1982

IMLEC 1982 was hosted by Leyland SME for the first time, it would turn out to be the first of many IMLECs held in the north-west. Percy Wood was back with his J39, hoping to make it three IMLEC wins in a row and four in total. But this time out it was Roy Amsbury's President that took the title. Laurie Lawrence explains how:

"The run immediately before John Hartup's, was the one that set Melvyn Zabrocki down into second place after almost 24 hours. President is being described in Model Engineer now and I think Roy Amsbury is well enough known to readers for them to know his workmanship is first class and, as a previous Competitor in I.M.L.E.C., three times I think, a canny hand with the regulator. Those readers who make the attempt to build this G.W.R. Compound Atlantic, will find all the "trimmings". President has simpling valves (described in the programme as "simplifying" valves; oh dear they do complicate things a bit!) low pressure regulator, vacuum brakes, adjustable blast nozzle. And a scale outline of one of the world's finest boilers, the Great Western Standard No. 1. There was some intermittent very light rain, enough to dampen the rails at times and the Atlantic made a slippery start, and slipped a good deal early in the run; the eight adults on the train would be less than a good load in dry conditions, but was enough here. It took Roy about 10 minutes to get "settled down" and, after that, President rolled along steadily at between 8.5 to 9 m.p.h. I thought
Roy drove almost entirely on the reverser once he had got the regulator open at just the right amount to prevent slipping; just before the foot of the bank he "dropped another notch or two", then "linked up" through the station. A nice trouble free run and a pleasure to watch as the applause at the end indicated."