Getting geared up fo those LDoY final
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They've come through the local heats.' They're good. On Finals Day at CM Lor Driver of the Year competition over 20 contestants will be battling it out to beco the best, David Wilcox gives a taste oft excitement and fun in store at this mai event in the transport calendar T'S FINGERS crossed next weekend for some fine weather. lecause Sunday September 20 finals Day for the 1981 Cornriercial Motor Lorry Driver of the 'ear competition, and well over 0,000 people are expected to ttend this, the premier event for irofessional lorry drivers.
The 230 or so finalists have ome through local heats and so lave already proved themselves D be good; they are now vying D become the best.
As in recent years, the finals ire being held at Cranfield Instiute of Technology, Cranfield, ledfordshire. Although the uccessful format of previous 'ears will be followed there will ilso be some changes in this, he 28th year of LDoY.
There will be two events takig place on Saturday 19. The irst of these starts at 11am and a new competition especially or owner-drivers who own and lperate a single vehicle over 3.5 onnes gvw. They and their .ehicles will be tested on three ounts; a mini CPC, mechanical ispection of the vehicle, and an .ssessment of the livery and its uitability. On the Saturday afternoon at 2pm it's time to find the Young Lorry Driver of the Year, a competition open to drivers under the age of 21 and who are trainees on the Young HGV Drivers Scheme or service personnel.
The LDoY competition proper starts on the Sunday with the competitors arriving at Cranfield at 8am. The vehicles first go through scrutineering and then the drivers take the Highway Code test.
This is one of the most dreaded parts of the entire proceedings for many drivers because the test really is tough — far more than just remembering the sequence of the traffic lights. All the champions in the past have first put up a good performance in the Highway Code section.
Then it's on to the manoeuvring tests in which competitors use their own vehicles. These tests require the drivers to position their vehicles as closely as possible to barriers, and tolerances are very fine. If they stop short of a barrier they incur penalty points; if they touch the barrier itself they incur further penalty points.
By lunchtime these tests will be completed and the results posted up shortly afterwards. These will show the eight class winners encompassing every vehicle type from van to maximum weight artic.
After lunch, these eight class winners go forward to the final run-off to find the overall Lorry Driver of the Year, 1981. The runoff is centred on four manoeuvring tests for which the finalists use vehicles other than their own. This year, Ford has supplied the four vehicles.
The first of these tests is taken using a Ford Transit 120 Custom van which has the 1.6-litre petrol engine and four-speed gearbox.
Then it's out of the Transit and up a size for the second test. This is taken on a Cargo 1314, a 13.2tonne-gvw rigid with the Ford six-cylinder turbocharged engine developing 104kW (140bhp) and the six-speed synchromesh gearbox.
The vehicle to be used on the third test is unique. Because there are no three-axle Cargoes yet coming off the production line Ford, has put a hybrid together for LDoY.
It's a 1514 rigid, but with a Rydewell rubber suspension tandem axle in place of the OK single axle. This makes: vehicle a nominal 22-tonne ig though it still has the 15 standard engine and gear It's bodied with a 21ft box body and also has a tail-lift.
A Ford Transcontinental used for the fourth and final 4I noeuvring test. Designated 3424, it's a 34-tonne mode: the 182kW (244bhp) Curti engine and Fuller nine-ep gearbox. Hooked up to: Transcontinental is a 12. (40ft) curtainsided trailer Crane Fruehauf and supplit Rentco.
So, the overall winner have to display a high clew* skill with all these vehicles. the winner of the van class particular will have his work:i out to put up a good perib ance on the artic.
Prize-giving is due to stit 4pm, slightly earlier than Jo, past. This year Royalty carte LDoY with Princess Anne:: senting the major prizes. $h due to arrive by helicoptei ing the afternoon and 3 visiting the displays and ex[bits at Cranfield.
And it's quite possible we may ren see her behind the wheel to ike advantage of the demon(ration runs on offer — Princess ,nne holds an hgv licence.
