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[infield Day at Brighton

8th May 1964, Page 53
8th May 1964
Page 53
Page 53, 8th May 1964 — [infield Day at Brighton
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HAD never travelled to Brighton on the back of a fire-engine before—but lid it last Sunday. I.went on a 1914 !anis N-type (the four-cylinder, ninere job). The back was quite open, of urse—ideal for going to a tire on a nny day. We were taking part in the ird National Historic Commercial ehicle Run. It didn't rain all the iy; just for the first half-hour, really. hadn't realized Brighton was so far. This particular tire-engine was one of me 97 vintage vehicles to take part in

e run. The event becomes more ipular each year—only 48 " old-timers " ade the trip in 1962. The 9.15 a.m. start . the Museum of British Transport, lapham, was watched by a large crowd. irst vehicle away was a 1922 Maxwell pen charabanc driven by Lord Montagu f Beaulieu. complete with six TV oppers. Strange, but they all looked Tribly dry when I saw them later.

An Eventful Run The run itself was eventful. The )ennis N-type ran very well and gave no rouble. On route, though, we passed everal luckless vehicles which had woken down. One of these was another )ennis N-type fire-engine which we had seen following. It seemed that a bignd had gone. We arrived• at Brighton oon after midday, to be greeted by a arge crowd and some sunshine. 1 was proud to have retained my hat.

The competitive aspect of this event proved a triumph for the Banfields. Father and son walked off with four prizes— including first and second place in the Concours d'Elegance. Michael Banfield (the son) was the outright winner of this event for the second year in succession with his 51-seat Leyland Titan TD2 double-decker bus. Runner-up was a. Chevrolet LQ I4-seat coach with canvas top entered by Mr. C. W. Banfield (the father). Furthermore, each won his class in the ,driving tests.

A Lot of Fun These tests, which started more than an hour late, provided a great deal of fun. Each vehicle had to pass between four sets of twin pylons between which a balloon was attached to a piece of string. The idea, of course, was to burst the balloons. But it was a windy afternoon—so that most drivers finished the course more than somewhat trustrated. The result was a tie between a 1935 Albion 3-ton platform lorry entered by Andrew Steven and a 1931.30-seat Gilford coach entered by Valliant Direct Coaches and driven by Jim Fullbrook, The latter vehicle, 1 happen to know, came to grief on the return journey to Clapham. I was on it. "Head gasket's blown ", they said. But it wasn't raining.

This third run, incidentally, was organized by the Historic Commercial Vehicle Club and sponsored by National Benzoic Co. Ltd. E.J.M.


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