Call Sign October 2002 - Page 5 - Howard Makes It a Win Double For Dial-a-Cab at Taxi Driver Of the Year Show

Dunlop's David Sargeant presents Howard Kott with his second successive taxi driver of the year win.
In the July issue of this magazine, Howard Kott (B74) told Call Sign readers:
"They'll have to be good to take my crown! It took me a long time to win it and I'll do everything I can to retain the title. I enjoy being the Taxi Driver of the Year...!"
   On Sunday September 1 at Olympia, Howard showed that he was as good as his word when he took the Taxi Driver of the Year title for a second consecutive year beating off the threat from 23 other finalists.
   "The opposition was stiff," Howard told us after the event, "and to be honest, at one point I really didn't think I was going to win, but I'm delighted that I have. It's a great feeling."
No one has ever won the title on three consecutive occasions, so will Howard go for it?
   "It's a bit early to say for sure, but I'm sorely tempted to try and get my name into the record books."
   Howard won Ł2,000 and the Winners Cup, Ł350 as the highest place DaC driver and a set of Dunlop tyres from the event sponsors Dunlop.
   In addition to Howard, DaC had another two drivers in the top 10 with Andy Daniels (A2) taking 5th place and David Ammar in 10th.
   Other than the competition itself, the outstanding hit of the show was undoubtedly the Dial-a-Cab stand where three representatives from Element - the on-site therapy specialists - were showing visitors how to cope with the types
of stress that taxi drivers undoubtedly suffer from. This involved a 10-minute expert massage of the

HOWARD MAKES IT A WIN DOUBLE FOR DIAL-A-CAB AT THE TAXI DRIVER OF THE YEAR SHOW

head, neck and shoulders that left the participants feeling wonderful. Not surprisingly, there was an
ongoing queue at our stand with a wait of around 1.5 hours. But the overall view was that the wait was worth it.
   One of Element's girls, Ros Barresi, explained how she felt "knots" caused by over-contracting muscles in many of the drivers present...
   "That isn't surprising considering the tension driving a taxi puts you under," she told Call Sign, "once they cannot contract any more, they produce a waste product called lactic acid which causes a clicking and crunching sensation inside your back - noticeable when it is being massaged. The massage then directs all the body toxins out through the lymphatic system."
Ros went on to add: "Human energy creates heat and just by touching you can pass on heat which then helps to relax muscles. When I touch someone's neck and massage it, you can actually feel the tension leaving them."
Element do on-site at the office, clinic or at your home therapies. You can see their website at www.element-on-site.com or call them on 0709 202 2021.
   Last Word: The Taxi Driver of the Year Charity Chairman, Russell Poluck (T55) had a shock when coming out of the hall. His Metrocab had been clamped! But Russell's frown turned to a smile when he discovered that it had been a prank by Olympia's Events Manager!

Taxi Driver of the Year 2002 Results
WINNER: Howard Kott
2nd, Carlos Oliveira: 3rd, Mark Morris:
4th, Tony Brill:
Jnt 5. Andy Daniels (A2):
Jnt 5th, Steve Thompson: 7th, Noel Costello: 8th, Terry James: 9th, Chris Everett:
10. David Ammar (L75)

All Comers Cup:
1. Ian Frost (Liverpool) 2. Michael Sambrook (Dartford) 3. Remi Kemperman (Holland)