Second Day at NN ootwich a Great Success
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'HERE is no doubt that the second day of the Woolwich contest was a :at success. In response to urgent peals by the organizers, made verbally the first day, and followed up with request form through the post, plus a stcard reminder, there were ample trshals to keep the vehicles moving. -is they did and, after a more or less reed late start ,(if the advertised .0 a.m. start had been adhered to, there luld have been more than a 2-hour gap tween the last vehicle competing and scheduled time of the prizegiving) ngs went like clockwork. Indeed, the vhite-collar workers " were so quick off !. mark in the control vehicle that at e time one set of class results was being nounced before the last vehicle in the ss had beeti parked.
Two Lost Their Way The road test found favour with most vers to whom I spoke, although at St two had lost their way. The Highy Code test was not so popular; some the competitors thought the questions ild have been better phrased.
It was again the three driving tests that wided most difficulty and, as usual, t 3 took a heavy toll in penalties. :..ause of a slight misunderstanding .e, the first vehicle to take the field, Crawford, of the Crow Carrying Co., I., had to repeat the test—a bollard had mgly been placed on the nearside. -here were several complaints istered with the clerk of the course connection with the three tests. xess Dairy, Ltd.—who later were tounced as the team award winners--e rather upset about an incident at
• 2—the width-judging test. They con
tended that when. one of their drivers, J. Maker, drove his vehicle through one of the " gaps,the wind (and it was blowing strongly in the morning) blew one of the posts against the vehicle. With the gap set at 11 ft., and the vehicle a mere 7 ft. 6 in. at its widest, their complaint was understandable: they registered the complaint immediately with the test marshal; Mr. Barber, the clerk of the course, was sent for, and it was decided that the wind was not In blame. This gave first place in Class Fl to Driver D. Clarke of Pease Transport. Ltd. Express Dairy, however, were announced as the best team and received the Daily Mirror Trophy for their effort.
Bay Tactics Two drivers in Class IT caused a stir when, in the loading bay test they decided to turn their attics completely round with their first "shunt," to enter the bay from their offside—as has been done at other contests. Unfortunately, the first man who attempted this, S. Long, of Crow Carrying Co., did not start off astride the starting line, and therefore was disqualified. But J. Phillips of International Chemicals carried out the whole manceuvre without penalty.
At 4.15 p.m., the last vehicle (the 193rd in the complete two-day event) had completed the course. and, after there had been a break for tea, Brig. C. C. Garthwaite, the commander of Woolwich Garrison, presented the prizes, complimenting the winners by inviting them to "join up," The Brigadier told me later that he certainly hoped to make the site available to the organizers next year.
Overall Winner London's lorry driver of the year award, plus the trophy for the best performance from an Aor B-licensed vehicle, went to veteran driver J. Coleman, of A, Packham and Co. Mr. Coleman, who has been driving commercial vehicles for over 30 years, drove his way to victory on the first day of the event, as winner of Class El with a total of 160 penalties awarded against him.
N.H.T.