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Who will be CM'S 'Lorry Driver of the Year'?

4th September 1982
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Page 14, 4th September 1982 — Who will be CM'S 'Lorry Driver of the Year'?
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We will soon know who is to receive the lorry drivers' supreme accolade. John Durant sets the scene for what should prove an exciting and fun-filled weekend for all the family

CRANFIELD Institute of Technology in Bedfordshire is a few miles east of the Ml, around midway between Birmingham and London. It is a good site for the Finals of the annual CM Lorry Driver of the Year competition, on Sunday, September 12, but there will be attractions to watch on Saturday, September 11, too.

This year on the Sunday the crowds will see five former LDoY champions compete among 250 finalists, and there will be side attractions for all the family.

The Saturday events, starting at around 10am, will include these side shows, plus a Concours d'Elegance, and a mechanical condition inspection test. So it is worth making a note for the two days in your diary. Cranfield, by the way, is between junctions 13 and 14 and the route will be signposted by the RAC.

However, Sunday remains THE big day, when the 1982 champion — the present LDoY champ, Colin Burrows, is doing the honours — will be crowned.

Events start at 7.30am. There are eight classes. Colin Burrows is due to present the ancillary awards at lunchtime on Sunday and the national championship awards at around 4pm when the events are finished.

The five champions competing are C. G. O'Reilly (Petrofina; 1969); Lloyd Richards (Heavy Transport (ECC); 1972 and 1974); Roy Withers (Midlands BRS; 1977); Tom Kerr (Esso; 1978); and Wynne Phillips (Western BRS; 1979).

But will the whole show be as big as and generate the excitement of those held in previous years — notably before the recession? Whether there will be a close finish in the run-off in vehicles provided by Bedford, I cannot say . . . But with five former champions, and the skills shown at this year's 33 rounds as high as ever, it seems likely. National organising secretary John Wells assures me that the show will be as big as any of those in recent years. While ome old exhibitors have lropped out, they are all re)laced by new ones.

"Cranfield aerodrome offers a arge area to the organisers —. hat and its easy access, via the Al — is a big attraction," he :ays. So if anyone still wants to eke space, phone John Wells at 11-661 3097.

All the usual test driving faciliies for most makes of vehicle vill be available again.

And all the prizes are not re:erved for contestants: (the :hampion's main prize is the Mk :helin CM LDoY European study our — this year to Sweden). All :ar licence 'holders can take part )n Sunday in a contest put on by Carrier Motors, with a Renault 5 is the top prize.

The Karrier event is called iupersports and will be hosted )y David Vine, presenter of TV's Sporting Superstars. Competiors will be trying to achieve the )est aggregate score over three avents — darts, target golf and a 'ootball shoot-out.

Karrier Motors is offering Sla zenger sports equipment up to a value of £100 to the winner of the men's section with Waterford crystal for the leading lady. The first person to score maximum points gets a new white Renault 5.

Two World Cup soccer stars, England captain Mick Mills and Scottish striker John Wark, will be on the Karrier Motors stand throughout Sunday, and young visitors will have the opportunity of taking away a specially mounted and autographed polaroid photo of themselves with the Ipswich Town pair.

As usual, there will be plenty of Dodge and Renault lorries, and most other makes, on hand to look over or take out on the track for a trial drive, and Karrier will be providing free refreshments for members of the Dodge and Renault drivers' clubs and their families.

There are other attractions for the children. Perhaps the young ones would like a photo taken with Mr Bibendum (the Michelin Man)? Then visit the Michelin stand, where there will also be a Scalextric model car racing competition, and where the McLaren Formula One racing car will be on display.

Would drivers like to show their families their skill at changing tyres? Goodyear is putting on contests (a separate one for ladies), and the prize in each case is a set of car tyres.

Wincanton Transport will have a competition for children to draw on balloons, and something to do with golf, besides.

There's a children's funfare, a rubber castle, minibike driving, and radio-controlled boats on an artificial pond — hopefully, leak free.

Public catering will include barbecues, ices, hot-dogs and licensed bars.

At the CM LDoY stand, LDoY Tee-shirts and sweatshirts, and CM publications will be on sale. Each competitor is presented with a radiator badge by CM.

Mercedes-Benz is sponsoring a display of acrobatics by an exBritish Airways pilot, Captain John Kitchin, in an autogyro.

Dover Harbour Board offers competitors the chance to win a day trip for two to France.

Not everyone belongs to the Road Haulage Association — plenty of entrants belong to the Freight Transport Association. But the RHA is worth a thought and its demonstration vehicle and mobile exhibition will be there again.

So will the Rank Xerox mobile showroom; this company will provide an instant LDoY results service. You can take a look, too, at Post Office equipment on display.

And visit the Chiltern Radio mobile studio, courtesy of British Road Services. Any good at darts? Jocky Wilson, world professional champion, will give you a game on the EMS stand.

Do the children get restless? Pierre the Clown, driving a crazy Model-T Ford, care of BP Oil, will amuse them. And take in the Smurfs on the National Benzole stand, plus a ride on CadburySchweppes's double-decker bus — free. There is also a prize draw in aid of the Year of the Scout.

On a more serious note, National Carriers is running an inter-depot first-aid contest. In conjunction with this company, the Association of Vehicle Recovery Operators is simulating a vehicle accident. AVRO, too, will display recovery vehicles and equipment, and demonstrate commercial vehicle recovery techniques.

The Commercial Vehicle and Road Transport Club will have no less than 150 historic vehicles to take a look at (on the Saturday there is a parade and driving competition for oldies — vehicles, not drivers, that is ...).

Conoco runs its own "miniLDoY" — with radio-controlled models.

Bandag Tyres is bringing along its own dragster — a souped up Ford lorry capable of more than 100 mph, but its demonstration runs will be at a slow speed.

However, the focus is on the LOoY contests themselves, and this year the National Finals prize fund is up by £500 to £3,500; £200 each towards this sum has been contributed by Bedford, Century Oils, CM, DAF, Ford, IVECO, Karrier Motors, Leyland Vehicles, LDoY Associa tion, MAN-VW, Mercedes-Benz, National Breakdown, RNA, Sandbach Engineering, Scania, Texaco and Volvo.

OAF is providing the secretaries' trailer and York, with a flatbed and a curtainsider, the presentation stage and trophy display. Manoeuvring test equipment is supplied by Greenham Tool Company.

Clerk of the course, Denis leer (CM July 17) will have around 160 volunteer marshals to assist; they are either road safety officers or belong to the Institute of Advanced Motorists, RoSPA's Advanced Driver Organisation, the National Guild of Transport Managers, RHA, FTA or the Police.

The entrance fee to the Finals is included in the parking fee (coaches £10, cars £2.50), and parking is controlled by the North Watford and 12th Southgate Venture Scouts. So many volunteers lend a hand at the LDoY CM sponsors the contest but the Finals day relies a great deal on the support of the road transport industry — firms and employees — and its friends. Can you perhaps play a part and offer transport to your friends?


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