"More Intelligent Approach to Tests"
Page 63
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" IT'S no good having a highly skilled nit as a driver but fortunately there is greater comprehension of the rules than last year and a more intelligent approach to the tests." You may corn;are this statement by Mr. S. V. Bowskill of Pickfords, the marshal of the kerb parking test at the Birmingham Centre on Sunday, with the observation of Mr. Gerald Aston, Clerk of the Course (following talks with senior police officers), "there is an amazing number of drivers who have revealed ignorance of the regulations covering driving hours when asked a related question in the Highway Code test by the police". It is pertinent that J. S. Wooding, overall winner in 1961 and winner of Class B this year, particularly emphasized the practical worth of including such a surprise question in the Highway Code check and that he described the test as "really good common sense ". He also praised the route test as a realistic approach to drivers' skill and instinct.
A gale force wind kept spectators away —there were no more than 60 or so in the peak afternoon period and onlooker appeal was further frustrated as in past years by the difficulty in obtaining a list of competitors and the large number of errors and omissions in the list. The only non-confidential source of information on the tests were hard-to-get copies of the national regulations and spectators generally had no knowledge of their availability.
Following the 1962 precedent there was no overall winner and the T.R.T.A. Cup for the best C-licensed performance was awarded on an index-of-performance basis. Winner of the Cup, T. J. Perks, of The British Oxygen Co. Ltd., was first Bedford Class D at the wheel of a edford and it is notable that he lost only five penalty points in the Highway Code test. Last year's winner of the Cup, J. T. Lorton,
driving a Bedford for The Midland Counties Dairy Ltd., passed this test without penalty but lost 86 points in the diagonal-width judging test compared with the 70-point penalty against Perks.
This test again accounted for a very high percentage of the total penalty points in a typical case which gives substance to the oft-repeated plea that the marking formula should be revised.
Winner of Class F1, S. R. Archer, was loudly applauded for his handling of an Austin articulated outfit in this test and it appeared that he had little space to spare, but the total nominal clearance was about 3 ft. and he lost 79 points.
Last year the bay test involved backing into an enclosed space through a right angle on the blind side and many artic drivers ran into trouble. The nationally approved diagonal backing bay test in Sunday's event was simple in comparison and possibly a fairer test of the average driver's ability but it undoubtedly deprived some experts of the opportunity to demonstrate their greater skill.
The contest was remarkable for the number of close finishes, in particular the four-point lead of C. E. H. Walker (The British Oxygen Co. Ltd.), in Class El at the wheel of a Bedford over J. A. Fawke (of Joseph Lucas Ltd. in a Leyland) and Fawke's lead of six points over C. Beaman (B.R.S.) in a Leyland. In Class F2 J. Sturgess in an Austin (Joseph Lucas Ltd.) had a lead of seven points over runner-up R. Poole (Morris Motors Ltd.) and Poole led C. A. Foley (Austin Motor Co. Ltd.) by only one point.
Addressing the competitors before presenting the Cup Mr. E. 1. Dodd, Birmingham's chief constable, referred to the value of radar speed checks and advised drivers to "look ahead in preference to watching for cops in their mirrors ". Commenting on the dipped headlights campaign Mr. Dodd said that there had been less response from commercial vehicle drivers than from motorists.
P.A.C.B.
RESULTS OF BIRMIN GHAM COMPETITION
CLASS S—op to 16 ft., and from 25-3 cwt.: 1, S. Booth (S.P.D. Ltd), Morris, 136 penalty Points; 2, J. Yardley (The Birmingham Co-operative Society Lid.), Morris. 169; 3. S. Whitworth (Fisher and Ludlow Ltd.). Morris, 182. CLASS B-16-19 ft.: I. J, S. Wooding (Austin Motor Co. Ltd.), Austin. 130; 2, J. Huggins (The Birmingham Co-operative Society Ltd.). Morris. 104: 3. L. Meakin (The Birmingham Co-operative Society Ltd.), Morris. 196. CLASS C-19-22 ft.: I, T. E. Lewis (Austin Motor Co. Ltd.), Austin. 116; 2, C. Beardmore (W, Allport and Sons Ltd,). Dodge. 130; 3, M. Chatwin (The Birmingham Co-operative Society Ltd.), Austin 142. CLASS D-22-25 ft. 1. T. 3, Perks (The British Oxygen Co. Ltd.). Bedford, 118; 2, S. W. Dolman (Austin Motor Co. Ltd.), Austin, 162; 3. R, M. Lilley (Joseph Lucas Ltd.). Dennis, 163.
CLASS El—over 25 ft., two axles: 1. C. F.. H. Walker (The British Oxygen Co. Ltd.). Bedford, 176; 2, 1. A, Fawke (Joseph Lucas Ltd.). Leyland. 180: 3. C. Beaman (B.R.S.). Albion, 186.
CLASS E2—over 25 ft., more than two axles: 1, R. J. Rollins (The National Bellrole CO. Ltd.). Albion. 117; 2. A. F. Granger (Joseph Lucas Ltd.), Thames, 118; 3. K. Mi1lichamp (11.11.S.), Bristol, 134, CLASS El—articulated tractive units under 4 toot, Sat or sided setae-trailer op to 30 ft.: 1. S. R.
Archer (Austin Motor Co. Ltd.). Austin, 164; 2.
I. T. Lorton (The Midland Counties Dairy Co. Ltd.), Bedford, 178; 3, F. H. Brierly (B.R.S.), Leyland. 179.
CLASS F2—articolated tractive nails under 4 tons, box or Maker send-trailer up to 30 ft.: 1, J. Sturgess (Joseph Lucas Ltd.). Austin, 210: 2, R. Poole (Morris Motors Ltd.). Morris, 237; 3. C. A. Foley (Austin Motor Co. Ltd.). Austin, 230.
GLASS G--articulated tractive asks over 400.,. Sat or sided semi-trailer up to 30 ft.: I. R. Durbary (B.R.S.), Guy, 206; 2. A. E. Vincent (B.R.S.I. Bristol, 237; 3, H. Roberts (B.R.S.). Bristol. 238.
CLASS H—articulated tractive Bolts over 4 tons. box Or tanker sertd-trallers: 1„ S. Marsh (The Associated Chemical Co. Ltd.), Atkinson, 210; 2. F. Tibbetts (Shell-Men and B.P. Ltd.), Scammell, 214: 3, E. Royans (The British Oxygen Co. Lid.), Scarnmell, 288.
CLASS S—standard Army vehicles, 19-24 ft.: 1, Cpl. B. Jarvis (R.A.M.C. Field Dressing Station T.A. Centre, Birmingham), Commer, 195; 2, LiCpl, J. Filmer (W.R.A.C. T.A. Kings Heath, Birmingham), Bedford. 210; 3. Cpl. K. J. Barry (R.A.O.C, Central Vehicle Depot, Uttoxeter). Bedford, 236, OVERALL WINNER: No award,
BEST C-LICENSED VEHICLE: T. I. Perks (The British Oxygen Co. Ltd.). Bedford.
TEAM AWARD: No award.
BEST-MAINTAINED VEHICLE: No award.