A coach fit for the Cup
Page 30
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by Derek Moses
• "1 don't expect to .get any award with this coach", said Mr Ron Bushnell, almost apologetically, in Brighton on Sunday. Boss of Halls Coaches Ltd (Silverline) he was referring to the specially equipped Plaxton-bodied AEC Reliance which is to carry members of the English football team while in Mexico for the World Cup competition. It had been entered in the British Coach Rally at the last moment, after its departure by sea to New Orleans had been delayed by loading problems.
What Mr Bushnell did not know at the time was that his specialist vehicle had hit the jack-pot, to become the 1970 British Coach of the Year. The coach, which seats 40 in its well-appointed saloon, is being operated by Halls' associated company, Valliant Conshaw Ltd, on behalf of the English Football Association.
In fact, it was quite a weekend for surprises at Brighton. The only foreign coach entered in the Rally—a 25-seat Van Hool-bodied Fiat quite apart from winning the obvious prize of Highest Placed Continental -Entry also stole from the British contenders the prize of Highest Standard Coach. Both Van Hoc] and the operating company Thollembeek et Fils, of Brussels, must consider the excursion worthwhile!
Last year a new shape to the Rally was the Moseley Continental coach body, and operators of these Portuguese-built vehicles were very prominent—and successful—at the weekend. A second coach designed for carrying footballers (the third division club of Walsall) was runner-up to the top coach, and represented the Moseley contingent. It was a 40 seat Lisboa on a Leyland Leopard chassis, operated by Walsall Coach and Travel.
A second Moseley Continental coach, mounted on a Ford R192 chassis, and operated by Broadway Coaches Ltd, Wickford, Essex, was a class winner in the Concours, and the Top Coach on the Road, driven by Gordon Tedd and operated by Kingston Coaches. Winterslow, Salisbury, was another Moseley-bodied Ford. Coach Driver of the Year is Herbert Dulake, who drove a 1968 Plaxton-bodied Bedford VAS 29-seater of Banstead Coaches Ltd. And Minicoach Driver of the Year is Brian Dysonfor the fourth consecutive year!
British Coach Rally
1970 Coach of the Year (Brighton Trophy); Valliant Cronshaw Ltd, Plaxton 40-seater on AEC Reliance 12m chassis (driver J. Fulbrook).
Runner-up (Rawlings Trophy); Walsall Coach and Travel, Moseley Continental 40-seater oh Leyland llm chassis (driver Ricky Ions).
Highest Standard Coach: (Clacton Trophy): Thollembeek et Fils, Van Hool 25-seater on Fiat chassis (driver Gervais Buchet).
1970 Coach Driver of the Year (Coaching Journal Trophy): Herbert Dulake (Banstead Coaches Ltd) driving a 1968 Bedford VAS with Plaxton 29-seat body.
Top Coach on the Road (Redex Trophy): Gordon Tedd (Kingston Coaches A. W. Tedd)) driving a 1970 Ford R192 with Moseley Continental 45 seat body.
1970 Minicoach Driver of the Year (Coaching Journal Trophy): Brian Dyson (Dyson's Minicoach Service) driving a Ford Transit with Deansgate 12-seat body.
Driving Test Awards
Coaches 1Brit-30ft: John Thorpe (Linkline Coaches, Bedford/P(axton).
Coaches 30-33ft, front engines: James Bruton ailueways Luxury Coaches, Ford/Plaxton).
Coaches 30-33ft, underfloor engines: Eric Stott (Stott's Tours (Oidhaml Ltd. Bristol/Plaxton).
Coaches exceeding 33ft; Alec Best (Best and Sons Ltd, Ford/Plaxton).
Highest-placed lady driver (any class): Pamela Weller (Weller's Coaches, Ford/Solent).
Concours d'Elegance
minicoaches: Jack Wingrove Ltd (BMCAValker. 12 seats).
Standard coaches, not more than 30 seats, not exceeding 30ft: Thollembeek et Fils (FiatNan Hod, 25 seats).
Standard coaches, 44-45 seats, 32-33ft, (front engines): Broadway Coaches Ltd ;Ford/Moseley Continental, 45 seats).
Standard coaches, maximuM seating, (underfloor or rear engines): Golden Miller Coaches (Bristol/ Plaxton, 53 seats).
Standard coaches, more than 49 seats, 36ft overall (vertical engines): Bicknell's Hire Services (Seddon/Plaxton, 51 seats).
Touring coaches, more than 30 seats: Valliant Cronshaw•Ltd. (AEC/Plaxton, 40 seats).
Executive coaches: Atalanta Coaches (Ford/Plaxton 36 seats).