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Stage is set for Driver of the Year
Page 62
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The qualifying heats are over and, as Alan Millar reports, this year's finals are all set to be another outstanding success
ALL SIGHTS are set now on September 7 when Britain's top lorry drivers will fight it out for the coveted title of Commercial Motor Lorry Driver of the Year.
The last qualifying heats have been held and CMLDoY secretary John Wells and many helpers are concentrating now on making sure that the finals — again at Cranfield in Bedfordshire — are an outstanding success.
It will be a big day for the competitors, but John is determined that, once again, it will be an equally successful day for the spectators and exhibitors.
All major vehicle manufacturers will be represented at the event by their dealers, and there will be an opportunity for drivers to test drive vehicles on the track and field at Cranfield.
As John Wells says, this is a unique opportunity, as no other such gathering of test vehicles exists anywhere in Britain — not even at the Motor Show at the National Exhibition Centre.
And older drivers may take especial interest in the display of around 150 historic commercial vehicles which is being mounted by the Commercial Vehicle and Road Transport Club. This follows the success of a similar display at last year's finals, and there will be a concours d'eldgance to determine the best on the day.
Getting a little farther away from the nuts and bolts of lorry driving, there will be two teams of parachute experts. Royal Air Force men will be parachuting on to the site, while a group of Venture Scouts will "parascend.'' According to John Wells, this means they will run behind Land Rovers until the draught catches them and propels them skywards. There will be a DAF Trucks goalkeeping competition, a mini car driving competition, and an appearance by circus clown Pierre in his crazy Model-T Ford.
John Wells says that, weather permitting there will be at least three hot air balloons and what he describes tantalisingly as "other tethered objects" will be there too. Goodyear is organising a tyre-changing contest for men and women, and there will be a Transport Manager of the Year contest.
But the day really belongs to the 287 drivers who have won their way to the finals, and who fought off the regional competition of some 2500 others.
Their ability to steer vehicles through obstacle courses, over a range of surrounding roads, and to answer tough questions on the theory of their job has separated them from their peers.
Among those men are four past champions, the most notable of whom is Joe Daykin, the Express Dairies driver who won LDoY in 1963.
He has come back along with Lloyd Richards of Heavy Transport (ECC) who won twice before, in 1972 and 1974, and with Roy Withers of Midlands BRS, who won in 1977.
And BRS has further reason for celebration. Last year's champion Wynne Phillips — a Western BRS man — is back again to defend his reputation.
There is no admission fee as such for the Cranfield site, but there is a £2 parking fee for cars and £5 for coaches.
Everyone is confident of an attendance of at least 30,000 on the day which begins at 7.30 in the morning with scrutineering and the road section.