This is the way, says Minister
Page 54
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
MR. W. CRAIG, MP, Minister for Home Affairs, Northern Ireland, attended the Castlereagh (Belfast) eliminating round of the LDOY competition on Saturday and left the competitors in no doubt about his feelings on driving standards.
"I do not believe in using the heavy hand of legislation to improve standards," he said. "This is the correct way to do it. This competition is making a definite contribution towards the improvement of driving standards."
The Minister was addressing the 90 drivers and a big crowd of spectators at the end of the event.
This round has now been operating for five years and each year it attracts more competitors and spectators. New entries this year included Northern Ireland Carriers Ltd., who won classes F(1), G and H. In class F(2) it had to be content with second place when that old campaigner, Mr. J. Lawley, of Esso Petroleum Co. Ltd., qualified for his fourth final after collecting 73 penalty points. Inclass E(1) the Irish Bonding Co., filled the first three places with the closest of results, 118, 119 and 121 penalty points.
PO Telephones also had a triple win in class B with only seven points between first and third-it was also first in class A. To ensure its entry was the best possible PO Telephones ran its own eliminator and successful competitors were chosen from 89 entrants. The same competition was used to find this week's entries at Londonderry. The system proved satisfactory as it produced the first three in the team competition.
The Ulster competitors' enthusiasm was equalled by the spectators-among them Mr. Trevor Thornton, managing director, Northern Ireland Carriers Ltd., and Mr. James Grierson, BOC Ltd., from Glasgow. Kraft Foods Ltd. supporters cheered when first-time entrant Mr. J. Campbell was declared champion driver.
During the contest I was approached by Mr. J. Davis, BMC Drivers Club of Dublin, who asked for help in setting up an eliminating round in the Republic of Ireland next year. With 30 Scots and 10 Ulstermen already qualified the final begins to take on an international look. It now remains to be seen if the Bristol round can produce any Welsh finalists from over the bridge.
BELFAST RESULTS
Class A-up to 16 It and from 20 cwt.: 1. E. T. Lester (PO Telephones), Morris, 79 penalty points; 2. H. Carson (GPO Postal), Morris, 86; 3. D. J. Warren (PO Telephones), Morris, 91.
Class B-16 to 19 I. J. H. McCready (PO Telephones), Morris, 81; 2. J. Dtihson (PO Telephones), Morris, 87; 3..1. C. Lindsay (PO Telephones), Morris, 88.
Class C-19 to 22 ft.: I. J. Campbell (Kraft Foods Ltd.), Bedford, 52; 2. J. M. Hamilton (GPO Postal), Karrier, 73; 3, D. Donnelly (PO Telephones), Karrier, 83.
Class 0-22 to 25 ft.: I. T. A. Cooke (SPD Ltd.), Bedford, 49; 2. W. J. Haddock (PO Telephones), Morris, 69; 3. S. Dawson (Rolls Royce Ltd.), Austin, 100.
Class E(1)-over 25 ft., two axles: 1. F. Graham (Irish Bonding Co.), Ford, 118; 2. R. Graham (Irish Bonding Co.), Ford, 119; 3. P. Loughran (Irish Bonding Co.), Bedford, 121.
Class E(2)-over 25 ft., more than two axles: I. T. Stewart (Scott-Toomebridge Ltd.), Foden, 96; 2. R. Keatley (Shell Mex and BP Ltd.), Leyland. 141; 3. T. Dougherty (Shell Mex and BP Ltd.), AEC, 158.
Class F(1)-flat or sided semi-trailer with flat or / drop frame including and up to 33 ft.: I. P. Keenan (MC Ltd.), Albion, 84; 2. J. King (Northern Ireland Eggs Ltd.), Albion, 100; 3. H. Bell (Northern Ireland Eggs Ltd.), Albion, 136.
Class F(2)-box or tank semi-trailer with flat or drop frame up to and including 33 ft. train length: I. J. Lawley (Esso Petroleum Co. Ltd.), Bedford, 73; 2. D. J. Hannah (NIC Ltd.), Albion, 171; 3. S. D. Millar (Regent Oil Co. Ltd.), Bedford, 193.
Class G-flat or sided semi-trailer with flat or drop frame over 33 ft. train length: 1. H. Finlay (NIC Ltd.), Leyland, 162; 2. C. Carson (NEC Ltd.), Leyland, 262; 3. B. O'Neill (T. J. Kennedy and Son), Commer, 624.
Class H-box or tanker semi-trailer with flat or drop frame over 33 ft. train length: 1. H. Wiggins (NIC Ltd.), Albion, 186; J. McMillan (NIC Ltd.), Ford, 219.
Champion Driver: J. Campbell (Kraft Foods Ltd.). Best Service Driver: L. /Cpl. McGlade, 4th Queen's Regt.
Best Lady Driver: L./Cpl. Little, WRAC.
Team Award: GPO Telephones.