Honours for A.E.C., Plaxton
Page 49
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COMPETING against nearly 70 well-prepared and welldriven coaches, Straws of Leicester, Ltd., swept the board
in the British Coach Rally at Brighton last week-end. Their entry was a 1959 A.E.C. Reliance oil-engined coach with Plaxton bodywork.
The parallel competition for the Passenger Transport . "Coach Driver of the Year" award, decided in the road section and driving tests, was deservedly won by R. W. S. Smith, in a petrol-engined and Plaxton-bodied Bedford, entered by Comfy Coaches, Ltd., Farnham, Surrey.
As in previous years, the event comprised two competitions, a driving section and a concotirs .cEelegance. The former 'began on Saturday morning at Victoria Coach Station, London, from which the coaches followed a set route to Brighton. The run was enlivened by a closely timed regularity section on the Old Brighton Road, where the emphasis was on the
skill of the navigator. — . . .
On Madeira Drive, under grey skies and a chill wind which deterred many spectators, the coaches went through a series of five .tests of acceleration, braking and manceuvrability. Of these, both the kerb-parking test and the wigglewoggle through four pylons and into a parking bay, presented problems which not all drivers were able to solve with the speed called for.. For the most part, however, the standard of handling was perhaps higher than ever.
Sunday morning, brighter by reason of some sunshine and the overnight polishing that had clearly been going on, was devoted to the concours d'elegance. In this the judges had an unenviable task, for both passenger saloons and engine compartments were in showroom condition. Much interest was aroused by the two Continental entries, a Scania Vabis from Holland and a -Setra with Kassbohrer body from Germany, both of which were gigantic by British standards.
Nevertheless, it was a Duple body, on art A.E.C. chassis, entered by York Bros., that won the day. It was finished in dual shades of blue and offered its passengers neat Formica picnic tables and travelling rugs. There was also a hostess whose grooming could not have failed to impress the judges.
After the luncheon interval, the eight highest-placed drivers in the road section did three more eliminating tests. An innovation, this, and a welcome one: it brought coach driving at its best to a hrge crowd and showed that a 30 m.p.h. speed limit is out of place today.
RESULTS Brighton Trophy—" Coach of the Year (operator with highest aggregate marks in road section, driving tests and concours d elegance): Straws of Leicester, Ltd., driver, E. T. Straw, Jr. (1959 A.E.C.-Plaston), Runner-up: Reuk •Reisbureau. Noordwijk, Holland (1959 Scania Vabis-Roset).
"Passenger Transport" Trophy—" Coach Driver of she Year" (driver obtaining highest aggregate in road section and driving trot, and highest marks in extra tests): R. W. S. Smith (19513 Bedford-Plaxton). eirrant, Comfy Coaches Ltd., Farnham.
Cono-rs d'Elegance. Clacton Trophy (highest marks, irrespective of class): York Bros. (Northampton). Ltd, (1959 A.E.C.-Duple). Lister Trophy (tur.ner-up): Glenton Tours, Ltd., London, S,E•14 (1959 Dennis-Plamon).
Class A (under 26 ft. 6 in, overall length): 1—Gem Luxury Coaches, Colmetworth (1959 Bedford-Duple); 2—T. Durant, Alford (1959 Bedford-Olialc)•
Class B (under 35 seats, over 26 t, 6 in. overall): 1—Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., Brighton (1959 C.onuner-Burlinglam); 2—Liss and _District Omnibus Co., Ltd., Bordon (1959 SeddonHarrington). C gton)(36-41 seats, vertical engine): 1—Banstead Coaches, Ltd., Banstead (1959 Redford-Duple); 2— Orange Luxury Coaches, Ltd., London, N.16 (1959 Bed ford-Harrington). •
Class D (36-41 scats, underfloor engine): Sheffield United Touts, Ltd.. Sheffield (1954 A.E.C.Plaxton); 2—Black and White Motorways, Ltd., Cheltenham (1959 A.E.C.-Roe).
Class E (over 41 sears): 1—)'arlanes (Aldershot), Ltd., Aldershot (1959 A.E.C.-Dunk); 2—Venture Transport (Hendon), Ltd., London, N.W.2 (1959 A.E.C.-Duple).
Class F (special touring coaches): 1—Sheffield United Tours; Ltd., Sheffield (1959 A.E.C.-Plaston): 2--Glenton Tours, Ltd.. Landon, S.E.14 (1959 Dennis-Plaxton).
Class G (Continental entries): • 1Beuic Reisbureau en Touring Carbedrijf, Noordwiik an Zee. Holland (1959 Scania Vabis-Roset); 2—German Touring Co., Frankfutt (1959 Setra-Kassboluer). .
Passenger Comfort Award: Straws of Leicester, Ltd., Leicester (1959 A.E.C.-Plaxton).
Coact:builders' Awards: Dunk or Willowbrook body: York Bros. (Northampton), Ltd. (1959 A.E,C.). Harrington: Creamline Motor Services (Barclon), Ltd., Bordon (1958 A.E.C.), Paxton:
Straws a. of Leicester, Itd , Leicester (A.E.C.). Yeates: (lining and Son (Norwich), Ltd. (1958 AEC.).
Best Safely Coach: Pailanes (A/dershot). Ltd., Aldershot (t959 A.E.C1.-Duple).
Fleet Awards: (25-50 vehicles): York Bros. (Northampton), Ltd. (1959 A.E.C.-Dunle). (10-24 vehicles): Glenton Tams, Ltd., London, S.E.14 (1959 Dennis-Pittston). (Under 10 vehicles): Straws of Leicester, 'Ltd. (1959 A.E.C.-Plaxton).
Road Section and Driling Tests (excluding eliminating tests): Class 1 (up to 26 ft. overall, oil): I—T. Durraru, Alford (1959 13edford-Daple): 2--Glenton Tours, Ltd., London, S.E.I4 (1959 Dennis-Paxton). Class 2 (over 26 ft., vertical petrol): 1—Comfy Coaches, Ltd., Farnham (1959 Bedford-Pia/non): 2-1. Clubb and Son Coaches. w ilinittuon. (1958 Bedford-Duple. Class 2 (vertical, oil): 1—Parker's Coaches (Kingsbury), Lid., London, N.W:9 (1959 Bedford.Duple); 2—Beak Reishureau en Touring Carbedriif, Noordwiik (1959 Scania Vabis-Rnset). Class 3 (over 26 ft., underfloor petrol): Not awarded. (Over.26 ft., underfloor oil): 1—Straws of Leicester, Ltd., Leicester (1959 A.E.C.Plasm): 2—Parlanes (Aldershot), Ltd„ Aldershot (1959 A.E.C.-Duple),