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BIRD'S EYE VIEW
Page 34
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BY THE HAWK
• This picture arrived in our office several weeks ago with a scribbled note identifying it as a spray suppression spoiler, Some weeks later we received a call from the developer of the system, Kevin White from Reading. He says the spoiler has been developed with a tapered duct which forces air onto the road in front of the truck's wheels, thereby clearing a path on wet surfaces. He feels the system could do a lot to reduce spray on wet roads.
White claims: "A large vehicle travelling at speed creates a pressure wave or bow wave several feet in front. The air between the pressure wave and the front of the truck is moving at the same speed as the truck. Immediately behind it and underneath the vehicle is a void or vacuum effect at the road. The jet would have no deflections to stop it from cutting a pathway in the surface water."
He is convinced the system works in theory, but is looking for an operator with a 7.5tonne Cargo prepared to fit the spoiler. Call (0734) 760012 if you would like to help.
IS Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's SuperAnneka, who once again has risen to meet the impossible challenge in the form of 12 double-decker buses. The intrepid Ms Rice. aided by a bevy of Plaxton's able-bodied coach fitters, took on the task of converting the vehicles into Playbuses in only three days for her new TV series "Challenge Anneka".
The bus and coach industry rose magnificently to the occasion, supplying not only the vehicles but parts and manpower, and the buses cruised in to Bristol where they were handed over to the National Playbus Association. Behind every great TV presenter there is a great coach fitter. . . • Well done to Wheels, the United Road Transport Union tabloid for professional lorry drivers, which has picked up one of the top four awards in this year's TUC trade journals competition.
• Not only did coalman Terence Hughes pick up a ticket for parking on yellow lines — he picked up the traffic warden as well. And yes, this meter maid's name was Rita.
Hughes says that he was slowly pulling out in his lorry as traffic warden Rita Thomas was writing out a ticket and next thing he noticed, Rita was sitting on his front bumper.
Surprisingly, Mrs Thomas's version of the story is a little different. She maintains Hughes deliberately drove at her. Colwyn magistrates court fined Hughes 230 for careless driving.
▪ The British Roads Federa tion is trying to identify an individual who signs himself as Edmund Black and has written identical letters extolling the virtues of environmental pressure groups such as Transport 2000, and criticising the "roads lobby".
BRF has discovered the same letter in several local papers from Liskeard to Huddersfield, all signed 'Edmund Black' but with different addresses. Transport 2000 director Stephen Joseph says his organisation has nothing to do with the letter, but has discovered it in 40 different local papers.
• Organisers of this year's Lorry Driver of the Year Competition introduced a new obstacle to the already gruelling course — a left-hand-drive Iveco Ford 1718.
None of the drivers were warned about the no-nonsense newcomer, and most had never driven an equivalent two-axled box van and drawbar trailer.
Newly-appointed LDoY national secretary Mike Read rejected his original idea of deducting five points from any driver who opened the wrong door. Does this mean he can open doors in the transport industry himself? /I Husband and wife driving instructors Stephen and Rosamund Slater have both been disqualified from driving for a month by Leicester Crown Court after admitting driving carelessly.
Police spotted the Slaters each driving British School of Motoring Austin Metros at speeds of up to 130km/h (80mph) in a 50km/h (30mph) zone. Mrs Slater was seen by police to drive from side to side apparently trying to overtake her husband, who was found to be just over the legal alcohol limit. The assistant recorder told the couple they should have known better.
• Jason Pitt at the Bablake Weather Station in Coventry i confidently predicting that we shall have 20 days of snow th winter. On the strength of thi prophecy, and with less than 100 shopping days till Christmas, manufacturers of winter equipment for vehicles are urging us to rush out and buy their products while stocks last. The Hawk, however, is not convinced. Remember ho accurately the weathermen predicted a certain hurricane 1987?
• Old drivers never die — they just get a job with Over drive, which looks past the wrinkles to the skill and expc ence which it can't always fin in younger drivers.
It may find another potent employee in Bert Freeman, I who recently became the old est person to gain his PSV Ii cence at National Training of Tidworth.
Freeman, a former driver with the Royal Artillery and currently working as a lorry driver, said he was suddenly "seized by the urge" to drivi bus. It just goes to show you're never too old to lean