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Scots battle for NCL Top Driver
Page 34
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• A finish almost as close as that between Ryder Cup golf aces Jacklin and Nicklaus was seen in London on Sunday at the final of the "Top Drivercompetition organized by National Carriers Ltd.
The title was won by 43-year-old Scotsman Bill Scott from Kilmarnock, following a successful protest concerning his class score. But he had to wait for the result of the third and final test before he could claim the victor's laurels.
Thirty-two drivers from NCL's 9,000 men competed in four classes at the company's York Way depot. There were three tests, identical with those used in the 1969 Lorry Driver of the Year competition. Drivers were not using their own vehicles but had the choice of several from the NCL London fleet.
After the loading bay test in the class competition Bill Scott checked his score card and estimated that it had been wrongly marked. The measurement from both rear wheels of his semi-trailer to the barrier read 37 inches. The measurement from the rear of the vehicle to the barrier read 4in. The driver knew the overhang of the vehicle and claimed that the second measurement could only be 3m. His vehicle was repositioned with the rear wheels 37in. from the barrier and driver Scott was proved to be right.
This re-measurement caused a tie for first place in Class D and both drivers were allowed to compete in the final run-off. Scott was the second to last man to run and returned a score of 76. Following him was another Scot, now living in Exeter, Harry Cochrane. After the first two tests had been completed the men were neck and neck, and it was in the controversial loading-bay test that the winner clinched the title.
This test was considered controversial because the final run-off was taken with a rigid vehicle and four of the five finalists were artic drivers, some of whom had suggested that they were at a disadvantage driving an un accustomed vehicle. J.P.B.S.