BIRD'S EYE VIEW By The Hawk

18th September 1964, Page 102

18th September 1964

Page 102

Page 102, 18th September 1964 — BIRD'S EYE VIEW By The Hawk

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Keywords : Car Manufacturers, Dearborn, Michigan, Ford Motor Company, Manufacturing, Business, Mechanical Engineering

Budding Designers I was rather disappointed

with the standard of entries in section 1 of the Public Service and Commercial Vehicle Body Design Competitions for 1963/64, arranged by the Institute of British Carriage and Automobile Manufacturers. There was no entry of sufficient merit to justify the award of first prize, but those which did receive prizes suggested that if the responsibility for designing express coaches fell from the recognized designers to some of the would-be-designers, we should be faced with a further move away from pleasing and curvaceous designs towards that rather depressing angularity which is so much a feature of modern architecture.

Not only was the standard of work a little disappointing, but the number of entries received was very low. I understand that only one entry in th,e drawing class was submitted by a candidate under the age of 21. In the Motor Vehicle Body Crafts section, however, the picture was much brighter. Not only were there more entrants under 21, but the standard of work they submitted was very good.

Old 'Uns on Parade Remember those glorious films featuring the Keystone Cops rushing about in mad escapades on vintage vehicles and fire engines? A chance to jog your memory comes on Saturday, September 19. You will not see the Cops but you will be able to see some of the spectacular old vehicles of their period, and earlier, in a "Cavalcade of Fire Engines ", at Dennis Brothers' works in Guildford, Surrey. There will be a special pumping display and driving tests featuring these, and other, vintage vehicles. The show is being arranged by the Historic Commercial Vehicle Club. What promises to be a nostalgic afternoon out starts at 1 p.m. Entry will be by programme, obtainable at the works entrance, price 1s. Old 'Uns on Parade

Outstanding Fleet Easily the most outstanding

fleet at this year's Lorry Driver of the Year Contest, reported on pages 103 to 105, was Tate and Lyle Transport Ltd. One could almost be forgiven for asking if someone had relations in the " accounts " department, which totted up the scores (only kidding, lads, honest). Tate and Lyle had 19 vehicles in Class C, D, E2, F1, F2, G and H. This • is what their drivers lifted in the way of awards: J. C. Martindale 3rd, Class C; B. Hill 1st and S. Isaac 3rd, Class D; D. Clark 2nd and A. R. Thompson 3rd, Class Fl (they let Newcastle Co-op lift their own trophy in this classshamel); C. Curtis 2nd, Class G; and L. Bridge 2nd, Class H.

In short, with 19 vehicles in the finals they won a first, three seconds and three thirds. Pretty good, going; and they're very consistent performers over the years. Martindale, for instance, must be one of the most frequently seen finalists. In 1961 he gained the chairman's award of merit, won his class two years ago, was runner-up last year—and was winning places before 1961! Clark was his class winner last year. Curtis was a class winner last year, and was third in 1961.

It's what I call a pretty powerful fleet. (Tate and Lyle even managed to sneak a Silver Roadways eight-wheeler into Class E2, but it was unplaced.) Not that Tate and Lyle had the largest number of finalists; Shell-Mex and B.P. managed that with 22, although their successes were less spectacular than those of the sugar-daddies. K. J. Driver (1st) and D. F. Jones (3rd) in Class H, and W. J. Corbey (2nd) in Class F2 won places for Shell-Mex and B.P.

So far as my arithmetic takes me—which is only a shod distance as a rule—B.R.S., with 10 finalists, were the only other fleet to hit two figures. Even less success, I'm afraid. attended their efforts. D. S. Barlow, who was 3rd in ChISE G, brought their sole place.

The Mostest Last year's winner, Joe Dakin almost made it again. Joe flew back from an Italian holi. day the evening before (how the lorry driver lives it tit these days) and a colleague drove his van up to Bram cote. So far as the score on the last three tests was con cerned, he easily led J. T. Smyth, who gained the Class award and, therefore, the place in the final. But ht mounted the " kerb " in the first test, I'm told, and los marks there.

Talking of previous finalists, Cpl. D. M. Readman (tht only man to win twice and get to the final three years it succession) was an interested spectator. A lesson there perhaps, for disgruntled drivers who churn off during fill afternoon just because they don't win.

Nearly There

Best Centre Northampton justly won th

award as the best centre (from the point of view of corn petition places); they gained two firsts and two third/ Leicester did well with a first, two seconds and a third– and secured the Lorry Driver award via J. Gunn. But t my mind the most meritorious effort was that of the bhoy from Ulster who, in their first year, gained two firsts an a third. They also gained the new Lucas trophy for th best novice (J. T. Smyth) and, via A. Semple, gained 3r place in the run-off. Watt!, those Irish—they enjoy cor tests like this!

BIRD'S EYE VIEW By The Hawk

Page 102

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