Australia’s trucking culture is best described as passionate. That’s evident every two years when 40,000+ people walk the floors of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre for the world-class Brisbane Truck Show.
Pick a random from the crowd and strike up a conversation about trucks and you’ll be up at the Detroit Plaza Terrace chatting away over a drink before you know it.
Unlike sport, which certainly has passionate fans but for most Australians is just a hobby, trucks can combine a passion with a livelihood, allowing many Aussies to make a living from their love of trucks. And we believe that extra motivation is one of the reasons why our trucking culture is so special.
In line with Brisbane Truck Show’s ongoing quest to provide more for families, showcase a wider offering of trucks and highlight the fantastic workmanship and passion for the trucking industry, we decided to do what any good truck show does – host an epic show ‘n’ shine.
But not just any show ‘n’ shine – we’re going full throttle with the first-ever National Show ‘N’ Shine Championship.
A key activation of Truck Week 25, the National Show ‘N’ Shine Championship will be staged at Little Stanley Street on the edge of the South Bank Parklands and feature as many as 28 customised prime movers drawn from the winner’s circle of the top community-based show ‘n’ shine events held around the country through 2023 and 2024.
As well as getting to check out these amazing works of art first-hand, Brisbane Truck Show attendees will also have the chance to vote for what they believe is the best truck on show – the People’s Choice Champion 2025. A panel of experts will also choose the Champion of Champions 2025 award for what they judge to be the best truck on show.
On the invitation list for the National Show ‘N’ Shine Championship are recent winners of some of Australia’s most successful show ‘n’ shine events, including (top) Auswide Transport Solutions’ Karma T909 which was 2023 Best of the Rest at the Alexandra Truck Show and (below) Bandana Earthmoving’s Hulk T904, which won Truck of the Show at the 2024 WA Mack Muster. Photos: Warren Aitken
The National Show ‘N’ Shine Championship will showcase as many as 28 of Australia’s customised prime movers
Over the next few months, the Brisbane Truck Show events team, along with esteemed transport photographer and writer Warren Aitken, will be piecing together the “grand final” of show ‘n’ shines.
On the invitation list are recent winners of some of Australia’s most successful show ‘n’ shine events, including Alexandra Truck Show, Koroit Truck Show, Castlemaine Truck Show, Casino Truck Show, Brisbane Convoy for Kids, WA Mack Muster, Matty Hillcoat’s Truckie’s Day Out and Bathurst Truck Show.
A custom truck fanatic, Warren says he’s “stoked” to be part of the team bringing the inaugural National Show ‘N’ Shine Championship to life.
“I’ve spent most of my life surrounded by trucks, either driving, shining or photographing them, and I know the pride drivers take in their rides. Being able to celebrate and acknowledge the quality of eight regional shows by inviting their champions to the National Show ‘N’ Shine Championship is a great recognition for all those shows,” he says.
“The exposure for the owners and drivers of these amazing rigs will be second to none,” he adds.
“They will all be stepping up their game when it comes to preparing these King Rigs, meaning the general public and all those attending the Brisbane Truck Show are in for a heck of a display.
“The top 28 will be an elite club, made up of the best of the best and mark my words, the competition for the 2025 National Show ‘N’ Shine Champion will be intense.”
A panel of experts will choose the Champion of Champions 2025 award for what they judge to be the best truck on show. Attendees will also have the chance to vote for what they believe is the best truck on show – the People’s Choice Champion 2025. Could it be Andrew Durham’s Mack Valueline (top), which was named 2023-24 Rig of the Show at the Koroit Truck Show? Photos: Warren Aitken
HVIA CEO Todd Hacking says the inaugural National Show ‘N’ Shine Championship is more than just an impressive spectacle of bling, chrome and exhaust stacks.
“In a way these trucks, and their incredibly passionate owners, are ambassadors for the industry,” he says.
“They are the front line of what is great about the industry and most importantly the reason they exist.
“These amazing, award-winning trucks are a visual reminder of the hard work that is put in for our community to have access to fresh produce, shelter, schools and universities, access to first-grade medical equipment and other necessities of life, and we are excited to have them take part in next year’s Truck Show festivities.
“Trucks are essential to a modern, clean, civil society, and their operators are needed to ensure that tasks are done safely and efficiently,” Hacking adds.
What’s more, Todd says the inaugural National Show ‘N’ Shine Championship is also a celebration of the amazing regional and rural truck shows and show ‘n’ shine’s around the country who do a fantastic job of spreading the passion and love for the transport industry.
“They’re pillars of many communities and the inspiration for our new addition to the Brisbane Truck Show,” he says.
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