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Page 37
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IT STARTED out at 7.00 on Sunday morning as a cold, gloomy and overcast day — and that's the way it finished in failing light at 6.30.
But although the weather didn't improve it couldn't spoil the biggest day in the British truck driver's year.
For a record number of Jrivers — 309 — fought out for the chance to be crowned as the Commercial Motor Lorry Driver of the Year. They were the cream of 3,000 drivers who ?Altered the rounds.
And once again it was the big companies which dominated the event, held on Sunday at Bramcote and now in its ?,3rd year.
The winner was 53-year-old aeorge Allott, of British Oxy;en Company, Rotherham. Second place went to Ken Roberts, of Conoco, South Killingholm, and third to Alan Rooker, of Western BRS, Bridgend.
All of the top three drove rigid vehicles to win their, classes in the National Finals. In the National Championship, held among the class winners, they were up against five other experienced truckers, two of whom came from Esso, one from Roadline, one from Scottish Road Services and one from Guernsey Works Department.
For the first time the finaists were only given details of :he tests they would face a few minutes before the start time, ['his was to even out the thances of all competitors and to stop unfair "practising."
But even though it was thought that because of this the big companies would not do as well as in previous years they still made the event their own (see results table page 38).
Esso led the charge with 52 competitors, almost a sixth of • the total, and they were fellowed closely by the National Freight Corporation with 48. Also well represented were Shell, the Post Office and BOC with 16 finalists.
Only first-time competitor Rodney Le Gallez made it to the final stages to represent the "small men." He came in fourth for the Guernsey Works Dept — which is a small set-up in British haulage terms — and did particularly well since he normally drives a four-tonner (bigger vehicles are banned from most Guernsey roads).
For only the second time a lady hgv driver, Lesley Smith, representing DAF Trucks, made it to Bramcote. But despite a good showing she failed to reach the run-off for the championship, finishing a respectable 14th in her class.
Last year's winner, Colin Burrowes, of Esso, again had a good score, but a mistake on one of the manoeuvring tests put him out of the running for a place in the last eight.
Cold, gloomy and at times very wet weather kept away the big crowds which normally turn up for the competition.
But for the few thousand hardy souls who braved the elements there was plenty of excitement. The contest itself was a close run thing, with only one or two points separating success or failure.
And there were all the usual side-shows and displays to keep the crowd happy when the action paused.