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148 
LORRY DRIVER OF THE YEAR
Page 88
Page 89
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OXFORD ROUND
COMPETITORS at Oxford must anxiously scan the programme each year to see if the name Absolom is in their class-and if it is, to resign themselves to a runner-up position at the best. During recent years B. A. Absolorn has with almost monotonous regularity taken class honours-four consecutive victories in 1958-9-60-61, again in 1963 and again on Sunday. However, in the run-off he was no match for D. Godfrey, who after winning the last class (H) of the competition in an easy manner, went straight into the run-off with the other class winners and scored an equally easy win to become overall champion-a well-merited award for some consistent and skilful driving.
As usual, the organization at Oxford was excellent and I received fine co-operation from the mainspring of the team, Mr. J. Wall, Oxford's road safety officer. After a few years of inclement weather, we weremore fortunate this time, although before lunch the outlook was dreary, with some rain and threatening clouds. But after midday the scene was set fair with plenty of warm sunshine.
With a record entry of 159 vehicles, the organization was well tested and it was only during the later stages of the day that there was a slight slowing down, which delayed the results a little past the scheduled time.
Bay test easier
I thought that the bay test, which has been altered since last year, looked to be a much easier test of driving skill and made me wonder about the wisdom of this change. The fewer penalty points incurred by most of the competitors seemed to confirm my opinion.
The standard of driving generally was good, although I noticed several drivers in difficulties in the kerb-parking test, a few of them getting nowhere near the kerbside after their manoeuvring.
There was a record entry in the maintenance contest run by the Traders Road Trans
port Association and the standard here was high, with 30 of the 60 entries achieving 900 points or over from a maximum possible of 960.
However, at the other end of the scale, six vehicles were taken out of the competition as inspection showed quite serious faults. Some had been overlooked in the workshop and some were due to vehicle design.
As one of the officials remarked to me: "It is little use having a good driver in a vehicle if its maintenance is faulty."