THE ORIGINAL IFT • I would refer to page 14,
Page 44
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CM 25 April, "IFT Lightest yet" apertaining to the Iveco Ford Truck Company.
IFT has been the trading name of this company since 1962 and I would therefore be grateful if you notify your readers that IFT Limited is a company specialising in industrial floors and treatments, thus avoiding confusion in the future.
M Tosh Managing Director IFT Ltd IT'S A SNEEZE • The Hawk in Bird's Eye View CM 2 May) suggests that a driver sneezing at 130km/h is in trouble. I should say so! In the first place he's going too fast in any class of vehicle. Secondly he's lucky if, having closed his eyes, he recovers full vision in just over a third of a second.
P .1 Edmonds Technical Executive.
The Institute of Road Transport Engineers.
FAETRITORIOUS METRICATION?
• I was hoping to see in this week Commercial Motor 9 May, a really interesting and informed report on the 26th Historic Commercial London to Brighton Run.
However, the only reasonably decent photograph was of the American Ward La France fire appliance, but it was not so much the inadequate photographic coverage, as the appalling pseudo high-tech prose that I really objected to.
To people of my generation, of which many hauliers must be regular readers of CM, the statement that the 1952 S type Bedford has a fuel consumption of 23.51it/100kM is as meaningless as quoting that the aforementioned fire engine can pump 5,682 litres a minute.
To people of my generation, of which many hauliers must be regular readers of CM, the statement that the 1952 S type Bedford has a fuel consumption of 23.51it/100kM is as meaningless as quoting that the aforementioned fire engine can pump 5.682 litres a minute.
Whilst the use of metric measurements may well have some relevance in road tests, where comparisons with other vehicles may only be available in this format, it seems totally inappropriate in the context of a veteran vehicle run.
Apart from all this, the statement that the Dutch-based Sentinel S4 has a top speed of 48km/h, is totally incorrect, as S type Sentinels can easily top 50mph. Even the earlier DG (double-geared) models could do over 30.
Incidentally, would any old steam driver have the foggiest idea of what 260kg of coal would equate with in hundredweights?
Eugene George Corke Ealing London W13
We metricate all measurements so, for consistency we adhere ot the metric system. The figure of 5,682 litres should however, have been rounded off to 5,700 as this was an approximate conversion from 1,250 gallons. Ed.
ROVERPILLAR • The Caterpillar Company should be bought by the Government and given to Land Rover with millions to spend on research, design and new factories.
Well designed, reliable, mass produced Land Rover tractors and bulldozers would sell like hot-cakes, worldwide.
But the Government can only think of letting Caterpillar close down and selling Land Rover to General Motors, whose record with its Bedford company is dismal. Even in America GM has had to merge its big truck division with Volvo.
Maybe a new government would help to build up Britain, instead of tearing it down. Royce Bradshaw, Acorns Institute, Sheffield. TRUCICFEST APPRECIATED • This letter is to convey our thanks for the Peterborough Truckfest. We enjoyed competing and we certainly enjoyed the organised events. It becomes better organised year by year. Practice makes perfect they say. Yes, truly enjoyable despite the appalling weather, and we applaud the winners!
I think that through the preceding weeks Alan Winn must have been a really kind and understanding editor and a treat to work for, as he allowed all and sundry to take pot shots at him in the "Skirmish" sideshow.
I am sure that Gary
Cunningham (CM's senior sales executive) had some explaining to do when returning home. If I had possessed a flash for my camera at the 'Sunday Evening Show', I would be receiving free Commercial Motor for time infinitum! Cheers, Gary
— a professional and a sport!
The judging standards are very, very high, yet considering that our fleet is 99% the same on the road as it was at the Show, and we had all virtually left far away places with strange sounding names — through our yard and direct to Peterborough, we were looking good!
Well, it is not the act of winning but the act of participation! As my old mum says, it is not what folk think of you, but what you think of yourselves that counts. We all know that mums are always tight!
Well, long live similar gatherings, as at those type of venues, the camaraderie returns albeit briefly and who knows, one day, as an industry we may become appreciated! Dougie Vick Santa Fe Express Cheltenham, Gloucestershire CRJTICAL VIEW • I would like to point out to Val Agombar (Dear Sir, CM May 16) that any publicity is good publicity. Night Moves might not have been the definitive film on trucking life but surely it fulfilled its purpose which was to show the public at large that behind the wheel of any vehicle can be found any kind of driver. It was not a pat on the back for truck drivers but nor was it a kick in the teeth.
J Pilkington Leighton Buzzard, Beds