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Rallying Points

17th September 1954
Page 73
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Page 73, 17th September 1954 — Rallying Points
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ON Sunday, Coventry Road Accident Preven tionCouncil will hold their second annual conThiercial-vehicle rally, If the organization is as good and the enthusiasm of the competitors is as keen as in the rally held at Portsmouth on September 4, the event will be highly successful.

I3oth rallies are eliminating rounds for the Lorry Driver of the Year Contest to be held at Coventry on October '9, and the tests and regulations are identical. The programme is well conceived and, at Portsmouth, was well executed. It is designed to emphasize the importance of safety, although part of it is spectacular.

Mechanical Condition The basis of the day's programme is a mechanical ;inspection of each vehicle before it sets out on a five-mile observed-journey in which competitors are marked on their observance of the Highway Code on the road. The Portsmouth Rally showed . that important faults can escape detection in even the best-run transport undertaking. The first vehicle, the examination of which a representative of The Commercial Motor watched, was found to have a loose steering c6nnection.

It was owned by a nationally known organization and was a comparatively new, expensive maximum-load outfit. Despite the operator's excellent maintenance organization, the defect passed unnoticed until it was found during a quick check by the rally examiner's.

The standard of driving was varied, although some of it was outstanding. On the other hand, curious elementary mistakes were made, by apparently experienced drivers. Several missed their way on a route well marked by the Royal Automobile Club. At least one entrant signalled by hand his intention to turn right, although the near-side direction indicator proclaimed that he proposed to turn left. This carelessness did not escape the eye of an official observer.

Drivers with long experience and great skill also fell into error in a test on the provisions of the Highway Code. Perhaps its simplicity misled them. The omission of the word " at " from a description of the road sign, "HaltatMajor' Road Ahead," caused the loss of 10 marks and embarrassed several drivers who took a keen pride in their calling.

The Portsmouth Rally brought to light several points in the organization of competitive events which require attention in the future. For instance, military vehicles should not be permitted to take part in concours d'elegances. The Forces are able to take vehicles off the road for preparation. and can smploy far more men on polishing and burnishing than any commercial operator could ever spare. Competition between military and civilian vehicles in events based on appearance is, therefore, unfair.

A system of handicapping in timed tests, to compensate the drivers of laden vehicles who are competing with vehicles running light, is clearly needed. If marks are to be awarded with scrupulous fairness, every entry should be weighed immediately before taking part in timed tests, and a formula for marking should be evolved which takes into account actual weight and the manufacturer's gross rating.

Manceuvrable " Artics " The organizers of the Portsmouth Rally were probably surprised at the extreme manceuvrability of even the largest articulated vehicles, and the space allowed for turning requires further consideration if full justice is to be done to the skill of the competitors.

Coventry and Portsmouth Accident Prevention Councils are doing fine pioneer work in promoting commercial-vehicle rallies, and it is to be hoped that similar events will be started in all the main centres of the kingdom. They encourage drivers to take a pride in their skill and their vehicles. Certainly, the competitors at Portsmouth regarded it as a good day's sport.

Public attention is focused on the great competence of most drivers and the safety of modern commercial vehicles. Many spectators at c27 Portsmouth must have been surprised by the great braking power of maximum-load multi-wheelers. Their stability when making emergency stops was also noteworthy.

• Rallies are a tonic also to the operator, who is encouraged to make a special effort to turn out his vehicles smartly and to check their mechanical condition. The publicity value of participation in these events is also not to be overlooked, for the vehicles are concentrated in a small area for several hours.

Until rallies become widespread. the title of Lorry Driver of the Year cannot be fully deserved. Nevertheless, to be chosen as the best contestant out of even 300 drivers is an honour. It is to be hoped that when the competitions become national the title will be truly bestowed.

Tags

Organisations: Royal Automobile Club
Locations: Coventry, Portsmouth

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