G.P.O. Wins at Portsmouth
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THE Royal Marine Barracks at Eastney I —centre of this year's Portsmouth Lorry Driver of the Year competition— lived up to its reputation as the venue with the finest facilities available to the organizers. With ample parking facilities and a large and completely covered-in testing area (in fact it was the huge barrack drill shed), plus fine organization in the competent hands of Sgt. B. L. Hale of Portsmouth Police, nobly assisted by the T.R.T.A. and Selsey Motor Club, it was hardly surprising that by lunchtime well over half of the 83 vehicles competing had completed the whole course.
This year's overall winner was L. T. Phesse, driving a G.P.O. Telephones Morris van, who had 116 penalties awarded against him. Only one point bghind was his team-mate, driver F. A. Newton, in a smaller Morris. Naturally, with such low scores, the team award went to G.P.O. Telephones.
I received many complaintsfrom drivers and marshals about Test No. 2— the Width Judging Test. An analysis of the scoring showed that, without exception, every driver "went down" in this. The general feeling was that the width of the gap should be static, allowance being made for the lengths of vehicles Juicing part, and that no penalties should be awarded if the driver stops his vehicle to change its lock.
Far too• many drivers, through over caution, found that they had inches and in a few cases feet, to spare, whilst others, in particular the " artic. boys," were continually fouled through hitting the " pylons " with their trailers.
Following behind a Bedford tanker entered by Petrofina during the road lest, 1 was pleasantly surprised to note that the standard of hand signals and general road courtesy displayed by private motorists was greatly improved. As driver Anstey's steady arm signalled his directions, and so on, out shot the arms of the many Saturday motorists following in his wake! Later, two drivers complained to me that they thought the marking in the road test was too severe. A reason for this could be that the observers were all Royal Marine instructors! Notwithstanding this, I was told by a police spokesman that the standard of driving in this test was "just excellent."
The most applauded vehicle in the three set tests was the Gas Board's articulated Commer Karrier mobile showroom driven by E. Taylor. His kerb parking was superb, though, in all three tests, he was handicapped by a very long extension to his driving mirror which tipped the posts far too often.
Also well applauded for a fine .elfort was the only woman driver taking partW.R.A.C. Pte. Doe--driving a Bedford lorry. She had no penalties awarded against her in either the road test or the Highway Code.
The general opinion among drivers was that the event was a "good show" and. from the number of spectators who watched, it certainly attracted a great deal of interest,
RESULTS
CLASS A—Up to 15 ft.: F. A. Newton (G.P.O. Telephones). Morris. 117, 1; 3. Wheeler (United Service Garage), Bedford. 141, 2: D. Cox (A. and E. Charmtan. Ltd.), Austin, 166, 3.
CLASS B-15-19 H.: L. I. Phesse (G.P.O. Telephones), Morris /16, 1; B. A. Baker (Hcad Post Office). Morris, 167. 2: T. Sturgess (Cleansing and Haulage Dept.), Austin. 195, 3.
CLASS C-19-22 ft.: C. Fletcher (Fraser and White. Ltd.), Dodge. 125, I; I. Beames (Schweppes, Ltd.), Bedford, 125. 1; C, R. Ingram (Schweppes, Ltd.), Bedford. 137, 3.
CLASS D-22-25 IL: S. Stainer (Boiler Flour Milling Co.), Albion, 118, 1: B. 3. Camall (S.P.D„ Ltd.). Austin, 125. 2: E. G. StUrffess (cleansing and Haulage Dept.), Morris, 130. 3, ' CLASS E (I).—Over 25 ft. with 2 axles: A.
• Fletcher (Portsmouth and Brighton United Breweries, Ltd.), B.M.C. Morris„ 173, l• L. Rowseli (Portsmouth and Brighton United Breweries. Ltd.), B.M.C. Morris, 175. 2: H. N. Briar (Metal Box Co.. Ltd), Seddon, 178, 3.
CLASS E (2)—Over 25 ft. with more than 2 axles: C. G. Dudman (Petrofina, Ltd.). A.E,C., 191, I; C. Keable (T. B. Lock and Sons), Peden. 259, 2, CLASS F (1)—Seral-traller under 22 ft.: 0. Wagg (Shell-Mrs and 13.P., Ltd.), Bedford, 275, 1.
CLASS F al—Semi-trailer 22-27 ft.. tractor unit ander 3 tons: Cr, S. Lishlock (Redlands Bros. (Newbury). Ltd.), Ford Trader with B.T.C. Trailer, 223-, 1; W. 13artlett (Jno. Croad, Ltd.). Morris, 226, 2; L. Reeves (Southern Gas 'Board), Commer !Carrier, 232, 3.
CLASS G—Semi.traller up to 27 ft. overall, tractor unit 3 tOPLS or overt C. E. Curtis (Pease Transport, Ltd.), A.E.C., 140, I; D, Crouch (Dukes Cattle, Pig and PoultrY Foods), Seddon. 223. 2; P. K. Phillips (George Cohen 600 Group), Commer, 223, 3.
• CLASS S—Standard Army load..carryinp vehicles: Cpl. Whitbread (Royal Iviarines, T.T,W.), Bedford, 155; 1; L/Cni. Holton (Royal Marines, T.T,W.), Bedford, 218, 2; Mne, Mooney (Rdyal Marines), Bedford, 247. 3.
BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE: L. T. Phesse.
TEAM: G.P.O. Telephones.