Test three the troublemaker
Page 58
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OURTEEN out of 18 competitors in
" class H of the Northampton LDOY eliminating round on Sunday failed the bay test-they Were either disqualified or abandoned the test. Total failures in this test amounted to 29 despite the fact that no contestants in classes A, B, C, D and Fl were involved. Moreover, the slowness of the drivers of the larger vehicles prolonged the time occupied by upwards of say, 45 minutes and there was much speculation among stewards and marshals and by Mr. J. A. Boxall, the national steward regarding the wording of the instructions relating to the test.
Could a more intelligent driver, it was asked, be expected to know that touching the rear barrier would incur disqualification, or was it reasonable for him to assume that contact with the barrier would result in a loss of only 20 points? Should it be made clear following the instructions "reverse from line BB to enter loading bay up to, but not touching, barrier DD" that touching automatically earned disqualification? Should displacement and touching be counted as the same thing? Might this important test be speeded up by disqualifying the competitor after he has been penalized more than a certain number of points?
Despite heavy rain from the conclusion of the lunch break to the end of the run-off it was a successful day, the relatively large percentage of heavy vehicles in the total adding to the interest although at the cost of protracted delays in test 3. Most of the marshals-provided by Northampton and District Car Club-were drenched by 3 p.m. and deserve high praise for carrying on without lament. Winner of the local championship event, J. Emery of C. Butt Ltd. won Class G at the wheel of a Leyland articulated outfit and was penalized only 10 points in test 3 after an easy one-movement reversal into the bay. In the run-off a Bedford Class B van was used by all the contestants in Test 1, while a change was made to a Leyland Class El van for the second test and to a Ford Class C van for the third test.
Although the remarkably low total of 30 penalty points was recorded against D. Allington of Smedleys Ltd., the winner of Class D in a Ford, and runner-up J. Titchmarsh (last year's winner) lost only 44 points, Emery's handling of his outfit in Class G and his loss of 45 points in the championship justifiably gained him the greater acclaim. Six of the remaining competitors in Class G, out of a total of 17 failed
test 3 and many lost a large number of points.
A very loud loud-hailer system was used with effect to keep competitors and spectators in touch with events, rain or shine, and this was undoubtedly an encouraging factor that contributed to the perpetuation of spectators' attendance. Programmes were free but were suggestively placed near collection boxes of the British Cancer Ennd. Donations were generous.
More by bad luck than bad judgment, L. Fleming of Shell-Mex and BP Ltd., last year's winner of Class E2 lost 34 points on the kerb parking test at the wheel oran AEC eight-wheeled tanker. With a little bit of luck his total penalty points would have been reduced to 22 and he would have been a strong contender for the championship. As it was he was third in his class.
NORTHAMPT ON RESULTS
Class A-up to 16 ft. and from 20 cwt.: I. G. Wakefield (Painton and. Co. Ltd.), Ford, 55 penalty points; 2. T. Inca (Express Dairy Co_ (London) Ltd.), BMC, 69; 3. M. Pittan (S. W. Randall and Sons), Bedford, 88_ Class B-16 to 19 ft.: 1. E. Moksa (Liquified Pressure Gases), Austin, 62; 2. K. L. Holmes (F. W. Randall and Sons), Bedford, 65; 3. M. I. Challis (F. Challis Ancillary Services Ltd.), Bedford, 70.
Class C-19 to 22 ft.: 1. P. Wilson (Schweppes (Home) Ltd.), Bedford, 41; 2, J. Culshaw (Schweppes (Home) Ltd.), Bedford, 45; 3. G. Boehm (Smedleys Ltd.), Ford, 61.
Class D-22 to 25 ft.: 1. D. Ailington (Smedleys Ltd.), Ford, 30; 2. J. Titchmarsh (Shell-Mex and BP Ltd.), Dennis, 34; 3.L. Withers (Wolsley Ltd.), FordThames, 44.
Class E (1)--over 25 ft., two axles: 1. B. Matthewman (Phipps Brewery Ltd.), COMMT, 40; 2. P. Goff (Phipps Brewery Ltd.), Commer, 45; 3. T. Harvey (Phipps Brewery Ltd.), C ommer, 47;
Class E (2)-over 25 ft., more than two axles: 1. J. A. Cockerhilt (C. Butt Ltd.), Albion, 41; 2. J. Wilkinson (Smedleys Ltd.), Guy, 53; 3. L. Fleming (Shell-Max and BP Ltd.), AEC/M/Major, 56.
Class F (1)-4iot or sided semi-trailer with flat or drop frame including and up to 33 ft.: 1. A. J. Green (Smedleys Ltd.), Ford, 124; 2. B. F. Dunkley (A. Lilley and Co.), Dodge, 150.
Class F (2)-box or tank semi-trailer with flat or drop frame up to and induding 33 ft. train length: 1. B. Tromans (Shell-Mex and BP Ltd.), BedfordScammell, 107; 2. L. Wilson (Sheli-Mex and BP Ltd.), Scanundl, 128; 3. D. W. Owen (Shell-Mex and BP Ltd.), AEC/Mercury, 158.
Class G-,-fiat or sided semi-trailer with flat or drop frame over 33 ft. train length: 1. J. Emery (C. Butt Ltd.), Leyland, 57; 2. F. Cawthorne (Knights of Old Ltd.), AFC, 106; 3. B. White (S.W. Wreford and Sons Ltd.), Leyland, 117.
Class H-box or tanker semi-trailer with flat or drop frame over 33 ft. train length: 1. A. Toomer (S. W. Wreford and Sons Ltd.), Leyland, 167; 2. J. Walvin (Golden Wonder Crisps Co.), Ford, 172; 3. C. Swann (Northamptonshire Farmers Ltd.), Foden, 217.
Champion Driver: J. Emery (C. Butt Ltd.).
Best Team: Phipps Brewery Ltd. (B. Matthewman, P. Goff, T. Harvey).