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Bird's Eye View
Page 80
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CARROTS are better than kicks with a donkey, they say. " This theory might well be applied by the Government to get some of the more sluggish British industries cracking on exports, but somehow I fancy we're too self-conscious a nation to apply President Kennedy's system af giving what are known as "E " awards for meritorious achievements in the export field. I am sure of one thing—that many British commercial vehicle makers would immediately qualify, if we did!
Nevertheless I raise my hat to two American companies in the transport world which have recently been given the coveted "B ". The Greyhound bus people got theirs for working with hotels and airlines to set up fixed-price tours of the U.S. and then sending a Scenicruiser coach on a multilingual European trade-catching tour; and International Harvester earned its " E " for hitting the President's target of a 10 per cent rise in exports.
Club' Catering 0NE of the problems of motorways is to provide commercial drivers with a suitable equivalent to the transport cafés which to the long-distance man are not merely places to eat but an essential part of his workaday world. I'm interested and encouraged to see that the Forte organization is hoping to encourage a "drivers' club" atmosphere in its new service areas on M5, the first at Keele and the other at Chamock Richard, near Preston.
Identical transport cafés on southbound and northbound sides of the road will have access direct from the commercial parks and Forte is planning to provide some or transport drivers' favourite dishes at realistic prices. Another point is that each of the 70-vehicle parks will have security officers on duty round the clock.
There'll be a main restaurant and snack bar as well and a private room for coach parties (for 120 seated or 200 using buffet service); this will also supply packed meals.
Centurion's Choice ?
you might think it was easy to test the strength of glass used in security vehicles, but the Triplex research laboratories haven't found it all that simple to simulate a bandit-thrown missile. They've tried catapults, bows and arrows and a crossbow, the latter providing a missile impact within 5 m.p.h. of the 70 m.p.h. required. But—a commentary on the softening effects of modern civilization—the handloaded crossbow needs a pull of 125 lb., about the limit of a normally strong man's ability.
Now they've come up with an answer from even further E2 back, a Roman ballista, an "engine of war" which is in effect a heavy-duty crossbow.
Not that Triplex methods lack modern technology when applicable: the impact speed is measured by sticking on the front of the toughened glass two pieces of tinfoil with a wafer of non-conductor between them. When the metal missile pierces the tinfoil it makes electrical contact. From such minimal measurements the speed is accurately calculated.
Snipe Beats Hawk I PAID a visit to Atlas Express in Bermondsey the other day. While there, Jack Brown, one of the directors (and, of course, the R.H.A.'s expert on vehicle security), invited me to try to drive away his Humber Super Snipe. The engine was running—as soon as I opened the door it stopped of its own accord. When I tried to start it again alarms hooted, doors locked—and I rapidly got myself into the devil of a state. At the time I was much relieved to find that I was not peremptorily affixed to the steering wheel by automatic handcuffs and mechanically propelled to the nearest cop-shop. However, knowing Jack Brown as well as I do I've a feeling that it won't be long before he's organized an automatic policeman to book passers-by for even thinking about his blessed Humber!
Tell it to the . . . ?
THERE'S war in Portsmouth. A friendly battle, but it's warming up, I hear. A T.R.T.A. team of eight drivers took on the local Royal Marines driving instructors in a Highway Code contest and beat them by 156 points to 145.
Marine honour is involved, and they've issued a " revenge " challenge which the Association has accepted. If they let any salty gentlemen have a hand in setting the questions perhaps they'll invoke the marines' amphibious character and slip in a few teasers about maritime "rules of the road ".