get her truck licence she went on to become an interstate truck driver, like our Dad, and my biggest inspiration to drive trucks. Our youngest sister, Sandy, followed in our footsteps too and became a driver.

Recently, along with her husband, Andrew Lattin, they hosted the very first truck show in Bendigo, Truckies Against Bullying.

You never know what events will shape you and your experiences.

Life gives us plenty of knockdowns and we've just got to remember to keep getting back up, time and time again.

15/11/2023

Man at work. 💞

15/11/2023

The 160kClub.com online store is up and running again if you'd like to check out the goodies like this "Long Live Silver 92s" shirt for the Detroit lovers. ❤️

03/11/2023

Are you going to make it to the first ever BENDIGO TRUCK SHOW? Join the group Truckies Against Bullying to find out all the details and follow the new page @ Truckies Against Bullying Bendigo Truck and Car show to show your support.

Check out this beautiful rig (sporting steps for days) that will be shining for the special occasion with thanks to Ross Transport and Joshua Ulbrich. Cooper, was delighted to be able to have a sit in the driver's seat today. Lookin' cool there, Coop. Just think...one day you'll be old enough to earn your stripes in a truck.

It's great to see people coming together to support the show that my little sister, Sandy and her husband, Andrew, have set up. I trust everything will run smooth for the day and Spring will keep showing off with these glorious sunny days.

27/10/2023

Here's to those kindred souls who love the sound and feel of a sweet Silver 92. 🍭💕 In celebration of launching the 160kClub merchandise website today, I'm going to give away this sweet "Long Live Silver 92's" Duffle Bag or Vintage-Style T-Shirt.

I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 1,000 and it's written down. Comment below with the number that you are thinking of and next Friday night we'll let you know if you picked my number. To be fair, you can only write one number below. Ask your friends to drop a number in case they end up with it and want to treat you for Christmas.

The site is open now if you'd like to take a look. Check the comments below. This is only the beginning and there will be many more goodies coming up. Which one would you like?

25/10/2023

The custom console in the cockpit is coming along swimmingly for Road Candy Truck.

Complete with a 'happy button' smack in the centre of the console.

Lots of polishing to follow.

With John and Tracey Rehe and Road Candy Truck

13/10/2023

Road Candy Truck update. There have been a lot of interesting comments about the custom dash that John has been building after I posted a front on viewpoint shot on the Road Candy page last night. The general consensus is that it looks a bit like the Bat Mobile. As a Batman fan, since I was a kid, that's a good thing.

The dash was fashioned out of some rusty old steel and a piece of aluminium. The best is yet to come. 💕🍭

07/10/2023

You Are Invited to show off your truck and support a good cause...Announcement for upcoming TRUCK & Car SHOW in Bendigo, Victoria.

"We are getting a bit done for our upcoming Truck and Car Show on the 4th of November. We'd love to see as many as we can to come and enjoy this day with us.

There will be no prizes as this is our first to be held, we are about bringing people together to raise more awareness of bullying in schools and the workplace mainly, as well as the broader community.

We will have food and coffee vans, a sausage sizzle and face painting for the kids.

Help us make this a success, and show that we are serious in making changes, we have to start somewhere. 🙌 " - Andrew Lattin

Contact Sandy or Andrew through the Truckies Against Bullying Group and jump on board to register your Truck or Car and be part of the 1st Truck Show in Bendigo.

Link to group below.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/998615814629691/

30/09/2023

Headed southbound at Maryvale one afternoon after fuelling up in the 80s. This wonky old shot of Andy and Nadia Soutar's beautiful rig brings up so many great memories.

At the BP, the hospitality of Jeff and Aub and Jeff's lovely wife, Beccy (I think) with her home-cooked meals was greatly appreciated by many and a most welcome break.

We fuelled and showered here most trips on the south leg out of Brisbane.

The beauty of having six tanks and being able to carry 2,100 litres of diesel was that we saved so much money every trip by buying our fuel in the state of Queensland as it was so much cheaper, at the time, than the southern states.

Can you imagine the cost of filling up with 2,100 litres nowadays?

28/09/2023

I named the shop 160kClub...you might know why ;) as a nod to the old school days and I wanted it to have a retro-vibe, like my designs.

Well, I didn't quite make it a couple of weeks ago but I've been flat out with so many things going on and fun designs to make.

This is just a smidgeon of a glimpse to see what's in the pipeline.

My mind has been in a whirl as I learn some new technologies and stretch my creative thought processes.

I promised myself that I would launch the shop today even if I wasn't ready...so even though I only have the premium shirts available for the next few days, there are many different varieties, sizes and colours as well as some cheaper shirts to follow.

You can check them out and let me know what you think in the comments.

For the early bird peeps, send me a message and check in please so we can get your goodies in the mail.

23/09/2023

We may not like the same trucks, we may not agree on everything, we may not have the same sense of humour but at the end of the day, we're all just human beings and, one day, we're all going to exhale for the last time.

Thank you for spending some of your precious time with us and for sharing your thoughts and your stories. And thank you for being respectful to this little group of fellow truck -lovers. 🙏❤️

23/09/2023

How’s this for a sweet old SAR? JR thought this was one of the best looking SARs at the time. It still looks gorgeous.

*******************

Join our Facebook group (below) to hear updates for our upcoming book.

22/09/2023

Some views never grow old. 💙 Even though this view from Desperado's driver's seat was a hurried snapshot taken one day in Rocklea, back in the mid 80's, this classic beauty is timeless.

There will be many old truck photos in our upcoming book. Join our Facebook group (check the comments below) if you are interested when it's getting closer to publication.

John and Tracey Rehe

28/12/2023

24/12/2023

17/12/2023

01/12/2023

24/11/2023

20/11/2023

15/11/2023

15/11/2023

03/11/2023

27/10/2023

25/10/2023

13/10/2023

07/10/2023

30/09/2023

28/09/2023

23/09/2023

23/09/2023

22/09/2023

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