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They're off!
Page 41
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by lain Sherriff • The 1968 Lorry Driver of the Year Competition got under way on Saturday at Weymouth with an entry of 80 drivers. The competition, which is sponsored by CM, could not have had a better start.
After the optional maintenance section at Dorchester, the drivers had a 21-mile run to Weymouth for the manoeuvring test. I drove over the road section and cannot think of any road hazard which was not encountered. Superintendent Floyd, of Bournemouth and Dorset Constabulary, who was clerk of the course, told me that the standard of driving was as high as any he had experienced.
The overall champion was a class B entrant, B. Pullinger of L. S. Haskell, driving a Ford, who collected 77 penalty points. Last year's champion, K. Hodges of Shell-Mex and BP, had only 57 penalties but because of the low scoring in his class he lost his title. However, he did win the C-licence trophy. This is one man to watch in the final.
Another oil company man and the 1964 Weymouth champion, F. L. England of Texaco (Regent Oil Co.), is through to the final. He drove his Bedford tanker to victory in class F2 with 184 penalties. Mr. England was competing at Torbay last year and missed victory by only two points to the ultimate national champion.
The most excited competitor was C. Whitemore. of Walsall Conduits, who won class C with 68 penalties. A young man. he has been driving for only three years, but he handled his Bedford like a veteran. Provided nerves do not take charge he should put up a strong challenge at Bramcote in September.
The Atomic Energy Authority filled the first three places in Class A. G. Parker. who won the class, was another low scorer with 77 penalties.
W. H. Yeatman and Sons Ltd. will have two men at the final, B. Rideout, class D with 66 penalties. and P. Faletto. class El. 82 penalties. Both men were driving Seddons. M. S. Small and Sons, who are part of Heavy Transport, entered Weymouth for the first time and won class G where R. Grant in a Foden collected 217 penalties. Another highly penalized winner was G. Williams, of Metal Box Co. Ltd., who scored 298 penalties.
During the competition Mrs. Burden, the competition secretary, spotted the reigning national champion, Mr. Reg Tooze, in the crowd and invited him to present the awards. Before he handed them over the champion wished the winners good luck in the final but warned them that he would not give up his title without a fight.
The surprising factor at this event was the continued lack of support from the A and B licensees. The RTITB grants could have led one to believe that there would have been added interest from the hauliers. After all they have been heard to complain about having to pay the training levy.