Schweppes Day
Page 73
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I T seems that luck with the weather has finally deserted the organizers of the Ruislip Lorry Driver round. Last year there was rain for part of the day: this year it was bitterly cold compared with the previous brilliantly sunny days. Nevertheless, there was a good crowd of spectators and the organization was excellent. There were no hitches throughout the day, the 147 entrants had completed their tests by 4.15 p.m., results were posted by 4.35 p.m. and the presentation of prizes was started by 4.45 p.m.
Schweppes drivers have always done well at Ruislip, but this year they excelled themselves by taking first places in Classes R and F(1), first and third in Class D and second and third in Class C. In addition, the Schweppes team of E. Merriman, D. Pittuck and P. Lipop repeated their 1964 success by winning the team award. Theirs was the only repeat success, however, as of the seven
1964 class winners taking part last Sunday, none appeared in the number one spot again.
Drivers from Hoover Ltd. also did well, taking first and second places in Class H and-as the only competitors in Class G -ail three places there. Hosts for the round, Express Dairy, met with more success than last year in gaining a win in Class C and second place in Class E(2). And other "local" successes were the first and third places in Class F(2) by Harvey, Bradfield and Toyer Ltd. drivers.
One of the commendable things about the Ruislip round is that good performances are usually put up in the Highway Code part of the competition. No fewer than 49 drivers had clean sheets on this section and three of them in Class C A. Cummings, B. T. Birch and Cpl. L. Adams-were clear also on the road route, as also was C. Berryman in Class 0, these four being the only ones clear of penalty on the road.
No fewer than 47 drivers took part in Class D and there was a great fight for the honours. Some idea of the standard of driving can be obtained from the fact that the first 10 competitors had less than 137 penalties, a score that would have won first place in four of the classes. Like last year, the high scores in Classes A and B can be put down to difficulty in the loading-hay test, where one driver managed to incur 438 penalties.