Caterpillar invasion due this weekend

A D6 Caterpillar bulldozer which will be trucked from North Canterbury to Wanaka this weekend. Photo: Supplied
A D6 Caterpillar bulldozer which will be trucked from North Canterbury to Wanaka this weekend. Photo: Supplied
A convoy of up to 20 trucks loaded down with vintage heavy machinery is due to arrive in Wanaka on Sunday.

The trucks belong to Wanaka developer Allan Dippie, and the heavy machinery is mostly the product of the world's biggest construction equipment manufacturer, Caterpillar.

Mr Dippie has acquired 35 machines -between 60 and 90 years old - from Ben Gough and Gina Satterthwaite, and will shift them 600km south from ''a secret location'' in North Canterbury.

Some are in good condition but others will need to be lifted on to trucks by crane.

Among them is one of the only two remaining Russell graders in the world, and a rare Speeder dragline.

Mr Dippie said it was a ''massive logistical operation'' getting the machines to Wanaka.

''It's going to be a mission, but we're treating it as a team-building exercise for our staff.''

Mr Dippie's plan is to have all the machines in working order in time for his second Wheels at Wanaka show at Easter 2021.

''It's quite a big job, but we'll get it done.''

''We're trying to showcase the history of Caterpillar in New Zealand and the tremendous things that were achieved with Caterpillars both on farms and on the big projects that happened to make the country what it is.''

Some of the machines have been restored to as-new condition but Mr Dippie said others would be left with their dents and scratches.

''If you find a good original machine, the thought nowadays is to leave it like that because there's a lot of history you see in that machine - all the scrapes it's had.

''Some of them got into terrible predicaments - they were pretty fearless, some of those early guys.''

mark.price@odt.co.nz

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement