VAN HOOL SCORES AGAIN AT BLACKPOOL
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13th National Coach Rally, reported by Tony O'Toole
Pictures by Harry Roberts FOR the second year in succession the National Coach Rally — held at Blackpool last Sunday — has been won by a Van Hool bodied vehicle. The 40-seater executive coach body, mounted on a Ford R1114 chassis was entered by Winsway Ltd of Accrington, Lancs — runner-up last year.
Even before the concours d'elegance was staged many spectators and operators alike were speculating that the vehicle would prove a winner. Shown at both the Brussels and Earls Court shows, the Winsway vehicle seemed to be challenged by only six or seven other entries.
However, Winsway's managing director, Mr Peter Hicks, who drove the coach, was not so confident and said that he had tried not to be too enthusiastic about chances of success because rally results tended to be totally unpredictable.
Immaculately turned out, and bearing an attractive livery of black and cream, the winning coach — like last year's champion, a Van Hool/AEC — was fitted with many of the luxury fittings now almost obligatory in executive coaches. These items include reclining seats, tinted windows with heavy curtaining, and a solid "lift-up" roof vent — as well as the usual extras such as cocktail bar, toilet, and eight-track stereo and pa system.
Winning coach driver of 1973, was Patrick Bellew of Overtown, Lanarks, who was placed eighth when he entered the rally for the first time last year. He drove an I 1m Willowbrook-bodied Bedford YRT on behalf of Hutchinson's Coaches (Overtown) Ltd. He took the three deciding tests with such a skill and professionalism that he was duly awarded the title, accompanying trophies and a £25 award. After hearing the judges' decision, Mr Bellew told me: "I knew I had done well when I went through the last three manoeuvring tests. I hope to do as well in the Brighton Rally."
First-timer in the rally, Mr Donald Belgin, who entered with a 45-seat Duple-bodied Bedford YRQ for SELNEC PTE, also gave a first-class performance by making his way into the final tests. Although he passed through the finals in the fastest time, Mr Belgin unfortunately forfeited his chances when, on the last test he skidded to a halt, striking one of the marker drums and losing valuable points.
But Mr Belgin did not return empty handed to his home town of Bury, Lanes, for besides being placed overall winner of his class he also received the Humphrey Thompson trophy presented to the driver obtaining the highest aggregate marks in the rally section and driving tests.
As Mr Belgin, who has been driving psv for 26 years, is mainly employed as a bus driver, many of the other competitors felt that he was unfairly participating in the rally. Mr W. Bearshaw, secretary of the rally said this was not the case as Mr Belgin was also employed by SELNEC as a coach driver in his own right.
Mr Peter Bostock, a finalist driving a Leyland/Plaxton 52-seater for E. J. Bostock and Sons of Congleton, Cheshire, brought a touch of drama to the event when he refused to accept a number of trophies. He felt that he and his coach had been unfairly penalized. A spokesman for the organizers said that the driver's complaints and grievances could not be taken into consideration as the rally rules clearly stated that any protests had to be made in writing within one hour of term ination of the relevant section. In the case of E. J. Rostock and Sons this had not been done.
In all, 53 coaches took part in the rally which started out from Springfield Park Athletic Club, Wigan, on Saturday morning. A motorway and road rally route led to Blackpool where the driving tests, concours d'elegance and final run-offs were held. Running exactly to schedule, the rally ended at 5 pm when the Lord Mayor of Blackpool, Cllr Edmund E. Wynne, presented drivers with more than 40 cups and trophies.
This Sunday's British Coach Rally at Brighton will be fully reported in next Friday's CM.