Diagonal Width-judging Takes Big Toll
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LOWEST total of penalty points at the Birmingham round of the Lorry Driver of the Year Competition on Sunday was over 100. but all the marshals were of the opinion that the standard of driving was higher than last year.
The explanation can be found in the marks lost in the width-judging contest. in which vehicles this year have to be driven in a forward direction through two sets of pylons at right angles to each other and at 45 degrees to the kerb, after the driver has signalled the gap settings from the starting post. This exacted a heavy toll, but in the view of the officiating marshal, Mr. A. E. Haywood (three times winner of his class in the last three rounds), it was a very suitable test of skill of a type that is frequently needed.
On average, class winners lost well over 50 points in this test which compares with a total for the competition of last year's winner (H. Parker, of B.R.S.) of 24.
The competitor who achieved the best performance on points this year was penalized 38 marks in the width-judging test, which was the lowest recorded in the round. Driving an Austin in Class A for the Austin Motor Co., Ltd., J. S. Wooding gave a smooth, unspectacular display to lose 106 points, which was not challenged by any other driver. His penalty of 16 points in the Highway Code test was above average for the winners, most of whom lost fewer than 10 points.
The re-introduction of a time limit for the kerb-parking test was strongly advocated by Mr. S. B. Bowskill. of Pickfords, who was the marshal in charge. Mr. Bowskill pointed out that " you can't hang about if you are parking in a busy street so a driver should be penalized for undue slowness." Mr. Haywood considered that a time limit should also be applied to the other tests with one penalty mark for every four seconds over the stipulated time.
. To spectators the reversing into a loading-bay test was dull, with few incidents, until Class H vehicles came on tile scene. After two drivers had "made a thorough mess of things" the marshals, Mr. L. Patrick and Mr. E. Jackson of the T.R.T.A., and Mr. A. R. Butt of the R.H.A., and the clerk of the course, Mr. Gerald Aston, started to have doubts as to whether the test was fair to competitors. They were very relieved, therefore, when D. Tarbuck, of B.R.S., driving a Leyland articulated outfit, reversed into the second bay in one go and stopped his vehicle within 10 in. of the barrier.
Notable performances in this Class were those of N. Boon, of B.R.S., at the wheel of a Leyland, and A. Bennett of ShellMex and B.P., driving a Scammell outfit.
Closely challenging driver S. Jones of the R.A.S.C. (Bedford four-wheeler), winner of the Service vehicle class, runner-up, Sgt. M. M. Scotting, W.R.A.C./ T.A., missed first place by three points to the great disappointment of the many spectators of her own sex.
Exemplifying the value of experience, a number of last year's winners were again top of their class on Sunday. These included J. Huggins of the Birmingham Co-operative Society, Ltd. (Class 13); W. Glaze of the British Oxygen Co., Ltd. (Class C); and S. R. Archer, The Austirr Motor Co., Ltd. (Class F1).
The necessity for the drivers of heavier vehicles to sit most of the day in hot cabs waiting to move was criticized by a number of transport managers. This they cited as the main difficulty in recruiting drivers for the event, and they suggested the drivers should be called to the tests in classes to reduce waiting time.
RESULTS
CLASS A—up to is rt.: J. S. Wooding (The Austin Motor Co.. Ltd.). Austin. 106 penalty points, 1: M. KilshY (The Birmingham Post and Mail. Ltd.), Austin, 139. 2; M. Chatwin (The Birmingham Cooperative Society, Ltd.), Morris-Commercial, 142. ,3.
CLASS B-15-19 ft.: J. Huggins (The Birmingham Co-operative Society, Ltd.), B.M.C.. 150, R. E. Higgs (Post Office Supplies), Morris-Commercial, 178, 2; A. Smith (The British Oxygen Co., Ltd.). Bedford. 190. 3.
CLASS C-19-22 ft.: W. L. Glaze (The British Oxygen Co.. Ltd.), Bedford. 130. 1: H. Dodd (Schweppes (Home), Ltd.), Bedford, 154. 2: I.. ilaker-Price (The British Oxygen Co.. Ltd.), Bedford, 15$. 3.
CLASS D-22-25 ft..: C. Piercy (Chamberlain. Kin; and Jones, Ltd.), Austin, 12.3, I: J. Pearce (Petrofina. Ltd.). B.M.C., 128, 2; D. Canning (Schweppes tflome). Ltd.), Bedford, 133, 3.
CLASS El—Over 25 ft., two axles: A. Maskell (Mitchells and Butlers, Ltd.). Leyland. 149, I; J. A. Fawke (Joseph Lucas, Ltd.). Leyland, 181. 2; C. YirrOh (11w Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd.), A.E.C., 199, 3.
CLASS E2—Over 25 ft., more limn two axles: A. Osborne (Shz11-Mex and 13.P., Ltd.), A.E.C., 158, I; E. J. Hardware (Schweppes (Home), Ltd.), Atkinson. 183, 2; A. E. Shipley (B.R.S.). Bristol. 184, 3. CLASS FI—Arde., tractor under 3 toss, semitrailer under 22 ft.: J. R. Archer (The Austin Motor Ltd.). Austin, 192, I; 3. T. Lorton (The Midland Counties Dairy. Ltd.), Bedford-Scammell. 276, 2; J. G. Edwards (The Midland Counties Dairy. Ltd.), Bcdford-Scammell, 320. 3.
CLASS P2—Attic., tractor under 3 tons, semitrailer 22-27 ft.: B. Morris (Joseph Sankey and Sons, Ltd.), Thames, 186. 1: H. 1V2Ilington (Fisher and Ludlow, Ltd.), Morris-Commercial, 193, 2:
F. Perks (Morris Motors. Ltd.). Morris-Commercial, 205. 3.
CLASS G—Artic., tractor 3 tows or over, semitrailer up to 25 ft.: D. Tarbuck (B.R.S.). Leyland, 179, I; N. Boon (B.R.S.). Leyland. 197, 2: A. &mint (Shell-Men and B.P.. Ltd.), Scammell, 265, 3.
CLASS H—Articulated tractor any weight, semitrailers over 22 ft.: F. H. Bricrley (B.R.S.). Lev:and, 197, I: P. Cartwright (B.R.S.). Leyland, 237. 2; C. Beaman (B.R.S.), Leyland, 295, 3.
CLASS S—Standard Army Vehicles 19-24 ft.! Driver S. Jones (R.A.S.C.), Bedford. 234, 1: Sgt. M. M. Scotting (WRAC/TA). Bedford, 237. 2: Driver B. T. Jarvis (RAMC/TA). Thames. 243, 3.
Best maintained vehiclee No award.
Best C-licence Vehicle: 3, R. Archer (The Austin Motor Co.. Ltd.). Austin.
Team: No award.