Tynesider s Fighting Finish
Page 72
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FOR the first time since the inception of the Newcastle upon Tyne round of the Lorry Driver of the Year contest, last Sunday's class winners finishedrthe event with a run-off on identical vehicles to decide the overall area winner. Principal honours went to W. Davidson (Br;tish Oxygen Co. Ltd., Bedford), leader of Class D, who on these three final tests incurred 136 penalty points. This was 10 better than the runner-up, D. Thistlethwaite (Shell-Mex and B.P. Ltd., Bedford) who qualified by taking the premier award in Class F2.
Only one mark behind was the third man, J. T. Laidler (Scottish and Newcastle Breweries Ltd., Commer) winner of Class El and also leader of that class last year. The lowest penalty points of the day were collected by driver D. Reed (Newcastle Co-operative Society Ltd., Karrier) who dropped only 88. For the run-off a pair of Bedford T.K. boxvans, entered in the competition by Procter and Gamble Ltd., were used. Although no one could have made a better choice of vehicle for the purpose, several of the competitors were clearly not at ease with their temporary charges. For the others it was a keenly-fought decider. Thistlethwaite was by far the best of the three placed men on the parking test, the others losing more than double his 40 points. Laidler led in the width judging with Davidson well down there; whereas Davidson got away with only 32 penalty points on the garage test whilst Laidler dropped 89 and Thistlethwaite 98.
Now that the emphasis of the L.D.O.Y. contest has swung strongly over to the company' angle the team result is invariably eagerly awaited. Reed, last year's individual runner-up, this time led the trio from the Newcastle Co-operative Society Ltd. to a clear-cut win with 370 marks as compared with 587 by Scottish and Newcastle Breweries Ltd. Reed was supported by W. McDonough, who was second in class B. and by T. Jerrard. The brewers' drivers were D. C. Povey, W. W. Atkinson and G. Courtney.
As usual at Newcastle the organization moved smoothly and, despite an entry numbering 114, the main tests were completed before 2 p.m.
Although he did not compete in the run-off R. W. Elder (Procter and Gamb:e Ltd., Bedford) qualified for the national final, being the best boxvan driver in thc well-supported Class D which was led by flat platform entries. .
The haulage industry represented less than 10 per cent of the total entry--but perhaps professional operators work too much Sunday overtime! As haulage organizations are slow to support the competition the suggestion has been made that there should be a class 'for those recently much maligned individuals, the owner-drivers.
Perhaps the widespread fault exhibited on the day was a lack of certainty about the position of the near side. This resulted at times in the width judging barriers coming in for some rough treatment. Mounting the kerb was a serious fault when parking, although this test was the one where competitors displayed the greatest competence.
NEWCASTL E RESULTS Overall winner: W. Davidson, British Oxygen Co.. Bedford. Runner-urn D. Thistlethwaite,
mex and BE', Ltd., Bedford.
Team award: Newcastle Co-operative Society Ltd. OD, Reed, W. McDonough and T. Jerrard).
Class A, up to 16 ft.: 1„ T Liddel (Thomas Bell and Sons Ltd,), Bedford, 138 penalty points: 2. T. S. Garnet (British OxYgen Co. Ltd.), Morris, 138; 3. W. Nixon (Thomas Bell and Sons Ltd.), Bedford, 174.
Class II, 16 to 19 it.; I. W. Dixon (W.H.S. Transport Ltd.), Bedford, 134; 2, R. W. Bland (Blaydon Co-operative Society Ltd.) Austin, 142: 1. R. Greaves CW.H.S. Transport Ltd.). Bedford, 155, Class C, 19 to 21 ft.: 1, D. C. Povey (Scottish and Newcastle Breweries Ltd.), Bedford, 126; 2, I. Robson (Thomas Bell and Sons Ltd.), Bedford, 130; . 3. NI. Bennett (Schweppes (Home) Ltd.), Bedford, 148.
Class D. 22 to 25 fl.t /, W. Davidson (British Oxygen Co. Ltd.). Bedford, 98; 2, W. McDonough (Newcastle Co-operative Society), Bedford, 114; 3, K. Main (The Metal Box Co. Ltd.), Seddon, 142.
Class El, over 25 ft., Iwo axles: 1, I. T. Laidler (Scottish and Newcastle Breweries) Commer. 158; 2, T. B. Allison (British Oxygen Co. Ltd.), Bedford, 171; 3. D. Owlish (Tudor Food Products). Morris., 265. Class E2, over 25 ft., more than two axlest-1, R. Elder (Shell-Mex and B,P, Ltd.), 186; 2. W. Robinson (Beechams Foods Ltd.), 209; 3, C. Passman (Shell-Mex and R.?. Ltd.), A,E.C., 25.
Class Fl, semi-trailers up to 30 ft., tractive units under four tons: 1, Et. Reed (Newcastle Co-operative Society Ltd.). Karrier, 85; 2, J. Weatherley (British Road Services). Austin, 145; 3, N. Horoschok (Stepney Haulage Co.). Austin, 199.
Class F2, box or tanker serni-trailers op to 39 ft.. tractive units under tone tons: 1, 0. Thistlethwake (Shell-Mex and R.N. Ltd.). Redford, 316; 2, N. 011-laitan (Esso Petroleum Co. Ltd.), Bedford. 377: 3, H. D. Patterson (Thomas Bell and Sons Ltd.). Bedford, 407.
Class G, Mat or sided semi-trailers up to 30 ft., tractive units font tons and over: 1, 3. Wood (British Road Services), Seddon, 207; 2, T. W. Johnson (British Road Servics,$), Bristol, 496; 3, H. Wood (G.K.N. Bolts and Nuts Ltd.), Leyland, 606.
Class Ft, box or tanker semi-trailers, tractive units over four tons: 1, R. ChipPerfield (British Oxygen ('-. Ltd,), Faden, 519; 2, R. Stark (Rdtish Oxygen Co. Ltd.), Scammell, 596; 3, D. Davison (Scottish and Newcastle Breweries Ltd.), 610, Class S, Services vehicles, 19 to 24 rt.: I, L. Chariton (Northumberland County Civil Defence), Ford, 165; 2. G. K. Walton (Newcastle Civil Defence). Ford, 211; 1, E Anderson (Northumberland County Civ;i Defence), Ford, 250.