Treble Win for Tate and Lyle
Page 40
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HIGHLIGHTS of the Plymouth eliminating round of the Lorry Driver of the Year Competition last Sunday were successes in classes C.. E and F by Tate and Lyle drivers, and Sgt. F. Tucker's performance, which made him the outright winner of the contest and helped his team to carry off the prize for that section of the competition.
The 94-mile road section of the competition, which took place before luncheon, was made more difficult for drivers by rain, heavy enough at time; to defeat their windscreen wipers. A well-chosen circuit involving an almost complete tour of Plymouth incorporated a stop and restart test on a hill, ability t accomplish thissuccessfully without moving backwards being assessed by placing a matchbox behind a wheel of 'the vehicle.
Observation of the road section was carried out by members of the Plymouth Touring Motor Cycle Club, who deducted marks from all but 22 of the 87 entrants; four of the class winners did not lose marks on this test.
The Highway Code examination incurred penalties for all competitors, the lowest marks forfeited being 3+ by L. Portwood (Millbay Laundry, Ltd.), who unfortunately misjudged one of the final' manteuvring tests and failed to gain a place in his class.
The heavy rain necessitated the cancellation of the best-maintained-vehicle class; some of the vehicles entered were resplendent in additional chromium trim and two-tone paintwork.
Returning from luncheon, organizers, spectators and drivers alike were cheered by lifting of the Overcast and the appearance of fitful sunshine, which was to strengthen and last for the whole of the afternoon while the manceuvrability tests were in progress.
These tests, which adhered strictly to those laid down by the national committee, were all laid out with concrete kerbs in a sequence which made them easy for the drivers to follow, inspiring confidence, and allowing the entrants to complete the section quickly.
136 Test 1—backing at an angle into a loading bay 18 in. wider than the vehicle —was completed without deduction of marks by only one driver, F. Taylor (G.P.O.), who went on to win class A. Another commendable performance on this test by a G.P.O. driver was that of D. Martin (Morris), who lost eight marks and won class B.
Reversing through two staggered barriers judged by each driver to be the minimum width through which he could back his vehicle, constituted Test 2. The best performance was given by R. M. Thorne (Tate and Lyle, Ltd.), with a Bedford " artic," losing only one mark and completing the test, as he did all the others, with great confidence and in good time. Sgt. F. Tucker, Bedford, forfeited only three marks.
The final test—reversing into a kerbside space one-and-a-half times the length of the vehicle—not surprisingly caused little difficulty for a Dennis refuse vehicle of Plymouth Corporation, driven by R. Crook, who lost no marks, this presumably being part of the day's work for him.
R. Law rence (Bedford), though unopposed in class H, did well on this test with only five marks deducted.