No More Timing In Drivers' Contest
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AS an experiment, timing will be
an from the Lorry Driver ofthe Year Competition next year. This was one of the decisions reached by a majority of the national organizing -committee at Coventry last week. As an alternative, theexecutive committee are to cOnSider the Possibility of introducing penalties for exceisive movements in_
'completing tests: -The harsh penaltieS, imposed this year on competitors WhO exceeded the standard times for tests have created strong -hostility towards any kind of timing.
Normally, three of the four tests used in the final are adopted for the eliminating rounds the next year. As the " target " test used in this .Year's final may cause difficulties for promOters of local. rounds and the revised: form of width-judging exercise has been condemned, the tests for next year's rounds have to be reconsidered.
Steps arc to be-taken in future to ensure that new promoters of eliminating contests are competent to hold them. It is understood that a member of the national corrunittee will visit each prospectiiie organizer and, in particular. will inspect the site to be used for the competition. His report will determine whether or not the round will be accepted. The Stepney contest, held for the first time this year, will be subject to this new rule.
Approaches will continue to be made to possible promoters in areas of the country riot at present. covered, including Scotland. An " inquest " .on this year's competition was held at last week's meeting.The committee were generally satisfied witn its conduct, but some improvements Were' approved. One was that the rear barrier in the kerbside parking test should be increased in width to 9 ft. Another was that the definition of military vehicles should be reconsidered. '
. It wasalso 'agreed that in tests requiring vehicles to be placed parallel to barriers. there should be no tolerance
for small errors in alignment. Road routes should be marked and route instructions should be given to competitors when they reported. Fuller instructions or setting out tests should be given to eliminating centres than had been the case in the past.