The recent Casino Truck Show has gotten bigger and better, breaking records for trucks registered and attendance numbers
The Casino Truck Show has smashed records for its 10th year, with the entrants doubling for the 2023 edition of the North Coast Petroleum Casino Truck Show.
The number of entrants means the 2023 event claimed the title of the biggest truck show in the southern hemisphere, taking the record off of TMC Trailers Trucking Industry Show in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The official number of trucks judged was 580, however, around 40 missed the registration deadline, so all up 620 bangers of all shapes and sizes filled the streets of Casino, equating to more than $300,000,000 in value.
Calculating attendees via the density check method found the 2023 NCP Casino Truck Show has eclipsed all records for attendance at a Richmond Valley single-day event, attracting a record turnout of 14,000.
NCP Casino Truck Show Organising Committee coordinator Darren Goodwin says he’s still in awe of the record number of entrants, being acutely aware of the effort and sacrifice drivers and companies go through to attend the event, which never goes unnoticed.
Goodwin says the feedback coming through was overwhelmingly positive, with many drivers planning their 2024 rosters to make sure they don’t miss what could be another history-making event.
In thanking sponsors, participants, volunteers and attendees, he says benefits to the local community from events like the Casino Truck Show could be extensive, particularly when the draw was from outside the region.
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“The unwavering support from our sponsors and the broadening appeal of the NCP Casino Truck Show gives the organising team the motivation to keep going,” Goodwin says.
“We are already planning to make sure our operations run smoothly in 2024 and attendees receive the best experience possible.”
Richmond Valley Council’s General Manager Vaughan Macdonald says since taking over the running of this popular industry event in 2021, and with the support of a volunteer organising committee, Council teams across the board came together to deliver an event growing in stature.
Macdonald says delivering the event in the off-season month of August resonated strongly with local businesses and community members, and provide visitors to the region a unique experience.
He says this had the knock-on benefit to not only to the Richmond Valley visitor economy but to that of surrounding local government areas.
“The event’s success proves it is a legitimate and significant economic driver not only for Casino and the Richmond Valley, but the wider Northern Rivers region with local accommodation providers booked out months in advance, and many attendees overnighting in Kyogle, Lismore, even Ballina,” Macdonald says.
North Coast Petroleum continued to support the Casino Truck Show as the 2023 naming rights sponsor. Highway Lights had naming rights for the truck parade, Tyrepower sponsored Airtime FMX, Robuk Engineering sponsored the band and a new category of trophies, Toowoomba Truck Centre Specialists backed the Elite Series category, general trophies were sponsored by the Brown & Hurley Group.
The Top Five Judged Elite Series awards was sponsored by the TTSC Group, and Dawson’s Haulage supported the Best Fleet Series. Truckwriters and MasterArt Designs teamed up to support the Best Paint trophies, while the Royans Group came on board to deliver the Industry Pride and Passion awards – a new category for 2023.
The premier award for the show, the Tiny Lollback Rig of the Show, came with $1000 in prizemoney along with some unique, one-off 6061 Billet goodies, crafted by Monkey Spunk Fabrications, as well as the towering Rig of the Show trophy and the winner’s name etched on the plaque.