BIRD'S EYE VIEW
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BY THE HAWK
• The three-pointed star of Mercedes-Benz shone brightly over the not-solittle city of Coventry when senior executives of the UK subsidiary were guests at recent special celebrations there. The familiar Christmas carol was unseasonably alluded to by Hans Tauscher, managing director of Mercedes-Benz (United Kingdom) when he and Tom Kinsey, joint chief executive of Mitchell Cotts, simultaneously Mau
prated the Midlands motor distributor's new £1.6 million passenger car and truck facility at Coventry.
Also being celebrated — at the company's Birmingham headquarters — was the 10th anniversary of Mitchell Cot& M-11 franchise — during which time market penetration of the marque's trucks in the Bir mingham area has risen to 15 per cent with sales of more than million.
Both glittering events had a Victorian theme.
Pictured fully immersed in the spirit of the occasion are (left to right): David Thomas, director opera tions M-B (UK) in unusually jovial mood; Maureen Waterhouse, advertising and promotions manager, Mitchell Cotts Motor Vehicles; Hans Tauscher; and Gerald Annesley, managing director of the vehicle distributor. • Every driver taking a bus or coach to Australia's Dream. world Resort on the Gold Coast is now entitled to use a coach captains' lounge, sponsored by bus and coach builde Astral Group. Facilities incluch an air-conditioned lounge, library, kitchen, tea and coffec facilities, free soft refreshment bar and colour TV.
• The fate of FATE (Federation of Automatic Transmis sion Engineers) appears ominous. Its annual general meeting expressed the need for a full-time secretary with technical understanding able tc collate and distribute information on the increasingly compli cated transmissions now available.
However, when it came to funding the proposal, the membership was positively reluctant to increase the subscription rate. Y'all jus mosey on down to uriningdale an' have yerelves a real good time, 'hear. This year's Lynwood pectacular, held in the rounds of the Motor and :ycle Trades Benevolent 'und's home near Ascot on aturday, June 28, is to have a Vild West Theme.
Star attraction is Buffalo ■ illy Wild and Susan, a knifeirowing, lassooing, whipracking act, which should ave the audience holding its reath.
As ever, a highlight of the vent will be the Lynwood 'intage Rally and Concours 'Elegance in which more than 0 vintage motorcycles, cars nd conunercials will be taking art. Anyone who owns a suitble vehicle is invited to join All proceeds from the specicular will be used for facilies for the 170 disabled and tired men and women who live at Lynwood, the largest of BEN's three homes. Admission is 30p for adults and free for children and old-age pensioners. Parking is free and the gates open at 1.30pm.
• Six thousand children travelled to St James's Park on Monday to sing "Happy Birthday" to the Queen and they arrived thanks to a public transport get-together between National Bus, London Buses (and Underground), British Rail and even Thames Water Authority — a boat from Greenwich for some of the eight to 13-year-olds.
St John's College School, Cambridge, had already travelled to London by bus and recorded The Queen's Birthday Song for EMI; Cambus driver Christopher Evans gets a credit on the sleeve.
That must be a record.