JCB Telehandlers Go from Race Track to Iraq

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JCB telehandlers were used during the Grand Prix to move disabed cars from the track.

June 29, 2007 • Several pieces of JCB equipment used in the United States Grand Prix to lift and move disabled Formula One cars will soon be on their way to the Middle East for use by the U.S. military.

During the US Grand Prix, the JCB telehandlers were outfitted with specially designed jigs, chains and linkage to safely move cars that had retired from the race but still remained in a potentially dangerous location. The equipment was relied upon for its precision and quick-moving capabilities in order to avoid dangerous pile-ups on the track. Once the cars were recovered by the JCB Loadalls, they were loaded on flatbed trucks and transported back to the pit area.

“It just shows the versatility of the machines,” said Nick Bellwood, regional JCB manager. “One week they are lifting multi-million dollar race cars; the next week they are supporting our troops in the rebuilding of the Middle East.”

The nine JCB 541-70 Loadall telescopic handlers have been transported to JCB's North American headquarters in Savannah, Ga., where they will be packed into shipping containers and sent to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. The machines will ultimately reach Iraq.

The Indy JCB Loadalls, which are supported by local Indiana dealer Reynolds Farm Equipment, join the JCB built High Mobility Engineer Excavator (HMEE-1) as choice equipment for the U.S. military.