III wind blows good . . .
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ATHOUGH a last-minute refusal by Southend Corporation to allow the usual site at Progress Road to be used for this year's round created some panic, a fairy godfather for the area appeared in the shape of the Ford Motor Co. Ltd., Warley.
There is an old saying that "it is an ill wind that blows no good", and this was very true of the Corporation's refusal, because there is no doubt at all that the site provided -by what was the old barrack square at Warley, Essex-is far better than the Progress Road site. Although last-minute preparations in the plans of the organizing secretary, Eddie Barber, were obviously jolted by the Corporation's decision he bounced back in his own inimitable manner to produce what was the shortest Southend round of all time.
One man made absolutely certain of winning class G by being the only one to compete in it. This was V. Mason (Leigh Building Supply), and the class award was won with a loss of 495 points.
A pretty high standard of driving was evident at this round. One driver, D. Dukes, managed to tot up 1,274 penalty points and his score stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb on the result sheets that contained extremely close results between many of the class winners. There were only 112 points separating the highest, E. Layzell (winner of Class H, driving a Scammell tanker) from the lowest, D. J. Rigby (winner of Class D, driving a Morris).
Probably Class D (which had 29 entries) was the most difficult to win, and Rigby only just pulled this off by beating R. Last (Tate and Lyle, Elmswell) by six penalty points.
I judged some of the nicest driving of the day to be that of P. Grace and W. Waddup, both of the Ford Motor Company Ltd., Warley. They drove Ford D.800 attics with Baden trailers having their oscillating-axle bogies set as far back as possible. Their performance when reversing into the kerb parking bay was immaculate.
It was indeed fortunate, said Eddie Barber, while commentating at the prize-giving, that Ford at least won one trophy even if this was presented by the Bedford agents Jessups. Mr. Sam Forsyth, director of commercial vehicle production at Ford, heartily agreed, and I believe he will be instrumental in securing this site for many years to come.
R.D.C.
SOUTHEND RESULTS
Class A-up to 15 ft. and from 20 cwt.: 1. G. Black (H. Garon Ltd.. Southend). Ford, 185 penalty points; 2. T. Jeffrey (Express Dairy Ltd.). Morris, 185: 3. J. Bull (H Garon Ltd., Southend), Ford. 247.
Class B-16 to 19 ft.: 1. F. Kirby (SPD Ltd.). Commer. 214:2. W. Thomas (Byford Bros.), Morris. 330:3. B. Bailey (Maynards Transport), Bedford, 361.
Class C-19 to 22 ft.: 1. G. Barker (Schweppes Ltd.. Hendon). Bedford. 187: 2. D. Barker (Schweppes Ltd., Hendon). Bedford, 344; 3. T. Crawford (A. J. Brush Ltd., Malden), Ford, 367.
Class D-22 to 25 ft.: 1. J. Rigby (Express Dairy Co Ltd.), Morris. 183:2. R. Last (Tate and Lyle. Elmwell), Bedford, 169; 3, W. Sibbons (Tate and Lyle, Silvertown), Bedford, 242.
Class E(/I--over 25 ft., two axles: 1. K. Totman (Essex Carriers, Benfleet). Bedford. 237: 2. C. Burford (Dinnette Ltd., Gidea Park), Bedford. 252: 3. J. Durance (Abtons Ltd., Ipswich). Bedford, 342. Class E(2)-over 25 h., more than two axles: 1. W. Roland (Petrofina (Epsom) Ltd.). Atkinson, 180: 2. P. Humphries (J Brush Ltd., Maldon). AEC, 219: 3. A. Campbell (Shell-Mex and BP. Stanford), AEC, 285.
Class F(11-artic tractive units under 4 tons, flat or sided semi-trailer up to 38 ft., with straight or drop frames: 1. P. Grace (Ford Motor Co. Ltd.). Ford, 190:2. A. Thompson (Tate and Lyle, Silvertown). Bedford, 214; 3. W. Waddup (Ford Motor Co. Ltd.). Ford, 295.
Class F(2(-artic tractive units under 4 tons, box or sided semi-trailer up to 38 ft.: 1_ A. Bartrop (Express Dairy Co Ltd.). Commer. 241: 2. A. Gee (Tate and Lyle. Silvertown). Bedford, 445 Only two entrants.
Class G-artic tractive units over 4 tons, flat or sided semi-trailer up to 38 ft., with straight or drop frames: 1. V. Mason (Leigh Building Supply), Dodge. 495. Only one entrant.
Class ft-box or tanker semi-trailer with tractive units, 4 tons or over: 1. E. Layzell (Shell-Met and BP, Stanford). Scammel, 275: 2. W. Keeble (Shell-Met and BP. Stanford), Scammel, 310.
Champion Driver: G. Barker (Schweppes Ltd.). Team Award: Garon Ltd.. Southend (J. Bull, G. Black. J. Ormstonl