Those Portsmouth Artists !
Page 73
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11DIUT for the fact that the manceuvrLI ability tests were held inside the huge drill shed in Eastney Royal Marines Barracks at Southsea, it is certain that this year's Portsmouth eliminating round in the Lorry Driver of the Year Competition would have been called off. Despite the torrential rain that caused so many sporting events to be abandoned last Saturday, the road-route results were very good indeed-one driver, W. Coffin, of the Southern Gas Board, having no faults recorded against him in this section.
Apart from the drenching received by the marshalls and those helping in the "measuring up all went according to plan, although Portsmouth town, through which the road-route test weaves, was heavily congested with holiday traffic.
The Highwal.. Code questions, as usual. produced several surprises. Only one (J. Baker, of the Southern Gas Board) of the 82 drivers competing got through unscathed; one actually "scored" 49 faults out of a possible 501 The rain kept down the number of spectators, but the brave ones who did turn up were well rewarded with the really excellent display of driving exhibited by most. They seemed to be particularly attracted to test 1-the kerb-parking test -and applauded again and again as driver after driver brought his vehicle "alongside ". Driver D. Newton, of James Duke and Son, was the star here --he swung his Commer artic about so expertly that he had only one fault in this test, I asked a senior official of the police and an R.A.C. patrolman what they thought of the driving this year. Unanimously they replied: "These men are artists at their jobs ".
This year's driver with the best performance in the three manceuvrability tests was F. A. J. Grant, of the Southern Electricity Board. Portsmouth. His skilful driving was reflected in the relatively feu faults recorded against him, these being 1 61 and 20. respectively. His overall score was 1201. Driver Seaborn, of the Southern Gas Board-who was originally thought to have had the best performance--was the runner-up with 127 faults.
After the tests, vehicles competing in the Concours d'Elegance competitions
were brought out of the rain into the shed (which can accommodate about 14 eight-wheelers nose-to-tail) and judged. No one present could claim that there was a " fiddle " when it was announced that the trophy-the Shell-Mex Trophyhad been won by dr:ver Tuttlebee's immaculate Shell-Mex and B.F. A.E.C. Mammoth Major tanker! The Services award went to a Royal Marines Bedford driven by Corporal Shirley.
The organization was, as usual, excel
lent. The Portsmouth Police-with Sergeant Hale in charge-and the Royal Marines, not forgetting the many other willing helpers, had it all worked out to the last full stop, The last vehicle pulled off the course at 4.15 p.m. By 5.30 all scores had been worked out, the speeches made and the prizes distributed by Mrs. West, wife of the chief constable of the British Railways Board-who has for so long shown such a keen interest in the
event. N.H.T.
RESULTS OF PORTSM OUTH COMPETITION CLASS A-up to 16 ft.: 1, D. Seaborn (Southern Gas Board), Morris, 127; 2, D. Hillman (John Wyit and Brother Ltd.). Austin. 151.1; 3, W. Coffin (Southern Gas Board), Morris J2. 169.
CLASS 1t-16-19 rt.: I. L. T. Them (Post Office Telephones, Portsmouth), Morris 1714; 2, K. Paternoster (Hall and Ham River Ltd.), Commer, 182; 3, A. H. Sillence (Hall and Ham River LW.), Bedford. 1964, CLASS C-19.22 OA 1. F. A. J. Grant (Southern Electricity Board, Portsmouth), Kartitr. 1201; 2, S. Martin (General Electric Co. LW.), Bedford, 142: 3, H. A. Hawkins (Schweppes (Hume) Ltd.). Bedford, 3811.
CLASS D-22-25 ft.; 1, S. Stainer (Entity Flour Milling). Albion Chieftain, UM; 2. J. Carnall (S.P.D. Ltd., Milihrmflc), Austin. 139+; 3, 3. Efford (Southern Electricity Board, Portsmouth). Austin, 1631.
CLASS El-over 25 ft., two gales: C. Randall (James Duke and Son Ltd,). Commer. 227. (Only one competitor in this class.)
CLASS El-over 25 ft, more than two axles: I. H. Harris (Brickwoods Ltd.). Foden. 184; 2. W. Edwards (Hall and Ham River Ltd.). Leyland, 2111; 3. 1. Haskeit (Southern Gas Board, Portsmouth). Foden. 2231.
CLASS Ft-articulated tractive mils under 4 toes.
Hat or sided semi-trailers-up to 34 I, W. 3. Eight (Whitbread and Co.. Portsmouth), Dennis. 236; 2. G. Fishlock (Hollands Brother (Newbury)
Ltd.), Thames, 247; 3. P. K. Phillips (George Cohen 61)8 Grout] Ltd.. Northam), Commer. 251.
CLASS Fa-articulated tractive unIts under 4 tons, hes or tanker semi•Iraiters-up to 30 ft.: I. E. Skinner (John Wyeth and Brother Ltd.). B.M.C., 229; 2, 0, Newton (James Duke and Son Ltd.), Commer. 369; 3. K. Pankhurst (Shell-Hex and B.)'. Ltd., Southampton), Dennis Centaur, 381.
CLASS G-articu'ated tractive units over 4 toms. fbi or sided semi-trailers-op to 341 Mt 1, C. E. Curtis (Tate and Lyle Transport Ltd., Tottonl. A.E.C., 233+; 2, A. Smith (James Duke and Son Ltd.). Seddon. 3201, (Two competitors only in this class.) CLASS II-articulated tractive units over 4 tons, bOx or tanker seml-traikrst 1, J. F. Glasbey (Tate and Lyle Transport LW.. Totton), A.E.C.; 2, W. Porter (Shell-Men and R.?. Ltd.. Southampton). Scarnmell. 217; 3, C. Dudman (Petrofina (Or. Britain) Ltd.. Gloucester), A.E.C., 366.
CLASS S-Service vehiees: 1. Sgt. I. S. Parker (Royal Marines, Eastney). Bedford RE, 1821 2, L/Bdr. Sparke 1383 Rest. B.A., T.A.). Thames. 2881: 3. Sgt, J. Fazackar:ey (383 Regi. A.A., T.A.), Thames, 293.
TEAM AWARD: Post Office Telephones.
BEST ROAD SAFETY EQUIPMENT AWARD: 1. Croad Ltd.. Portsmouth (G. Palmer).
Best performance in three tests: F. A. 3. Grant (Southern Electricity Board. Portsmouth).