North Midlands
Page 52
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Weatherproof tests
by John Darker • The North Midlands round of the LOoY is usually graced with fine weather. This year, with a new venue within the Leicester City boundary. a continuance of the recent June monsoon, would not have mattered much, for the tests took place last Sunday under the ample roof of the Leicester Wholesale Fruit Market Ltd, at Freemen's Common, Aylestone Road. As usual, the weather was fine and warm. Diesel fumes in the openended building did not extinguish the smell of fruit!
The organization processed some 130 entrants expeditiously and prize-giving was under way soon after 5 pm. A large contingent of police helped the event to run smoothly.
I particularly liked the neat display of Highway Code questions, showing the correct answers—after the exam of course! So many marks are dropped by otherwise capable drivers that transport managers cannot remain blind to their unprofessional memory lapses.
The turnout of many of the vehicles entered was superb; a Conoco attic tanker with an F registration looked as if a regiment had worked on it for a weekend. Conoco deservedly won the team award, proving that good driving can match well-maintained vehicles.
A team of drivers from Sketchley, immaculate in serviceable workwear livery and including, if I mistake not, transport manager H. Rawlings, bagged the first three places in Class C, with no more than 20 points between the three of them.
A minor criticism is that score sheets were not always completed with first, second and third places. Lists of entrants, though on display, were in very short supply, so anyone wanting to score the event on cricket match lines would have found difficulty. I gather the organizers felt there was no point in recording those placed second and third because they were not award winners.
Rigid Vehicles Class A: up to 20ft and over 1 ton unladen: 1, E. Rawnsley (Squires and Kintons Ltd) Ford, 180 points: 2, A. Clayton (Plessey Ltd) Ford, 185; 3,
B. Smith (Harris Ltd), Ford, 229.
Class B: over 20ft to 24ft: 1, J. Dakin (Express
Dairies Ltd) Ford, 57: 2, D. Thompson (Crowfoot Carriers Ltd) BMC, 143; 3, C. Davies (Briers Carriers Ltd) Bedford. 161.
Class C: over 24ft to 28ft: 1, P. M. Spencer (Sketchley Ltd) Ford, 149; 2. A. Pepper (Sketchley Ltd) Ford, 155; 3. H. Rawlings ;Sketchley Ltd) Ford, 169.
Class CI: over 28ft: 1, B. Belshaw (BSC Footwear Ltd), Bedford, 81; 2, K. Crowfoot (Bees Ltd) AEC 128; 3, K. Bassett (Conoco Ltd) Atkinson, 133.
Artics
Class E: flat or sided or drop-frame, up to 40ft: 1, A. Castor (Glazebrook Ltd) Leyland, 254; 2, J. Worthington (J. E. Chettle Ltd) Albion, 292; 3, W. Moulds (Tubes Ltd) Leyland, 356.
Class F: box or tank to 40ft: 1, T. Crawford (Conoco Ltd) Leyland. 177: 2, W. Ring (BRS Parcels Ltd) Bedford, 240; 3, A. Barkes (Texaco Ltd) Bedford. 314.
Class G: flat or sided, flat or drop-frame, over 40ft: 1, A. Bingham (Glazebrook Ltd) Ltd. 211; 2, E. A. Mills )BRS Derby) Guy, 264; 3, J. Reading (Hercock-Simpson Ltd) Foden, 370.
Class H; box or tank over 40ft; 1, C. E. Bennett (A. Fletcher and Co Ltd) Guy, 144; 2, G. White (Conoco Ltd) AEC, 189: 3, R. Williams
(Amoco Ltd) AEC. 266. Overall winner: J. Dakin. Team Award: Conoco Ltd.