Disqualifications Galore
Page 73
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WHEN the Chief Constable precedes VV his presentation of awards at 7.35 p.m. by remarking that the contest has run 2 hours and 40 minutes late, and when there are 14 drivers listed as disqualified on the results sheets behind him. it is hardly necessary to remark that last Sunday's Kent round of the LDOY competition at Maidstone was not the brightest and best in the series. It would not have seemed quite so bad if the day had been warm and bright as in past years-but it was bleak and chill.
Putting a finger on the cause of lateness tin a round which previously has shone with slick efficiency) is not easy. It would not be fair to lay all the blame on a changed organizing team, as the Highway Code, maintenance and road route sections were run off smoothly, and there had been several improvements in the general arrangements. Nor could the record entry of 131 (128 starters) he the cause, as this was only about a dozen more than in 1964, when all was over shortly after 4p.m. It seemed to me to stern more from rather leisurely marshalling and an over-generous briefing of drivers.
Certainly the drivers themselves were not unduly slow in performing. The outright win by D. Colvin in the final run-off was not unexpected, as his class win with 82 points was very convincing. He was upholding Express Dairy honours " away " better than the home team.
The 14 disqualifications from the contest resulted from drivers being noted is trickling over one of two halt signs on the road route, instead of stopping dead. Nine of them protested that they had in fact stopped, but the stewards, after long discussion, decided that the observers' decision must be accepted.
Several entrants collected multiple batches of silverware: Eremlins (the brewery) took classes F(1) and F(2) to keep their record up, Express Dairy took two classes also, and Reed Transport had a field day with first and second in Class G and the maintenance awards in both A/B and C licence categories. Express carriers S. E. Thomas won the team award-for which there were no fewer than 27 contenders.
Other outstanding efforts: a sharpshooting Terrier swept Class C in a 4 x 4 Bedford. while K. Batchelor of Aylward Bros. won the enormous Class D with only 76 penalties.