Torbay They're blushing in
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Torbay by lain Sharriff • Last Sunday another blow was struck for Women's Lib when 18-year-old June Southworth, a leading aircraftwoman with the Women's Royal A-fr Force, became champion of champions at the Torbay LDoY eliminator. In an almost immaculate run in her Karrier Bantam she won Class A losing only 132 penalty points, more than half of which were collected in the Highway Code and legal section. She won the 'Services trophy by beating drivers from the RCT and the Royal Marines and on the index of performance she lifted the supreme championship.
This was no mean achievement, as she was competing against 119 drivers one of whom was the 1968 British champion, Reg Tooze, who has also qualified for this year's final as winner in Class H. But consider further—the young airwoman passed her basic driving test in August and her hgv Class 3 driving test only last month. Her comment when hearing the results was to the effect that training pays off.
It could be that LACW Southworth will be the first woman in the history of the competition to appear at the final. A previous female qualifier was indisposed on the day of the event.
Driving standards at Torbay were generally high but it seems that competitors will never learn that the Highway Code is an important part of the event. Those who performed well in this section were among the prize-winners.
Rigid Vehicles
Class A: up to 20ft and over 1 ton unladen: 1, LACW Southworth (RAF Plymouth) Karrier, 132 points: 2, S. Minners (W. F. Minners, Ashburton) Ford, 180; 3. A. G. Yeoman (ECC Ltd) Bedford, 256.
Class B: over 20ft to 24ft: 1, W. Matthews (ECC Ltd) Bedford, 94; 2, Col Mitchell (RCT) Bedford, 168; 3, K. Brooks (Western Fuel Co. Torquay) Bedford. 170.
Class C: over 24ft to 28ft: 1, R. J. Cobb (ECC Ltd) Scammell, 152; 2, E. Blank (F. J. Reeves, Totnes) Commer, 170: 3. B. Newbury (Heltor Ltd) Ford. 210.
Class D: over 28ft: 1, C. Keates (ECC Ltd) Leyland, 178: 2, J. Chapman (W. F. Miners and Sons) Guy, 178, (Regulation 15 was applied): 1 M. Rowland (ECC Ltd) Leyland 186.
Artics Class E: flat or sided or drop-frame, up to 40ft: 1, H. Cochrane (NCL Exeter) Ford, 200: 2. M. Shewring (NCL. Bristol) Ford, 212: 3, W. Rowlands (NCL, Bristol) Ford, 224.
Class F: box or tank to 40ft: 1. S. Hinkley (Heltor Ltd) AEC, 264; 2, P. Moxey (Shell-Mex 84 BP) Scammell, 344; 3, R. Hammond (NCL. Exeter) Ford, 374.
Class G: flat or sided, flat or drop-frame, over 40ft: 1, D. Paterson (W. F. Miners and Sons) Guy, 202; 2, B. Rowe (W. F. Miners and Sons) ERR 266: 3, R. Williamson (F. J. Reeves (rotnes) Ltd) Dodge, 348.
Class H: box or tank over 40ft: 1. R. Tooze (Texaco Ltd) AEC, 162; 2, E. Lilley (Texaco Ltd) AEC, 198; 3, G. Horsley (Conoco Ltd) Leyland, 208.
Overall winner: LACW Southworth.
Team award: ECC Ltd, Plympton.