British Drivers Triumph in International Competition
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FROM GILBERT LESAGE
ACLEAN sweep was made by England's two representatives in the
first international lorry drivers' competition held in Paris last Sunday. E. Jury, Britain's Lorry Driver of the Year for 1956, was top , of his class in a Unic lorry, and 11 Mason, driving a Unic-Fruehauf outfit took first place in the articulated class.
petition. The English drivers' achievernen1 was particularly praiseworthy in that both competed in left-hand-drive vehicles against entrants from Germany. Holland, Italy and the U.S.A., to whom left-hand drive is normal. Jury's victory •was a vindication of the title he won at Bramcote, for the heavy lorry that he drove on Sunday was completely different from the Austin light van that he handled in the Englisb corn
Held in the Esplanade des invalides. the competition was organized by Les Routiers who, earlier in the day. had held the final in the third French national lorry drivers' competition More than 100 drivers, successful entrants from more than 2,000 drivers who competed in 16 regional contests, took part in this event.
Complicated Mameuvres The test course for the international competition was the same as that for the national trial. Both rigid arid articulated outfits had to be put through a series of complicated forward and reverse manceuvres without fouling the barrels marking the narrow track or dislodging a skittle balanced on each vehicle. Both Jury and Mason completed the course without incurring penalties.
Diplomas and medals were presented to the winners by Mr. F. de Saulieu director-general of Les Routiers.
Lord Merrivale, president of the Institute of Traffic Administration, was an interested spectator, and congratulated the English drivers on their performance.
As the results below show, the British drivers' successes were decisive.
RESULTS Rigid Vehicles (I) E. Jury (England), 385 points. (2) Van der Ocst (Holland), 315 Points. (3) Vanio (Italy). 313 points.
Articulated Vehicles
(1) R. Mason tEngland), 300 points. (2) P. F. C Morris (U.S. Army). 225 DOints.