MEATY BIG V8S
THE PREVIOUS few days had been particularly busy for Ken Zambonetti. Even busier than usual as a run of stockyard sales arrived in quick succession throughout Western Australia’s southern pocket, creating a spike in calls from farmers and feedlots.
Still, it’s not uncommon for the phone to run hot. In these parts, the Zambonetti name and reputation are etched deep in the rural register.
Finding the time to just stop and talk about trucks for a while is rare, but right now there’s a break in the scramble. Inland from Albany’s sea breeze on the southern coast, the afternoon brings heavy heat to the Zambonetti property and in the cool of the family dining room with wife Angela alongside, a broad smile comes with a grateful sigh as Ken says “G’day” and sits down.
“So you had a drive of Paul’s truck this morning?” he asks, knowing full well I did. “How’d it go?”
“Yeah, it’s a nice bit of gear,” I say with what I hope is obvious sincerity, because it really and truly was a nice bit of gear. “There’s definitely nothing wrong with the way it pulls.”
“I love the sound of the V8 when it’s working hard,” Ken nods, the smile still firmly intact. “There’s nothing like it.”
True, the burly burble of a big bore V8 invites a certain appreciation for the mettle and muscle of the mass underneath, even when it’s muted to a soft rumble by the modern manners and creature comforts of trucks such as Scania’s latest R and S-series models.
There is, however, more to the Zambonetti zeal for Scania than just the deep-throated gurgle of a lumpy double-banker. Much more, and it goes back a long way. To 1990, in fact, and Ken’s purchase of a second-hand T142 ‘gumboot’ conventional which accumulated 1.5 million reliable kilometres for the eager young operator, mostly hauling carpet between Albany and Melbourne.
Two years later though, things would be markedly different. Zambonetti Transport was actually started by older brother Frank but when he opted to start another business in
