The crashing is done: let recovery commence
Page 20
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CM photographer Brian Weatherley's day out filming simulated recoveries with AVM and REME at Chattenden
THE VEHICLE recovery business has come a long way since the first horseless carriage put in an appearance, thereby bringing its own special problems. It was easy in those early days, though. The local blacksmith would either fix a breakdown or accident on the spot or if it was more serious, tow the offending object back to his workshop with a horse.
Today's vehicles, writes Steve Gray, are heavier and faster than their predecessors and seem to get themselves into tricky situations demanding skill and resource to get them out.
Recovery men too are a changing breed. True, they are still only too willing to take on the most intricate and difficult jobs, are prepared to work all the hours God sends and are never afraid to get their hands dirty. But their skill has been supplemented by sophisticated equipment which has become necessary in order to deal with modern vehicles. And although there are still plenty of "cowboys" operating around the country, there have been strong moves to clean up the business by the more professional operators themselves.
The Association of Vehicle Recovery Operators, now celebrating its fifth year of existence, exemplifies the
recovery men's desire to be seen to be straight as well as actually being so. Formed with the active assistance and encouragement of Commercial Motor (see page 63) it has endeavoured to raise standards by ensuring that not everyone that applies to join is accepted. Stringent membership rules make certain that these standards are maintained.
Who better, then, to lay on a series of simulated recovery situations for CMto show readers the state of the art? With the assistance of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at Chattenden Barracks, on the Isle of Grain, Kent, the southern area of AVRO did just that for us. CM photographer Brian Weatherley and I went to watch and record the result. The following — labelled a Recovery Man's Picnic by Brian — shows what happened.
Top: A typical road junction accident scene. Everyone has tried to move at once, resulting in a head to tail collision between the imp and the 1800 with the Viva being turned over by the Avenger. First vehicle to be moved is the Avenger, which will be winched up onto the Winters of Strood transporter.
Above right: Slide-out ramps and an electric winch make recovery of the Avenger a relatively straightforward task.
Right: Now the Viva can be brought up on to its wheels.