Pompey goes progressive
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by lain Sherriff • At Portsmouth it was excitement all the way. Following a 12-mile road route through the city in heavy Saturday morning traffic, the drivers tackled the manoeuvring tests in the Royal Marines' drill shed. As the result of each test was known, the penalties were written into the score sheets. This progressive method of posting the scores in full view of the 1,000 spectators, built up an atmosphere of excitement every 15 minutes.
The Class A results set the pattern for the rest of the day. In this class everything depended on the results from the road route and, by reason of his superior performance, J. Burks, of Post Office Telephones, will be at the final. Spare a thought for last year's finalist in
Class B R. Briars who was pushed into second place by L. T. Phesse with only one point separating them.
The real drama was in Class G where J. Williams of Botley Flour Mills, a previous finalist, dropped 100 marks at the kerb parking test. Mr. Williams' AEC Highway artic outfit was 50ft overall and when he was astride the variable line in the kerb parking test his trailer was in line with the front barrier. To his credit he got the outfit into the space without touching barriers or kerbs, but he was 2ft out at the front of the kerb and 4ft 2in, out at the rear. It looks as if the variable line will require to go out farther still for these large capacity outfits.
The Pompey champion is G. Knowlton, of the Metal Box Co., Poole. His 53 penalties should sound a warning note to other aspiring champions.
The roan with the most embarrassing experience of the afternoon was F. C. Roden, of Dimples Ltd. He jammed his Dodge into reverse and was halted in such a position that the competition Was delayed for 30min while repairs were carried out.