Everything you need to know about The Great North West Truck Show at Haydock Racecourse

The Great North West Truck Show is back for its seventh year, providing loads of fun for families and raising thousands of pounds for local charities.

The Great North West Truck Show is being held at Haydock Racecourse from Saturday to Sunday, July 13-14, with organisers promising ‘a place where big hearts and big rigs come together for a good cause’.

And they say every truck on display is more than just a shiny vehicle – it’s a symbol of the generosity and pride of a community.

Kieran Binns, organiser of GNWTS, says: “We started The Great North West Truck Show in 2015 – obviously we missed a couple of years with Covid – when a group of truck driving friends and colleagues had a look at all these big commercial truck shows up and down the country, organised by non-haulage based individuals, and realised there were things that were lacking.

“So we decided to do our own.

“Nobody wanted to make any money out of it, we’re all volunteers, so we decided to give all the money to the most deserving charities, children’s charities.”

He adds: “It was a win win because it captured people’s hearts – believe it or not, truck drivers have hearts. To be honest, they are the biggest hearts you could wish for, and they’re all big softies really.”

And Kieran, who has 15 years’ experience as a truck driver explains: “They see it as a good weekend spending time with colleagues and friends that they don’t normally get when they’re on the road, and it’s about having fun. But you don’t have to be a truck driver, you can just be interested in trucks and have a good family weekend.

“We want to be the truck show where the public can come and have a close-up look at the trucks and speak to the drivers (who love kids asking them questions, and honking their horns). And I don’t think there’s another truck show in the country where you can have a go yourself!”

Alongside the impressive display of trucks, the show offers a full line-up of entertainment guaranteed to keep everyone happy all weekend long. There’s live music performances, thrilling monster truck rides, challenges, food, and more.

So here’s everything you need to know.

When and where is The Great North West Truck Show?

The Great North West Truck Show is being held at Haydock Race Course on Saturday and Sunday, July 13-14.

Opening times

The show runs from 10am to 6pm on Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

How many trucks are on show?

There are more that 400 trucks on display at GNWTS from American trucks to show trucks, airbrushed trucks and themed trucks – film and Disney – to general fleet trucks, like Royal Mail trucks that will be there at the weekend. They compete in a competition too, judged in 20 different categories, and Kieran adds: “Drivers clean their trucks to within an inch of their lives.”

Live music

On Saturday night it’s Boom Shake the 90s! who’ll be taking people on a journey through the epic music decade, and on Sunday from 12noon-2pm Queen tribute band, Queenology, will be getting people up dancing and singing along to the legendary band’s hits.

Is there entertainment for kids?

There’ll be fun all weekend with female clown Louby Lou, as well as a fun fair. On Saturday children can meet and greet Iron Man and the 10ft Transformer Bumble Bee, and on Sunday they can look forward to a Dinosaur Encounter

What’s the truck driving challenge?

The challenge is a chance for you to put your money where your mouth is and see how easy it is – or isn’t – to drive a 50ft articulated lorry. For a small charge, Rochdale HGV Training will happily help you negotiate their special course under the supervision of a qualified training instructor, all for charity! “The uptake on this is phenomenal,” says Kieran. “And people find out it’s harder than they think. So next time they see a truck reversing down a side street they’ll be a little more patient!”

Monster truck ride

One of the highlights of the weekend is the chance to ride in the SlingShot Monster Truck that’s 12-feet high, 12.5-feet wide and 18-feet long – and weighs five tons!

There’s food and drink

There will be a bar as well as vendors selling soft drinks and beverages, says Kieran, and along with a healthy eating stand you can get all your favourites from burgers, hot dogs, pizzas and more.

How much has it raised for charity?

So far The Great North West Truck Show has raised £150,000 for charity, the main two being Reubens’s Retreat, a sanctuary where children with complex conditions can relax and find comfort, and make memories with their families; and Jolly Josh which provides a purpose-built haven for children living with complex medical needs and physical disabilities. Manchester Children’s Hospital has also benefited along with other charities and causes throughout the North West, including Merseyside.

Anything else?

There’s a truck pulling challenge, and a Lorry Loader Challenge, says Kieran. “There’s loads going on and it’s a show for everyone, where people will have a lot of fun and raise money for local charities.”

How much are tickets?

Tickets start at £7 for one day and £10 for a weekend ticket for young people under 16; adult tickets are £14 and £25, and family tickets for one day are £38. There are camping options and under fives are free.