Schweppes Again at Weymouth
Page 46
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DESPITE maximum penalty points on the final test of the day, Leonard A. Stacey, driving a 1961 Cormier 8-cwt. van, won the first eliminating round of this year's Lorry Driver of the Year Competition at sunny Weymouth on Saturday. Making his first attempt in the competition, Mr. Stacey, a League of Safe Drivers gold badge holder, amassed only 85 penalty points He was driving for the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co., Ltd., a member of the Schweppes group. Thus, with the Weymouth winner last year in D. Cleverley (driving a Bedford 6tonner), Schweppes, who only came into the competition in 1960, have achieved a notable double, writes Kenneth Bowden.
Without in any way detracting from the excellence with which 38-year-old, Mr. Stacey, a Londoner working out of Bristol, handled his new red, white and blue Commer, it must be noted that the final result rested not so much on his fine scores in four tests, but on what the rules said he must be penalized for his failure of the fifth.
Mr. Stacey, who also, of course, won the Class A and Best C-licence Vehicle awards, lost seven marks on the Highway Code test, none on the road test. 18 on kerb parking, and 25. on width judging. The last of the three manceuvrability tests at the Westham Coach Park in Weymouth was generally
acknowledged to be the easiest for most.
At his first attempt Mr. Stacey appeared to perform well, but moved his van into reverse before the stewards had time to measure his frontal distance from the barrier. He was asked to do the test again, but this time, somewhat agitated, he overshot on the reverse, which was measured on the rear door handle. This constituted complete failure of the test. and for many hours the penalty that would be applied was, publicly -at any rate, in doubt.
At the close of the competition it was announced that, as laid down nationally, the penalty was the worst mark in the class in that test, plus five penalty points. This gave Mr. Stacey 35 penalty points for the test, and made him B 2
champion driver .by a notable margin.
There was some " murmuring " about the decision, based on the fact that failure in a manceuvrability test in the heavier classes could have meant a penalty of 200-odd marks, based on this system. But as national steward Mr. J. W. Scammell said at the prize presentation, "it must be recognized that the competition is class against class."
Although marks lost appeared to be heavier generally than last year, the standard of driving among the 95 starters. from an excellent entry of 97 was reasonable.
Among previous award winners, G. Squibb, driving a Bedford for R. Crumble (Home), Ltd., of Weymouth, third in Class C last year, took the premier Class C award; and W. Hobbs, on a Bedford for Burt, Boulton and Haywood, Ltd., of Bridport. repeated his 1960 win in Class
Fl for arties with a tractor under 3 tons and semi-trailer under 22 ft. Pease Transport, Ltd., driving for Tate and Lyle, scored a notable double, taking the team award, and through D. Sullivan, the Best Maintained Vehicle prize with an eightwheeled Foden sugar tanker.
PROVISIONAL RESULTS
CLASS A—Up to 15 ft.: A. L.-Stacey (Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co., Ltd), Comma, 85 penalty points, 1; Ns. McCree (Pease Transport, Ltd.), Fordson. 117. 2; W. R. Meech, Standard, 121,3.
CLASS B-15-19 ft.: W. J. Robins (George Cake, Ltd.), Austin, 140, 1; A. Leven (T. Wall and Sons, Ltd.), Morris, 159, '2: W. Brindsley (Weymouth Corp.), Austin. 174, 3.
CLASS C-1942 ft.: G. Squibb (R. Crumble (Home), Ltd.). Bedford, 140, 1; R. Ackerman (Burt, Boulton and Hayward. Ltd.), Bedford, 173. 2; J. O'Brien (S.E.B., Weymouth). Austin, 175, 3.
CLASS 13-22-25-ft.: P. Faversham (T. B. Lock and Sons), Bedford, 106, 1; B. Hill (Pease Transom, -L61., for Tate and Lyle), Albion, 193, 2; L. Rogers (B,R.S., Eastleigh), B.M.C., 130, 3.
CLASS El—Over 25 ft., two axles: L. T. Symes (Bath and Portland Stone Firms, Ltd.), A.E.C., 193.
CLASS E2—Over 25 ft., more than two axles: J. Greening (T. B. Lock and Sons), Bedford, 147, 1; H. Manning (Pease Transport. Ltd., for Tate and Foden, 155, 2; R. Boatswain (Bath and Portland Stone Firms, Ltd.), A.E.C.. 210. 3. CLASS Fl--Artic., tractor under 3 tons, semitrailer under 22 ft.: W. Hobbs (Burt, Bouiton and
Hayward, Ltd.), Bedford. 152, 1. .
CLASS E2—Ardc., tractor under 3 tons, semitrailer 2247 ft.: I. Craney (Arthur Hughes and Sons, Lull. Bedford, 234.
CLASS G—Artic., iratiar 3 tons or over, semi. trailer up to 27 ft.: G. T. Pavey (B.R.S.. Poole). Leyland. 174, 1; F. C. Cane (T. B. Lock and Sons, Ltd.), Bedford, 377, 2. • • ' CLASS S—Standard Army Vehicles, 19-24 ft.: Spr. A. Berkley (6 Field Park Sun., RE., Swindon). Redford, 149, 1; Tor. D'Arey (R. and A. Wing. D. and M. School, Bovington), Bedford, 16t, 2; 3. O'Rourke (Junior Leaders Regt.. Bovington). Bedford, 177, 3.
Best Maintained Valdez D. Sullivan (Pease Transport, Ltd., for Tate and Lyle), Foden, 133.7 ots., 1; L. T. Symes (Bath and Portland Stone Firms, Ltd), A.E.C.. 129.9 ots., 2.
Best C-licence Vehicle: A, L. Stacey (Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co., Ltd.), Commer.
Team 'Award: Pease Transport, Ltd., for Tate and (sir.