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Why Ban the Minnows?

10th February 1961
Page 33
Page 33, 10th February 1961 — Why Ban the Minnows?
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

AS a result of special observations to be made this year by the national stewards, on behalf of the national organizing committee, small vans based on private car designs may be banned from the Lorry Driver of the Year competition from 1962 onwards. Had a recommendation from the executive committee been approved, they would • already be banned. Why?

There is a strong divergence of opinion within the national committee on the question, and the reasons advanced for banning such vehicles are well-intentioned, but off-target. It is claimed that drivers of heavy vehicles resent the presence of small-van drivers. Who says so?

'No doubt—as they often do about all sorts of subjects—individual drivers might " beef "; it is no reason for presuming that; en masse, • drivers of heavier vehicles are against their midget brethren. Surely, it makes no difference to anyone at all except the drivers of bigger vans still included in Class A? Drivers in all classes compete up to national class winner level in their own vehicles, but the "Lorry Driver of the Year" title is decided by every contestant for the title driving the same vehicle. Last year it was an Albion six-wheeler. If a 5-cwt. van driver can lift the national title on such a vehicle, good luck to him!

The real intention seems to be to legislate for the exceptionally small vans, such as the Mini-Van, which as a type are obviously more manceuvrable than the bigger vans in Class A. Nobody would quarrel with that line of thought.