pyewacket947v:
2 March 1986
Leinwardine
Herefords
Eng.
Ex MoD Commer Superpoise 4x4 recovery truck,
Waiting for the next call to help.
Hi, At the age of 17, early in 1961, I joined the T.A. ( Territorial Army ), and not long after, I passed my driving test
on a Bedford S type 3 tonner. The most dreadful lorry to drive was the Commer Superpoise 4 tonner 4 wheel drive.
From memory, it had a 6 cylinder petrol engine, but for some reason it was flat out just around 40 m.p.h. I am glad
that I didnt have to drive it very often. I remained with the T.A., R.E.M.E. for the next 5 years. Cheers, Ray Smyth.
My motorbike licence was what I got out of the TA. It was a real joke, they gave me a 1939 BSA with no suspension to practice on for half a day round the lanes of Yorkshire then my test consisted of riding round the camp perimeter a couple times till I did the emergency stop, then a section over rough ground like a scrambler, the requirement being to go round as slowly as possible without putting a foot to ground, it was all about clutch control. Both I and the other lad, he was using his own Gold Star, couldn’t get it right at first so the Staff Sergeant gave us a demo and then we had another go, better but not perfect, but passed.
The other lad didn’t see the emergency stop signal because he was behind me and wondered why I had stopped so suddenly, he just slowed down then overtook me before coming to a gentle stop a few yards further on. Staff looked at him for a few seconds, shook his head and then said ‘oh alright then’.
pyewacket947v:
2 March 1986
Leinwardine
Herefords
Eng.
Ex MoD Commer Superpoise 4x4 recovery truck,
Waiting for the next call to help.
Hi, At the age of 17, early in 1961, I joined the T.A. ( Territorial Army ), and not long after, I passed my driving test
on a Bedford S type 3 tonner. The most dreadful lorry to drive was the Commer Superpoise 4 tonner 4 wheel drive.
From memory, it had a 6 cylinder petrol engine, but for some reason it was flat out just around 40 m.p.h. I am glad
that I didnt have to drive it very often. I remained with the T.A., R.E.M.E. for the next 5 years. Cheers, Ray Smyth.
I cannot recall driving a Commer of any description, but loved the sound of a two stroke.!
EMD 515J
ex Pickfords Atkinson Viewline 6x4 tractor,
Built 1970.
Seen here in service with Bob Wilsons Fun Fair.
The intruder RAN 481R is a Dodge(Commer) Walk Thru.
Of interest to some,(maybe) the chimney of a carpet factory, for which Kidderminster was once known World Wide,
pokes up above the fairground equipment.
Buzzer:
Anyone recognise where these two pictures below were taken, Buzzer
As mentioned it is Northampton town centre, all the vehicles seem to have a number placed on them, is it possibly a show or competition with the Guys looking round & holding notepads.
Barratts shoes , Thats a blast from the past, They had a shop on Northumberland St. In Newcastle, I had many a pair of high quality shoes from them in my younger days, Larry.
pyewacket947v:
12 March 1986
Kidderminster
Worcs
Eng
EMD 515J
ex Pickfords Atkinson Viewline 6x4 tractor,
Built 1970.
Seen here in service with Bob Wilsons Fun Fair.
The intruder RAN 481R is a Dodge(Commer) Walk Thru.
Of interest to some,(maybe) the chimney of a carpet factory, for which Kidderminster was once known World Wide,
pokes up above the fairground equipment.
A real favourite of mine, the Viewline, I only drove one for 2 weeks, at K&M when the regular driver was on holiday, but fell in love with it despite it being cold when cold and baking when the sun was on that greenhouse screen. Always struck me that it was, as the forerunner of the Magnum, a chance well and truly missed.
