York Includes the
Page 45
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Banned "Minis"
THE York heat of the Lorry Driver
of the Year Competition, which took place last Sunday at Rufforth Air Station, once more proved to be a popular success. The various tests proceeded with such smoothness that the 103 vehicles taking part (just six short of last year's total entry) completed all the tests by 3.30 p.m.
• This year the outright winner was J. R. Young, of Wilson's Transport, Ltd., Boroughbridge. He came first in Class F1, driving an artic with a class total of 202 faults. In the final run-off, all class winners drove vehicles loaned by Flowers Transport, Ltd. They went through tests I and 2 again to determine the "Winner of Winners," as he is locally called. Driver Young proved himself a worthy winner, despite the fact that his own vehicle was an artic, and the run-off vehicle was a rigid. Runner-up to the overall winner was T. V. Coates, of Sanders and Sons, Harrogate, who, in Class El, drove his pantechnicon to victory with only 87 faults.
Unique to the York competition—and a feature, I understand, which is to remain in future York rounds—was the inclusion of a class (the organizers have called it " Z " class) consisting of small commercial vehicles under 22icwt. These vehicles were excluded from Class A earlier this year by the National Organizing Committee.
Barred from entering the national competition proper, the "Z cars" were the first to take the floor, and the cup and prizes (specially provided by the committee) were awarded to, respectively, K. Winfield of Universal Tyres, and D. Falgate and A. Miller of A. Moss and Son. Another York class was that for lady drivers, which was admirably won by Miss D. Harding, driving for J. Darley, closely followed in Second place by Mrs. B. Ellis of York Co-operative Society.
Though two drivers lost their way during the road test, it was an easy .run, except for some of the longer vehicles.
A high standard was reached by most drivers in the Highway Code questions, though one " howler " was reported to me—the driver who, at a controlled zebra crossing, said that he would drive over it (whether people were on it or not) if signalled to do so!
But for the fact that certain drivers wanted to be paid for spending a day at the event, there would have been a further 30-odd vehicles taking part. The committee, I understand, stood firmly • behind owners who. refused to pay the drivers' wages, on top of the entry fee, • the cost of fuel, etc. Most drivers I spoke to thought the prestige and sport of taking part was enough reward.
Apart from some good-humoured ribbing at the marshals in charge of Test 3 (reversing into loading bay) who, due to an oversight, would not allow the Class E2 vehicles a second shunt, which made it virtually impossible for the, larger vehicles to -do the test—they all had a second go at it later, following the correct procedure—there was nothing but praise for the R.H.A. organizers, Mr. R. T. Oxioby, the competition secretary, arid the clerk of the course, Mr. R. W. Angel, who had things well under control at all times. Special mention must be made, too, of the Kingston upon Hull A.F.S. unit who provided marshals and a fine control vehicle in which the results were worked out. N.H.T.