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Bird's Eye View Heavy stuff
Page 101
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A new film specially for the
Catering for old-timers
Ron Cater, one-time assistant technical editor, has always been something of an old vehicle enthusiast. Some say he used to drive them for a living and even remembers them before they were old. It's not surprising therefore to learn that the ex-CM man is now president of the Commercial Vehicle and Road Transport Club. The club was born out of a letter published in CM back in 1965.
I see that Denis Miller, who was on the CM LDoY staff a few years back, is the club public relations officer. I wondered how they filled in their spare time when they left us. Anyway, Ron and Den and the other 198 members are ready to welcome new friends. You can get more details from Denis at 3a Alma Square, London NW8 9QD.
Welcome 'Bus and Truck'
Another new newspaper enters the transport scene this week -Truck and Bus Times. TBT is a British Leyland publication in tabloid or "pop" format.
Issue one makes a bright start with news from around the T&B empire and little snippets of general news slipped in from other publications including CM. There's money to be won for comment, letters and funny stories.
I liked the editor's note which says that the "fun at work stories" need not necessarily come from Truck and Bus. I wonder what he fears? All things considered, it's a neat little job and could go a long way to linking up the people at T&B's widely scattered plants.
Another T&B publication .dropped on my desk this week, this time a smart silver-bound 72-page magazine entitled 80 Years of Progress. Now this is not my subject; I know about 55BC, 1066 and 1314, beyond that I'm no historian, but this is one for the collector.
It traces the history of the company from the days of Henry Spurrier and James Sumner when they nipped about the country in a three-wheel steam car, up to last year with a picture of Lord Stokes nipping round the dance floor at the 80th birthday ball.
I must say I prefer his choice of companion to that of the founder. Her chassis is altogether more robust and attractive.
Trusties attack
I see the environmentalists, bless them, are pumping their propaganda at the Minister of Transport against increased axle weights and 40-ton gvw. The Civic Trust has gone as far as to issue page pulls of its April magazine in advance and has sent 1,300 copies to local amenity societies.
Now whether or not we agree with their sentiments their tactics must be applauded. They believe that the best method of defence is to attack and they are attacking in strength. I wait with bated breath for the counter-attacks from industry. What a pity it didn't get in first.
Even the GLC is allying itself with the environmentalists and attacks road transport on six fronts: safety, noise, vibration and roadwear, dark smoke (note not black but dark smoke), photochemical pollution -that's a new one -and odours.
It neglects to say that much of London's environmental problems would have been solved if it, the GLC, had provided a proper ring road and transfer terminal facilities 15 years ago.
Body liner
George Hughes, chairman of Willowbrook Ltd, was born for success. Not only do his commercial activities forge ahead but since he breezed into the chairman's seat at Derby County Cricket Club last year its deficit has been hit for six.
With £2,198 assets the club anticipated a loss of £32,000 last season but they hadn't reckoned on George. He modestly says, they had a revenue of £50,000 and a net profit of £18,435. It is Derby's first profit since 1962. That was just about the time when things started to go wrong for "UK Ltd.
George Hughes is my latest nominee in a tong list of transport men to take over from Denis Healey. Which reminds me, when his Budget's over on March 29 we'll know how much we owe him for next year.
A new film specially for the
driver is produced by Total Oil. The title Total Advanced Driver Training might be a bit misleading. It's not an Institute of Advanced Motorist promotion but exclusively for the hgv driver. It is designed, says Total, to illustrate the techniques of handling a heavy in difficult conditions and it was made at the Ministry of Defence's place at Chobham — not unknown to CM's test drivers!
Mind you. Total will be only too happy to let motoring clubs and organisations have a look; it will help their members to appreciate the hgv drivers' problems better. But the men who should be first in the queue at Golden Films Ltd, 23 Frances Road, Windsor, Berks, are the fleet operators It's on free loan.
Western hero
Brian Tankard, the ERF man, was cock-a-hoop when I spoke to him this week. The reason for his euphoria was the accolade the B-Series had received from the men of Western BRS. They said it was the truck they would undoubtedly name as the Truck of the Year for 1976.
According to the West Country drivers and engineers, the B-Series was a worthy successor to the A-Series which they have been using since 1973. It received full marks for driver comfort, ride, handling and accessibility of mechanical units.
And which one will be the 1977 Western BRS Truck of the Year? Welt, I can tell you the ones coming under their critical scrutiny are Ford's Transcontinental, the SA 400, Leyland Marathon, Magirus Deutz 310D and the Leyland Buffalo.
• by The Hawk