SERVICE WITH A PLEA

12th May 1967, Page 94

12th May 1967

Page 94

Page 94, 12th May 1967 — SERVICE WITH A PLEA

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1111 AF entrant L. C. Shaw was awarded the -EX prize for the best Service entrant by the Birmingham LDOY Committee-after a plea by a civilian competitor last Sunday. Committee chairman Mr. Harvey Palmer had intimated that since there had been only one competitor from the Services, the committee had decided to withhold the award. But support for the plea led to the decision being reversed.

The Birmingham round attracted 101 entrants this year-27 less than in 1966. What the event lacked in quantity, however, it made up in quality. The standard of driving was exceptionally good. There was one of those rare occurrences when two competitors tied for first place in Class A with 70 penalty points each. R. Walters, of Austin Motor Co., was declared the winner over T. Stevens, of Pressed Steel Fisher Ltd., by reason of his better road route performance where he lost only 4 points to Mr. Stevens' 21.

Close contest

In Class D with 36 entrants there was the closest of contests. Two competitors from Pressed Steel Fisher Ltd. filled first and second place with only three points separating them. J. Whittaker with 26 points just pipped his colleague H. Bond.

A finalist for the third year is J. D. Swain of BRS (Birmingham) who qualified with 127 points in Class G. BRS will also be represented at the final by W. S. Dainty who collected 109 points in Class H.

Car transporter vehicles are assured of a place at Bramcote as a result of an exceptionally good performance by A. W. Lea, of Senior Delivery Service Ltd., who was changed from Class E(2) to Class E(1) and went on to score only 61 penalty points.

This year at Birmingham there were a number of changes in the course personnel. This caused some delay in the early stages but with Mr. Gerry Aston, clerk of the course, guiding affairs the event which started at 9.30 a.m. was all over by 3.30 p.m. The drop in entry did not in anyway dampen the enthusiasm of the competitors and the stewards were called upon to deal with two objections. Both were dismissed.

One of the problems at Birmingham is late entries. This created programme alterations and added to the administrative work. Mrs. Collins, the secretary, told me that if the centre had adhered to its closing date less than 50 competitors would have been accepted.

The national chairman, Councillor R. W. Brain, appealed to all competing companies to increase their entry next year and to get the returns in in good time.