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New format needed for CM LDoY I CAN ONLY agree
Page 28
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with CM'S September 8 Editorial regarding a change of venue for the CM Lorry Driver of the Year finals.
Potentially, the Lorry Driver of the Year finals and the area heats are a great industry image builder. This poteritial never will be achieved if the competition continues In its present format.
There are Immense efforts put In by volunteers, organisers, and competitors, but these are negated by the final venue and format used The Lorry Driver of the Year promotes safety. It could also promote a professional and safety conscious Image.
Look what could be done with the LDoY finals. Try a more public accessible venue; Battersea Park would be a good choice, but if London won't have you, try Birmingham, Manchester or Glasgow,
With Historic Commercial Vehicle Club participation perhaps we have the key to the British public heart. The British love old things; capitalise on this. Have a pre-event cavalcade of old lorries, taking place at a time when the public are about.
Mix in a concours d'elegance for preserved, and working lorries — perhaps a steam rally, even hot-air balloons. Look at some of the sideshows in Continental truck racing — car transporter loading; and stunt driving. Adapted, these could be crowd drawers. Even incorporate, by agreement, Bus Driver of the Year.
But do something with the actual tests! They must be more publicly presentable and slick, and that means fundamental changes! The contestants are professional capable and skilful. The tests must emphasise this, and still give spectacle. Perhaps include an element of carnival (did you see the attraction of the Volvo ball at this year's event?). Presentation needs to be concise. Clarity of commentary is vital to keep spectators informed. Keep the car parking free, but charge admission if you have to.
lain Sherriff is right when he draws attention to the Continental public's different attitude to commercial vehicles. I agree that "truck racing" is perhaps not the way to go. Yes, as its exponents would claim, It gives every lorry driver the chance to drive on a race track, I would contend that from observations taken on normal weekdays, the average lorry driver does not really need the chance to practise his racing skills, for with slipstream bent CB aerials, the sticker bedecked turbo sleepers do participate in the national Motorway Grand Prix, This, sadly, Is the only lorry driver that the public knows,
Truck (lorry) racing, although it will draw crowds of aficionados, and makes money for the promoters, will not enhance the industry's image, only emphasise the irresponsible element.
Why do our representative bodies seen incapable of a concerted approach to change the image of the lorry for the benefit of all?
The only campaigns of any lasting quality of image have been the York Trailer, "If you've got it, then a truck brought it," and perhaps Petrofina's hearttugging little girl, "Daddy, please drive carefully." Good, responsible, road safety, but not only for the lorry image.
Campaigns cost money; perhaps it remains for a farsighted vehicle manufacturer to spearhead the case for the lorry. Yes, we are all proud of being in this industry, but are any of us happy at our image?
Let's stop talking and do something positive. This means change for some important features of the industry, as well as many current practices. But so does restrictive legislation, imposed to appease hysterical public fears, and that, gentlemen, could be far more costly for all of us in this industry than any imagebuilding campaign could ever be.
JOHN GOOD REID &mood Staffordshire