Category: News

Congratulations to Aaron Wanless of PPC Transport who wins 1st prize for his great photo ‘Dead end Drop.’ It perfectly captures the FASSI F820RA in action against the clear blue April skies.  It was a fierce competition this month but Aaron’s photographic skills mean that he wins a FASSI x LAS Helmet, FASSI gilet and merchandise pack consisting of:  FASSI hoodie, brand new insulated bottle and Chamois leather with retro FASSI logo.

For a full list of this months’ winners see our facebook page www.facebook.co./fassiuk

Round 2 of the Bugatti Owners Club FASSI Classic Speed Championship took place over two days at Prescott Speed Hillclimb on Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 April.

The weekend played host to the top two national hill climb championships with both the British & Midland series’ taking place. With over 180 cars on the program ranging from the single seaters capable of climbing the hill in 35 seconds to the FASSI Classics, there was something for everyone in the large crowd to enjoy.

The FASSI Classic field was an eclectic mix as usual with some new drivers joining us for the first time, with Peter Cooper in his works rally Austin Allegro, Ian Beattie with the Jaguar XK120 & Piers Thynne in the sky blue Mini Cooper S drawing particular attention.

The competitive timed runs took place from mid-morning on Sunday with a rapidly drying track producing some competitive times.

Saloon Car Class honours went to reigning King of the Hill Stephen Akers in the Mini Cooper S, with Scuderia FASSI favourite John Barber’s Fiat Abarth 850TC Nurburgring in second. Alistair Clark was the only other driver to come in under his handicap time to take third spot in the Triumph Vitesse MK2.

Pre-race Sports Car Class favourites Ben & Tim Cross sadly suffered a broken gear box in the MG Midget during practice, so the field was wide open. Debutant Henry Mitchell duly stepped up in the Clan Crusader to take top slot from the flying Garry Cox in the Scimitar Coupe & Ian Beattie in the Jaguar XK120.

The Racing Car Class featured the diminutive Buckler Ballamey Special driven to a class win by Jeremy Rivers-Fletcher. Second in class was Peter Thurston in the Mallock Mk4 who also recorded the fastest time of the day in the FASSI Classic at 45.09s. Mike White took third place in the MG Special.

Scuderia FASSI drivers Dave Fripp & Leigh Carter put in a solid mid table drive with Dave picking up sufficient points to be in Fourth position in the championship after two rounds.

Many thanks to Stuart Wing & Max Hawkes for the really excellent photography & to all the staff & marshals at Prescott for a well run event & live stream.

Click here to go to the championship photo gallery. 

The opening round of the Bugatti Owners Club FASSI Classic Speed Championship took place at Loton Park Hill Climb on Sunday 26 March.

The Loton Park Speed Hill Climb course is 1475 yards (1349 metres) long & is extremely challenging for competitors with a wide variety of corners and a changing character as an ascent progresses. Combine this with the damp conditions & you had a day where the best drivers came to the fore.

This was illustrated with a blistering but controlled drive by Scuderia FASSI’s Dave Fripp coming home in 4th place in the saloon class, only missing out on second place by a tenth of a second & just two hundredths on third. Our other driver, Leigh Carter, broadsided across the grass on the last corner to finish nowhere but at least entertain the Museum spectators.

Saloon winner on the day was Mark Hobbs in the Ford Escort Mk2, just a second off his personal best in the greasy conditions. Second & third places went to FASSI Championship debutants: Peter Baker drove his 1950’s Daimler Conquest right on the edge to finish second with Ben Thorne in the Austin Mini Clubman in third.

The Sports Car class was won by Ben Cross who beat his father Tim into second place in their dual drive MG Midget. Third place went to  Garry Cox in the Reliant Scimitar Coupe ‘lemon slice’.

The battle for outright fastest up the hill was between Matt Clarke in the flying Austin Mini & Garry Cox in the Reliant Scimitar Coupe who just pipped it by a few hundredths on the final timed run.

Many thanks to the talented Stuart Wing & Steve Shelley for the great photographs & to all the staff & marshals at Loton Park for a well run event.

Click here to go to the championship photo gallery. 

Congratulations to James Fensome of NJI Transport who scoops 1st prize with ‘Pump it up’ in our #fassifriday competition this month.

This stunning photo of his FASSI F660RA in action could have been taken by a professional.

James wins a FASSI x LAS Helmet, FASSI Gilet, hoodie and merchandise pack of branded leather gloves and pouch, NEW insulated bottle and chamois leather.  For a full list of this months’ winners see our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/fassiuk

Established in 1978 with a small workshop and employing just two people, Devon based Chris Hodgson Engineering is a family run business that offers a unique service to design, build and manufacture commercial, agricultural and industrial buildings from start to finish using its dedicated in-house workforce.  The company now employs over 50 skilled people on a diverse range of projects across the South West of England.

We caught up with the company recently on site at Okehampton when they used one of their THREE Fassi cranes; a FASSI F710RA.2.27 to supply and build the blue and cream building in the images.  The FASSI F710RA.2.27 has seven extensions giving a reach of 18.25m where it can still lift 2,660Kg.  The combination of the D900 Digital Multifunction Distributor Bank and RCS radio control allows ‘mm’ precision placement of the steels and other materials.

A dynamic crane for a dynamic company.

FASSI dealer & certified installer Mac’s Trucks have designed a new subframe to enable the F990RA to be installed to a 4-axle chassis without compromising stability or payload.

Macs Trucks have installed the FASSI F990RA.2.28 to a 32 tonne Volvo FMX 4-axle chassis as a complete vehicle build, ready to go to work.

Macs Technical Director, Andy Hall, explains: “engineering the build for the F990RA onto this Volvo was particularly tricky because the crane has a compact leg spread of 8.5m. I had to design an entirely new subframe for it to handle the stresses without compromising stability or payload”.

The customer, RJC Lowloaders, has developed a reputation for specialising in difficult access or restricted site locations, particularly with their contracts for Network Rail & London Underground. The compact leg spread coupled with the FSC Stability Control system makes the FASSI F990RA very well suited to the application. With the FSC-SII stability system matched with HS supplementary outriggers, the crane can work up to rated capacity with the outriggers extended by only 25%, safely controlled by the tilt sensor. The addition of front mounted stabilisers allowing 90% lifting capacity over the cab completes this versatile complete vehicle solution.

The compact dimensions of the F990RA combined with Macs Trucks extending bed means that not only has no load length capability been lost (compared with the standard flatbed 8-wheeler) but additional capacity is achieved.

The F990RA.2.28 has eight extensions for a reach of 19.85m where it will lift 3,255Kg. The L426 flyjib has also been supplied extending this reach to 31.7m & 770Kg. Close in the crane will lift an impressive 21,500Kg.

Photo credit & many thanks go to Ian Shaw.

Known & respected across the industry, with a technical knowledge second to none, Steve Weavers celebrates 25 years’ service with FASSI UK this month.

Truck loader cranes were relatively simple machines back in 1997 & Steve has witnessed many legislative & technological changes since then. From the introduction of electronic load moment limiting devices in the 90’s, stability control systems in 2009, through to more recent challenges such as Tier One contractors site entry requirements, Steve has guided FASSI through it all.

Fast forward to 2022 & working with our dealers & service partners, Steve is at the centre of a constantly evolving network of 67 engineers, with the Training Academy spreading his knowledge & expertise to our graduates right across the country.

He is a key part of the success of our brand in the UK & on behalf of everyone at FASSI, thank you for the last 25 years.