Lii6Ir Haulier's success
Page 46
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by David Lowe..
• Winning three out of the eight contested classes and taking the RHA Challenge Trophy for the best A or B licence driver must have been a very satisfying day's outing for hauliers W. Allport and Son of Sutton Coltifield. and their drivers. This result was even more creditable because the wins were in the most hotly contested classes, This year's event, the 13th at Birmingham, was unluckily marred by the worst weather the organization had experienced, which kept many spectators away; however, the standard of driving was good and many low scores were recorded.
A number of strong contingents came from big operators, particularly BMC (20 entrants), BRS (12) and National Carriers (7). But out of these the only prizes collected were BMC {J. Palfrey) second place in Class G and BRS (R. King) third place in the same class. All ports with 10 entries in five classes fared considerably better. It is refreshing to see such a large entry from a haulage operator and especially pleasing to see it gain prizes at the expense of the well-represented own-account operators.
None of last year's class winners were able to repeat their performances although W. Astley, second in Class E2 last year, was winner of the class this year, and D. Mosely, last year's Class C, winner took second place in Class D. D. E. Hines (D. Hines Transport Ltd.), another haulier entrant, who last year provided first and second place in Class G took first place in that class again with last year's runner up D. Wilkes, surprisingly with a loss of exactly the same number of marks, 81. B. Hughes of Kraft Foods repeated his last year's performance by taking third place in Class D.
Prizes were presented this year by Aid. A. M. Beaumont Dark (chairman, Birmingham Accident Prevention Council) starting 10 minutes before schedule, indicating the slick organization and results service which was a feature of the event. Ald. Beaumont Dark was warmly applauded when he referred to lorry drivers as kings of the road with their cour teous driving and contribution to road safety. "It is a pity car drivers don't follow their example," he said,
BIRMINGHAM RESULTS
Class A: up to 16ft and over 1 ton unladen weight: 1, A. Deakin (BMC Ltd.) BMC, 85 points.
Class B: over Wit° 1Sft: No entries.
Class C: over laft to 22ft: 1, C. Beardmore (W. Allport and Son Ltd.) Austin. 68; 2, W. J. Fortune (Lewis's Ltd.) Dennis 117.
Class D: over 22ft to 25ft: 1, A. Today (W. Allport and Son Ltd.) Commer. 61; 2, D. Moseley (Dimples Ltd.) Bedford, 95; 1 B. Hughes (Kraft Foods Ltd.) Bedford, 101.
Class El: aver 25ft with two axles: 1, p. Stanton (H. P. Bulmer Ltd.) Bedford, 79.
Class E2: over 25ft with more than two axles: 1, W. J. Astley (Shell-Mex and BP Ltd.) AEC, 70. Class Fl: flat or sided semi-trailers up to 33ft: 1, J. Edwards (Midland Counties Dairy Ltd.) Bedford, 93.
Class F2: box or tank semi-trailers up to 33ft: No entries.
Class G: flat or sided semi-trailers over 33ft; 1, D. J. Wilkes (D. E. Hines (Transport) Ltd.) Cornmer, 81; 2, J. B. Palfrey (BMC Ltd.) BMC, 109; 3, R. King IBRS Ltd.) 119.
Class H; box or tank semi-trailers over 33ft: 1, W. Thomas (W. Allport and Son) Atkinson, 106; 2. R. A. Hughes (Regent Oil Division, Texaco Ltd.) Atkinson, 127.
Best A-licence driver: C. Beardmore.
Best C-licence driver: W. J. Astley.
Best Service driver: K. R. Hudson, 35th (SM) Signal Regiment.