Lorry Driver of the Year Eliminator
Page 56
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Middleweight Tops the Bill at York
by Ashley Taylor
V•ORK continued to consolidate its 1 position in the matter of the Lorry Driver of the Year Competition last Sunday, there being 109 entries drawn from a wide radius around the ancient city. The venue was the spacious Rufforth Air Station. With further contests at Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne, the North East is notably strong in its support of the scheme. This year, best performance of the day was achieved by P. C. Walton of J. E. and C. H. Rooke, Ltd., Albion, who with 115 penalty marks, had a good lead over the runners-up in the final, J. Slimon of S.P.D, Ltd, B.M.C., with 162 marks lost and J. Lawson also of J. E. and C. H. Rooke, Ltd., Leyland, who was only another two 'marks down.
As has been customary at York ever since the commencement of that round, the class leaders compete in a decider for overall winner all driving identical vehicles, on this occasion two 24-ft. 6-in. Commer diesels loaned for the purpose.
This time the York list included four women competitors. There have of course been women drivers in the competition elsewhere, notably in the Services class and it would be interesting to see York's best, Miss D. Harding of J. H. Tait (Transport), Ltd., Commer, in a final which could perhaps provide an added attraction at one of the centre contests. By the time these words appear, application will have been made for her to enter the general lists at Leeds on July 30.
During the Birmingham eliminating tests, Sgt. Scatting of the 109 (Birmingham and Worcester) Coy., W.R.A.C. (T.A.) came second in the services class and to set the ball rolling this year some enterprising organizer might well ask her
to meet the best of the York women drivers in an informal match.
As usual York was notable for the variety of vehicles that took part, the range extending from horse boxes to concrete mixers. Apart from the competing vehicles, there was also a display of modern commercial vehicles elsewhere on the competition ground, this year there being particular emphasis on specialist equipment and loading devices.
The road circuit was rural in nature, but still provided the problems, among other things there being a lengthy stretch of narrow lane with many bends, and later a mild stop and restart test.
On both Highway Code and road circuit there were some faultless performances. Of the driving tests the kerbside parking did not cause any great loss of marks, but the reversing test gave trouble to some of those equipped with powered steering.
The winner of Class C, D. Simon of S.P.D., Ltd., Thames, had an " O.K. " on the road and lost only two marks on the Highway Code. All three leaders of this section incurred the bulk of their penalties on the width judging, a test which in its revised form appears to present difficulties all over the country. This problem continued to take its toll in the next class in which Walton, the ultimate winner, beat P. Moncaster (Moncaster's), Thames, who was the class winner last year.
The final with the loaned Commers brought together all the class winners and K. Winfield • from Class A, who opened the batting, earned applause for his handling of a vehicle much larger than his normal. Walton made an expert showing, but was of course using a vehicle falling into the same category as his own entry. Rather strangely, those who normally drive the heaviest class seemed to find themselves at some disadvantage with an under-25-footer. As indicated earlier, Walton finished with a wide margin in hand, but it was a close call between Slimon and Lawson.
RESULTS
CLASS A—Up to 15 fLr K. Winfield (Universal Tyre CO. Ford. 891/2, I; B. J. Walker (Booth= Engineers, Ltd.), Morris. 91%. 2; T. Fletcher (Norland Pistons. Ltd.), Morris. 10314, 3.
CLASS 5-15-19 ft.: I. Slimon (S.P.D., Ltd.). B.M.C., 109, 1; B. A. Hammond (Site Supply and Excavation, Ltd.). Dodge. 110, 2; A. Pullan (J. N. Bartrain), Bedford, 112. 3.
CLASS C-19-22 ft.:' D. Simon (S.P.D., Lad.), Thames, .107. t; G. Cawthorne (Mechplant. Ltd.), Bedford, I1S, 2; D. Sykes (Yorkshire lEga Producers, Ltd.), Thames, 129, 3.
CLASS D-22-25 ft.: P. C. Walton (J. C. and C. 14. Rooke,Ltd.), Albion, 105, 1; P. Moncaster (Moncaster's), Thames, 120, 2; H. Ward (Bootham Engineers, Ltd.), Thames, 135, 3.
CLASS E (1)—Over 22 ft. with 2. *slew J. Lawson (3. E. and C. H. Rooke. Ltd.), Leyland. 114, 1; P. Hopwood (J. E. and C. H. Rooke, Ltd.). Leyland, 128, 2; A. Wilson (John Smith Brewery). Sentinel, 149. 3.
' CLASS E (2)-0ver 25 ft. with more than 2 axles; D. Hunter (E. Maeer, Ltd.), Albion. 110, 11; L. King (B.R.S.. Ltd.), Bristol, 124. 2; H. Myers (B.K.S.. Ltd.), Bristol, 139, 3.
CLASS F (1)—Seral-traller under 22 ft.: W. Holdsworth (Shell-Mex and B.F., Ltd.), Bedford 250. 1. . .
CLASS P (2)—Semi-traller. 22-27 ft.. tractor unit under 3 1011113 W. Vallls (Concrete Services. Ltd.). Thames. 221, 1; D. Hardeastle (J, H. Tait (Transport), Ltd.). Commer, 275. 2.
CLASS G--Sen. 1-traller up to 27 ft. overall, tractor unit 3 tons or over: S. Hudson (J. H. Tait (Transport). Ltd.), Commer, 149, 1; J. Snape (J. H. Tait (Transport). Ltd.), A.E.C., 161, 2: I. Green U. 51. Tait (Transport). Ltd.), Commer, 1110, .3.
CLASS S—Standard Army load carrying vehldest Cp1, Miner (24 Sig. Regt.), Bedford, 209, 1: J. Elliot (24 Sig. Rent.), Bedford. 261, 2; B. Evans (24 Sig. Regt.), Bedford, 535, 3.
Lady Drivers; Miss D. Harding U. B. Tait (Transport), Ltd.). Commer, 215, 1; Mrs. D. Whittaker (J. 11. Tait (Transport). Ltd.), Commer. 261, 2; Mrs. H. Trotter (A. Most and Son, Ltd.). Monis, 311. 3
Team Univertal Tyre Co., Ltd.. (Winfield, Drury and Cairns), 376%.
Best Oregon Performance: P. C. Walton,