Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/737157
2 0 1 6 V 2 | BULLDOG | 2 5 (Sunoco recently became the official fuel partner of INDYCAR and the NHRA as well.) "We buy top-of-the-line tractors, with all the bells and whistles for our drivers," Manchester says. "We care about our drivers and want them in the best equipment to enjoy their time on the road. In addition, I'm a big image guy, and our trucks are rolling bill- boards for our company. This also helps us attract the best and safest drivers. Safety is our top priority, and our safety record is our license to operate! The Macks are driver friendly, and the fit and finish and overall look of the tractor is first class." He likes the resale value as well, especially in the Northeast. He retires trucks after five years or 500,000 miles, but the Mack's still have plenty of life remaining for the next com- pany that will use them. Layman and the other staff members at Bergey's Truck Center remain in close con- tact, making sure the Mack Fleet is meeting Sunoco's needs. Thanks to Mack's telematics platform, GuardDog® Connect, downtime has become a distant memory. After-sales support is key to customer satisfaction, Layman says, and he believes it is a quality that sets Bergey's, and other Mack dealer- ships ahead of their competitors. Manchester remains focused on reducing tare weight and improving safety and effi- ciency. But for now, he is pleased with his lat- est purchase and likes what he sees on the road ahead. "Macks were new to us, but Jim and Bergey's sales staff, as well as Mack's corpo- rate staff, have really gone out of their way to be there for us. They have gone the extra mile, and that makes a big difference," he says. " There's a lot of focus around the cus- tomer, and that's impressive. Service has been excellent." B ob Manchester not only works with Mack trucks; he's passionate about the brand. So much so that he and his brother, Brian, collect them. Manchester, senior director of transportation/ operations at Sunoco, began buying and restoring antique trucks with his father, uncle and brother in 1992. They now have nine antiques in total, and three are Macks: a 1986 Super-Liner, a 1988 Super-Liner and a 1989 R Model. Manchester's love affair with Mack Trucks began at an early age. His grandfather, father and uncle drove Macks, and he grew up to drive them, too. The nostalgia factor is high with the R Model, Manchester says, because he drove one in college in the early 1980s while delivering gasoline to service stations. Six years ago, when he bought his first antique Mack, and the R Model was a natural choice. "I really enjoyed driving them, and they were a nice looking truck too" he says. "I liked the way you could get in and around a service station with them, and the way they ran. My father had a fleet of them for Amoco back in the day, and I worked at Connecticut Mack for a few summers. Macks were part of our family." His brother loves bigger trucks, so the Super-Liner fit the bill for him. "He drove a Super-Liner in the 80's, and always liked the look and size of them," Manchester says. "He also liked the V8 engine and the sound. His is the 1986, with an E9, Mack 12 speed and straight stacks, it sounds great and is a strong runner! I never drove a Super-Liner until I owned one." Two of the trucks were in rough shape when he found them, and his brother's had already been restored. The trucks have their original drivetrains, and everything was restored to stock except the paint schemes, which the Manchesters changed. "It takes time and money; it's not a cheap hobby," Manchester says. "It's usually cheaper in the end to buy a restored one, but you get a lot of joy out of doing it yourself, and restoring them the way you like them." The Manchester's also derive a lot of satis- faction from sharing their Macks with others who have similar interests and fond memo- ries. They take them to an average of 15 truck shows per year, in various states. They recently came back from the annual Mack Trucktoberfest show at the Mack Museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The antique Macks turn heads everywhere they go, and the Manchester's are always looking for another Mack to buy or restore. They have interest in older Macks too, but their wish list is always open for whatever strikes their fancy. "We don't have anything in particular we're looking for, but a B81 or B87 would be nice to have," Manchester says. "We just like Macks in general — especially these '80s vintage Macks." Bob Manchester III, right, is pictured with his father, Bob Jr., left, and brother, Brian. The three men began collecting antique Macks in 1992. That '80s Show Truck ©GRANITEFAN713 (David B.)