• Double for Altrincham
Page 36
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operator by Ashley Taylor
• Out of an entry of 48 for last weekend's National Coach Rally, the associated companies of Pleasureways and Jacksons, of Altrincham, secured both the NationalCoach of 1970 title and the position of runner-up; both vehicles were Plaxton-bodied Fords. Sydney Rose (Claribel Coaches, Birmingham), a coach driver of 17 years' experience, repeated his 1969 success at the wheel of a Duple-bodied Ford R226, becoming National Coach Driver of 1970. The event, the 10th in the series, was organized by the Wigan and District Excursion and Tour Operators Association.
A 70-mile road circuit, starting from Wigan and finishing at Blackpool on Saturday morning, proved a useful test of navigation and time-keeping from which A. J. Morriss (Warburton Brothers (Bury) Ltd, Ford/Duple, 45-seater) emerged as leader. He and T. Fleming (C. and H. Coaches, Fleetwood, Bedford/Duple, 53-seater) were the only competitors to complete the course without loss of marks.
In the afternoon all took part in five searching driving tests on Blackpool's Middle Walk Promenade. As was the case last year, the leaders here were two minicoach men. They were B. Dyson (Brian Dyson, Redditch, Ford/Deansgate 12seater), the 1969 class winner, who this time had a penalty of 123 marks, and S. A. V. Terry (Lancer Coaches, London, Ford/ Deansgate 12-seater) 127.8 marks, who ultimately proved this year's class leader. The regulations, however, do not permit mini coaches to qualify for the main title so they could progress no further.
The concours d'elegance on Sunday morning usually attracts substantial public interest but from the opening of the proceedings until the conclusion of the prize presentation a cold rain lashed down and a blustery wind drove spectators to shelter. This year the Coach of the Year award was decided on the concours markings and judging was a lengthy procedure.
Six drivers to qualify for the final three tests on Sunday afternoon were A. Best (Best and Sons Ltd, Ford/Plaxton 52-seater); A. Dickens (Blue Line Travel, Bedford/ Moseley 45-seater); P. Bostock (E. J. Bostock and Sons, Bedford/Plaxton 53-seater) who was the 1968 Coach Driver of the Year; R. McCarthy (Fred Lomas, Bedford/Pla.xton 41-seater); A. J. Morriss; and Sydney Rose.
In the manoeuvrability test where the coaches had to accelerate along one lane beside a marked island, reverse down the opposite lane and again move forward along the first lane, Rose put up a fast performance, all the while managing to give maximum clearance to the pylons. McCarthy achieved a smooth showing although less spectacular, while Dickens was another to make an outstandingly good effort.