Navy Win in Home Port
Page 47
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JUSTLY; the Navy, or at least its close associates. triumphed at the Plymouth eliminating round of the Lorry Driver of the Year • Competition last Sunday. Driving a Bedford tanker, R. Braddon (N.S. Department, H.M. Dockyard) won Class D from an entry. of 22 with a score of 27 points deducted.
' This was the best performance of the day, although no prize was given for the overall "Winner. Braddon was particularly impressive on the kerbside parking test which took toll from all but a handful of the competitors.
His namesake, A. Braddon, also from the N.S. Department, H.M. Dockyard, at the wheel of a Bedford " artic " had an unchallenged win as the only entry in Class H. His score was inflated by a slow performance on the width-judging test for which he lost 100 points.
Tate and Lyle, Ltd., carried off the premier awards in two classes. R. Thorne (A.E.C.) of this concern incurred penalties on all tests but won Class G with a score of 116, whilst M. Thorne, driving a Bedford, was unopposed in. Class F (2).
Had •there been a concours d'elegance at Plymouth, the three very smart Bedford CA vans entered by Messrs. Turnbull's Garages would have stood a good chance of gaining the award. As it was, A. Couch driving one of them lost no marks on the 7.5-mile road test and Highway Code questionnaire.
His total score of 35 made him the Winner of Class A from F. G. Taylor (G.P.O., Morris) and S. Semmens (Bedford). Turnbull's team, of which the other drivers were L. Whitmore and H. Turnbull, took the team award with an aggregate score of 185 to repeat their success of last year.
Another well-turned-out team was that of Messrs. R. A: Gibbs, whose vehicles took first and third place in Class E (I), driven by J. Lumley (Leyland) and R. Luscombe (A.E.C.) respectively.
Although he lost 28 marks on the road section, W. R. G. Johns (Messrs. Robert Daniel) in a Commer 30-cwt. recovered the lost ground with faultless answers on the Highway Code and the loss of only 10 points in the manoeuvring tests to give him first prize in Class B.
Couch was one of the few competitors who emerged from the road test with a clean sheet. Almost every hazard was included in the excellently planned circuit, whilst each observer was provided-with an explicit list of points to be checked and how faults were to be marked. Thus, judging was scrupulously fair and the marking sheets could be inspected by drivers who wished to see where they had failed.
One begins to wonder why it is that Service drivers are particularly hard hit by the time limitation for the manoeuvring tests introduced this year. Of the 14 Army and Marine entries in Class I, only three managed to complete all the tests within the time specified. These were S/Sgt. F. Tucker (506 Coy. R.A.S.C. jT.A.), Commer) who won the class, and Dvr. J. Pope and L/Cpl. K. Crumpton of the same unit in similar vehicles who were second and third. Tucker was the class winner in 1958.
An interesting diversion while waiting for the announcement of the results was a demonstration by Plymouth Fire Service.
RESULTS
Class A—Up to IS ft.: 1.—A. Couch (Messrs. TurnbulFs Garage, Bedford), 35 penaltypoints. 2.—F. G. Taylor (G.P.O., Morris), 39. 3.—S. Semmens (Messrs. S. Semmens, Bedtprco. 44.
Class 5-15-19 ft.: 1.—W. R. G. Johns (Messrs. Robert Daniel, Comm), 38.. 2.—W, C. Venton (Harding and Son, Ltd., Morris). 102. 3.—.1. G. Perkins (City Engineer. Plymouth, Ranier), 175.
Class C-19-22 ft.: 1.—H. H. J. Gay (Civil Defence, Plymouth, Thames). 62. 2.—G. Buma (ThOmas Provisions, Thames), 64. 3,—W. Flee (City Engineer, Plymouth, S.D.), 71.
Class D-22-26 ft.: 1.—R. Braddon (N.S. Department. H.M. Dockyard, Bedford), 27. 2.—A.' Mitchell (Tate and Lyle, Ltd., Bedford), 33. 3.—R. Hawkins (N.S. Department, H.M. Dockyard, Thames), 54.
Class E(1)—Over 25 Ft., two axles; 1.—J. Lumley (Messrs. R. A. Gibbs, Leyland), 48. 2.—R. Brookshaw (Popplmtan and Son. Ltd.. Austin). 69. 3.—R. Luscombe (Messrs. R. A. Gibbs, •A.E.C.), 85.
Class E(2)—Over 25 ft., more than two axles: I.—G. C. Berry (Shell-Mex and B.P., Ltd.. A.E.C.)— 68. 2.—C. Crocker (N.S. Department, H.M. Dockyard, A.E.C.), 83. 3.—H. Rosevear (Western Haulage, Ltd., A.E.C.), 158.
Clam F(2)—Articulated, tractor under 3 tons, semi-trailer 22-27 ft.: I.—M. Thorne (Tate and Lyle, Ltd.. Bedford), 147. (Sole entry.) Class C—Articabted, tractor over 3 tans, semitrailer up to 27 ft.: 1.—R. Thorne (Tate and Lyle, Ltd., A.E.C.). 116. 2.—L. I. Bennett (Shell-Mex and B,P., Ltd., A.E.C.), 148. 3.—R. Botting (Western Express, A.E.C.), 205.
Class II—Articulated, tractor goy weight, semi
trailer over 27 ft. t 1—A. Braddon (N.S. Department, H.M. Dockyard, Bedford), 240. (Sole entry.) Class 1—Standard rigid military load carriers, 19.
22 ft.: 1.—S:Sgt. F. Tucker (506 Coy. R.A.S.C. Calmer), 93. 2.—Dvr. J. Pope (506 Coy, R.A,S.C. IT.A.1, Commer), 95. 3.—LiCpl, K. Crampton (506 Coy. R.A.S.C. IT.A.1, Commer). 203.