The competition will be tough Cranfield this year: a glance own the entry list shows that a it of familiar names have once Jain got through their local eats to win a place at the finals. Among them are several past /inners including the reigning gampion Harold Dean, and )rmer winners Roy Withers 1977), Lloyd Richards (1974), nd Christopher O'Reilly (1969). Of course, the winner may /ell emerge from the ranks of rivers who have reached the ational finals for the first time. inly one thing is certain; a roman won't take the title beause none has qualified. While all the competitors are concentrating on their driving, the rest of the 20,000 spectators also have the exhibits, demonstrations and displays to enjoy.
Virtually all the major commercial vehicle manufacturers will be represented at Cranfield and most will be offering demonstration drives. Cranfield is ideal for this — it's an ex-RAF station and has broad runways.
Girling will stage a vivid demonstration of its Skidchek anti-skid system, which should prove spectacular. No reflection on the effectiveness of Skidchek, the Association of Vehicle Recovery Operators (AVRO) will be showing how to tackle the recovery of heavy vehicles, including using air-bags.
With the compulsory use of seat belts in cars now just around the corner, BP is bringing its seat-belt sled to demons trate how effective belts really are in a crash.
Goodyear will once again be running its tyre-changing contest for both men and women. It should be held at night in a thunderstorm to make it realistic.
Commercial Motor, in association with Volvo, is providing the music for LDoY with the Liverpool Jazz Workshop and the Easy Money pop group — hopefully not at the same time. Adding chaos to this will be the famous tea-drinking chimps and Hercules the bear who will be there with the 1981 version of the "bare necessities of life": his own Volvo coach.
National Benzole is sending Pierre the Clown and his Crazy Model T-Ford which suffers every possible mechanical mishap, plus a few more. Fleet engineers and fitters should look away.
A popular event last year was the BRS Pro-Am darts tournament and this is back again for 1981. Anyone employed in the road transport industry can enter this knock-out competition, and the best players will play in the finals paired with darts professionals including John Lowe, Leighton Rees and Maureen Flowers.
Although you can enter on the day, BRS would appreciate an advance entry: contact David Sewell, BRS Ltd, The Merton Centre, 45 St Peters Street, Bedford MK40 2UB.
Reflecting DAF Trucks' heavy involvement with sports sponsorship and advertising, boxer Alan Minter will be on their stand. Hopefully, unlike the BRS darts professionals he will not betaking on amateurs.
Michelin will be running a draw a truck competition for the children, and there will also be a prize for guessing the girth of Michelin's Mr Bibendum.
Not content with giving u Buzby, the bird we all love t hate, the Post Office has no come up with Poco the postcod elephant and both of these wi be gracing us with their pre: ence at Cranfield. I wonder Poco can be induced to sit o Buzby.
In France, Renault also make lawnmowers and is bringin some over to Cranfield special, for its Lawn-Mower Le Mani They are the ride-on type with the cutters removed fc safety and, no doubt, to reduc unsprung weight. I believe fin prize is a weekend in Paris an second prize is a lawnmovo (with cutters), so if you entE make sure you don't corn second unless you like cuttin the grass.
For the armchair lorry drive there will be a mini-LDoY Corr petition using radio-controlle models over on the Conoc stand.
Members of the Commerci4 Vehicle and Road Transport Clu are bringing their super vehicles dating back to aroun 1910. This display always &av. the crowds and most of th proud owners are only to pleased to talk about their al vans and lorries.
To keep body and soul tt gether there will be caterin facilities a-plenty and license bars on the site. Parking, whic includes entry and a prc gramme, costs £2 a car and £5 coach — the same price as la: year.
Cranfield is about four mile East of the M1 and approache from the North via junction 1 and from the South by junctio 13. This section is in upheaval the moment, but extra signpos ing should help you pick yot. way through the contrafIcy Systems.
It will be well worth it.