The Lord Mayor's Show
Page 71
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LDOY-YORK ROUND
By GEORGE PEARSON
THE Lord Mayor of York, who went to Rufforth RAF Station to present the prizes in the York eliminating contest on Sunday. acted in a. manner that was surely without precedent in his distinguished office when drivers jibbed at using one of the tWo Bedford fourwheelers selected for the run-off to find the overall winner.
He hopped • into the cab and to the good-humoured barracking of -spectators put the vehicle into the kerbside bay with nothing more faulty than a slight scrape on a barrier.
A lord Mayor's show indeed that no doubt caused a few red faces, the point at issue being the difficulty in adjusting the driving mirror. There was, in fact, more adjustment on the otherwise nearly identical Bedford, so the vehicle that the Lord Ma■ or had demonstrated could be handled successfully wasn■ withdrawn., Ma drivers were already aware of the skill of this high-ranking Lord Mayor. who privately is William Bridge, RHA West Riding area chairman, owner of Flowers Transport Ltd. and owner of the two vehicles being used for the finals.
L. King. who eventually received the
overall as trophy from the Lord Mayor, is one of his former drivers, who recalls that the now chief citizen of York,
showing a great respect for the law concerning drivers' hours would drive out to meet any man whose time had expired and drive the lorry in for him. In presenting the awards the Lord Mayor said he felt that drivers should figure in insurance and no-claim bonus schemes.
York area champion for the second time, 37-year-old King won the admira-. tion of his rivals for his class E(2) winning performance of 68 penalty points, with 130 the next best among 15 entrants. His twin-tank, powdered-cement carrier, a Leyland Octopus, was so new. that he drove it on trade plates which were valid only for the day and meant that he could not have a practice run on Saturday. He had not driven an 8-wheeler for more than a year. Neither had he driven a Bedford 4-wheeler as used in the run-off.
An error in the kerb-parking measurements cost the competitors manceuvring room. Class A was actually left with less than the allowed I;• vehicle lengths between barriers, but unfortunately this .vvas not discovered until late in the day because a new system of starting with the heavies, Class H. and working backwards to Class A was adopted.
After two wins in previous years in Class C. Arthur R. Jones moved into keenly-contested Class E(I) and triumphed by a single point. YORK RESULTS
Class A---up to 16 U. and from 201 cwt.: 1. B. Wright (0, Moore and Co.). BMC. 148 Penalty Points: 2. 0. H. King (Mo(ris). 172; 3, K. Dunford (York Civil Defence), Morris, 156.
Class 11 --16 to 19 ft.: I, P. Moncasler (P. Monster). I ord. 63: 2. J. Luck (Concrete Services Ltd.). Ford. 87: 3. R. Holliday (Concrete Services 1.1d ). Ford. Ill, Clam C-I9 to 22 It.: I. Arthur R. Rhodes (Martial:km I. rtlJ. Betit'ord. 96; 2, E. 'Johnson (British OxYgen (o. Ltd.). Albion, 106: 3, Percy 0. F. Bartram Ltd.). Redford. 124.
Class 11-22 to 25 ft.: I. G. Baker (Geoff Baker). Dennis,. 76: 2, L. J. Shefdan (Selsweapes (Home) id.). Bedford. RI: 3, E. Brooke (Public Works Ruild)ngs), BM('. 102.
Class E411-over 25 ft., two axles! l. R. Jones fMachplant lid.). Bedford. 574: 2, M. C. Howard (John Smith's Brewery). Atkinson. 59; 3, It. Abbott (Kenneth Wilson Ltd.), FRF, 90.
Class 18(2)--over 25 Ii,. more than two I. I,. King (Concrete Service0. Leyland. 68; 2. G. Nicholls (Regent Oil Co. Ltd.), Leyland. 13)); 3, T ,Iderw,k (Hennebtatie Concrete), Files, 13i.
Class F(I) aerie tractive unIts under 4 tons, Rat or sided semi-trailer up to 35 ft.: I, A. Green IRtookes' Tran,nori ( fatteaster) Ltd.). Leyland, 118: 2. C. Lastwd ikI(S). Seddon. 120: 3. R. l'aWS4in F. Mayer 110.1. Athion. 171.
Class F(2) artie tractive units under 4 tons, box or tanker senf-trailer up to 35 ft.: 1, W., Wilkinson
(Regent (1.1 I :di: Bedford. 236. Only MIL'
Class G arrv tractile units user .1 tons. that or sided seine-trailer up to 38 D.: I. 1. Hudson (J. H. Tare Lid.), (''mutter . 85: 2, C. Swann (MS). AFC.
168: 3 Pitk (R.keN• Transport fradeaster)
Lid.). 1 ut tel 221.
Class II box or tanker sent'-trailer with traerve units 4 Ituos or over: 'U. Rack (Shell Mex and BP Ltd.). Scainmell. 2.17. (ash one entrant.
Overall Winner: 1.. Kilo:. 49 points.
Best At Selfele Driver: R. lbhetson (Moot) and Pmeley Bridge RDC'), Dennis Pasit, Tema Award; Seliweroes (Horne) Lid, (B. Kirkham. 1. I ranklyn, I., J. Sheridan),