THE C.M.U.A. PARADE AT BIRMINGHAM.
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A Successful Event Despite Bad Weather. Full List of Awards.
THE THIRD annual commercial motor parade, organized by the West Midland Division of the Commercial Motor Users Association, was held on July 8th, and a more unpropitious day, as regards the weather, could not have been chosen, for it rained during almost the whole of the time the judging was taking place, and the judges had a most unenviable task, apart altogether from the difficulty of discriminating which was the best of so many vehicles in such splendid condition, as were most of the vehicles on parade.
The entry this year was slightly smaller than last, year, there being 92 vehicles entered, as 'against 119 in 1921 The reduced number was partly due to the state of trade and partly to one or two of last, year's entrants having given up their fleets, Generally speaking, the condition of the vehicles, as a whole, was quite up to the standard of previous years, and the drivers of all the vehicles are deserving of praise for the manner in which they have looked after their charges. Messrs. Ansell's Brewery fleet came in for particularly high praise, arid won a number of prizes, including that, for the champion team. Last year only petrol vehicles were entered. This year petrol, steam and electric lorries were ranged on the spacious parade ground at Cannon Hill Park, lent by permission of the parks committee.
Unfortunately, the bad weather prevented the general kouhlic from attending, but this facilitated the judges' tasks, although doubtless they would have preferred a crowd to the heavy -rain.
Light refreshments were provided for
the drivers by the C.M.U.A.,'which were much appreciated. The judges were entertained to lunch before the parade, together with the marshals and other officials, at the Queen's Hotel. The chairman, Mr. S. K. Thornley, in a brief speech, pointed out that the parade was primarily held to encourage drivers to look after their vehicles and take a pride in them. The judges were: Messrs. F. G. Bristow, A.M.Inst.T., F.C..I.S., J. F. Diamond, A. T. Blake, H. H. Humphreys, W. Marshall, H. Miller, P. M. Sanders, L. G. Wyndham Shire, A.1V1.I.M.E., A.C.G.I., S. K. Thornlev, E. Tindley, and Capt. W. F.. Pease, M.I.A.E. •
The prizes were presented by Councillor R. R. Gelling, chairman of the I3irmingham City Council Parks Committee. Marks Were awarded for axles, engines, steering and toad wheels, bonnet and cab, and body. The judges had to inspect the -whole of the vehicles, each group of judges taking one of the Section's falling under the headings Mentioned.
The awards were as follow :— Champion team.—Ansell's Brewery, Ltd. Leyland Vehicles. Drivers Lodge, Armstrong and Hearne. Total marks. 1,348. Individual Marks,: 448, 453 and 447. Award, Dunlop Challenge Trophy and 210.
Three best vehicles in any one class :—
Petrcri.—First: Ansell's Brewery, Ltd. Leyland_ vehicles. Drivers Neal, Hawkins and Brookes. Total mark's, 1,371. Individual marks, 4.55, 452, 464. Second: F. Smith, Ltd„ Thornycroft vehicles. Drivers Lambon, Reid arid Luke. Total
marks, 1,299. Individual marks, 418, 443, 438. Third; Ansell's Brewery, Ltd. Leyland vehicles. Drivers Randall, James and Price. Total marks, 1,281. Individual marks, 421, 426, 434.
Steam .—First : Birmin a ham Public Works Department. Foden. vehicles. Drivers North, Harvey and Lowe. Total marks, 1,168. Individual marks, 414, 376, 378. The second and third prizes 'were not awarded in this class.
Best single vehicle—petrol, steam 'or electric :— Section A. Ford vehicles.—First: Clarke, Nicholls and Coombs, Ltd. Driver A. Jones, 437 marks. Second: W. H. 'Smart and Co. Driver L. R. Gilbert, 355 marks. Third: R. Lunt, Ltd. Driver
Beat, 359 marks. Section B. if tonners.—First: R. Lunt, Ltd. Albion vehicle. Driver C. Staples, 473 marks. Second : Ansell's Brewery, Ltd. Leyland vehicle. Driver C. Wilkinson, 425 marks. Third: Ansell's Brewery, Ltd. Leyland vehicle. Driver A. Lines, 416 marks. Section B. Electric vehicles.— First: Birmingham Corporation Salvage Department. Orwell vehicles: Driver J. Whatton. 408 marks. Second: Birmingham Corporation. Salvage Department. Edison vehicles. Driver T. Stocks, 402 marks. Driver A. J. Pritchard, 402 marks. Section C. 3-tonners. 7-First: Cadbury Bros., Ltd. Leyland vehicle. Driver A. Ridgeway, 430 marks. Second: Clarke, Nicholls and Coombs, Ltd. Albion vehicle. Drivei Cooper, 424 marks. Third: Ansell's Brewery, Ltd. Leyland vehicle. Driver E. Elliman, 413 marks. Section D. 4-tonners. —First: Ansell's Brewery, Ltd. Ley. land vehicle. Driver L. Brookes, 464 marks. Second Ansell's Brewery, Ltd. Leyland vehicle. Driver W. Neil, 45-5 marks. Third : Ansell's Brewery, Ltd. Leyland vehicle. Driver F. Armstrong, 453 marks. Seetion E. 5-tonners.--First: Birmingham Public Works Department. Sentinel steamer. Driver T
Wilson, 489 marks. Second: British Petroleum Co. Yorkshire steamer. Driver H. Martin, 433 marks. Third. Birmingham Public Works Department. Foden steamer. Driver J. North, .414 marks.
Class for oldest vehicle.—Insufficient entries for any award. Makers' prizes :- Albion.--First : Messrs. R. Lunt, Ltd., Driver C. Staples, 473 marks. Second: Clarke, Nicholls and Coonibs, Ltd. Driver Cooper, 424 marks. Third: Messrs. Singleton and Co. Driver W. Dunn, 408 marks.
Leyland.-First prize to Ansel l's
Brewery, Ltd. Driver L. Brookes, 464 marks. Second : Ansell's Brewery, Ltd. Driver W. Neil, 455 marks. Third : Ansell's Brewery, Ltd. Driver F. Armstrong, 453 marks.
Drivers' prizes :— Driver who has driven a commercial vehicle the longest.—E. R. Cook, Shrewsbury and Challiner Tyre Co., Ltd., 20 years. Driver longest in the employ of one firm driving motor vehicles.—A. F. Stanley, Cadbury Bros., Ltd., 22. years. Driver who has held a clean driving licence longest,—J. Oreenway, Kendall and Co., Malvern, 16 years.
Class for non-members.—First : A. Neale and Co. Fiat. Driver Debbage, 405 marks! Second : J. H. Brown and Cu. Maudslay. Driver A. Wilks 400
marks. Third; G. Sykes. Leyland. Driver T. Boyles, 385 marks. Certificates for drivers and vehicles will be issued as soon as they are available.
The organization of the parade was perfect, and the awards were worked out with commenda,ble promptitude, the prize distribution being over by 4.30 p.m. Major R. V. C. Brook, ML A.E., is the hon. secretary of :he local C.M 1_7.A. division.