Continent wins National Coach Hy
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by Tony O'TOOLE
THE National Coach Rally, 12th in series organized by the Wigan and Disn Excursion and Tours Operators' Assoc tion, was held at Blackpool last week( and proved to be one of the greal successes in recent years.
Starting at 9am on Saturday with 46-mile rally route covering motorways minor roads between Wigan and Blackpc the event ran right to schedule, finish with the presentation of moire than 30 ci and trophies on Sunday afternoon. Bri sunshine throughout Sunday and an en of 50 immaculately presented coaches, majority of them built in 1972, attracted largest number of spectators ever.
For the first time in its history the rat Coach of the Year award was won b: Continental-built vehicle A \ Hool-bodied AEC 28-seater entered by and Son's (Coaches) Ltd, of Ealing.
Bearing an attractive livery of light ; dark blue and contrasting white, the co is fitted with such luxuries as a bedroi cocktail bar, toilet, internal teleph system, refrigeration and air-conditior systems. Its driver, Brian Best, was ant the few entrants to take his coach, wl was also first in its Concours d'elega class, through the mani6euvring t( without any loss of points, a feat wl gained him second position in his drii section.
His brother Alec Best, finalist and c winner, drove a 46-seater by Eastern Co Works on an AEC chassis with his ul determination and skill to gain sec overall position, only a few points be! Timothy Michael Rees — the Nati( coach driver of 1972.
Driving a 45-seater Bedford-Plaxton Hill's of Tredegar Ltd, Mr Rees, who last year recorded runner-up in his dri. section, took the title on his second entr the rally.
Minutes before the final run-off, a qu: confident Mr Rees told me he intendel drive in his normal fashion; he added felt the rally had been much better • anized than in previous years.
Newcomer to the rally, John Lingings, ving a Moseley Continental for Bolton achways and Travel, said that although would be carrying no trophies back to lion he had enjoyed the rally and felt it • been well arranged. However, he did k there could be some minor alterations. or instance," said Mr Lingings, whose ch had sustained slight damage when mg a marker, "these metal drums used markers could be replaced by straw bales ut down the risk of damage to vehicles." ean Stratton, also a newcomer, fared 11 in the rally despite having only two ars' psv experience. Driving a 45-seater txton for Stratton's Coaches, Miss .atton had made the long journey from nderland to Blackpool to become iner-up in the ladies' section. "I think that has a much better chance in the rally more times one enters," she remarked. Another driver with a helpful comment to ke was Thomas Jenkinson, driving a 32ft . Bedford Duple on behalf of George
ter of Bury. believe more time should spent organizing the rally so that we
ild be given earlier notice two weeks' :paration time is not nearly enough."
Driver Derek Woodward, who entered a 72 Moseley Continental for J. Woodward Son, Oldham, commented: "I think the y is very fair but I would prefer it if a ger road route was to be introduced." klthough John Reed, a driver with OK ,tor Services of Bishop Auckland, had er taken part in the Blackpool rally ore, he had entered in the past the weastic rally and it was perhaps this erience which helped Mr Reed to reach finals and receive an award as a class
runner-up. Mr Reed, who drove a Bedford Plaxton, said he felt it better to drive normally and not to try too hard as this could be more of a hindrance in some cases.
Three times driving award winner, William Bostock of E.. J. Bostock and Sons, Congleton, told me: "I have taken part in about ten of these rallies, and each year I have noticed little improvement What I would like to see" he added, "would be more entries." Mr Bostock drove a new 52-seater Bedford Plaxton.
A driver who agreed with this was Brian Best who felt that the greater the number of competitors, the more coveted the award. "After all.he said, "the more competitors there arc the better you feel about winning any of these awards."
The driver for Harris Super Coaches Ltd of Brumsgrove, Derek Hill, said that he felt there was "too much wasted time involved".
"This business of hanging around waiting for tests is ridiculous," said Mr Hill. "It would be much more desirable if two or three coaches were tested at once."
Mr Alec Best suggested that driving tests and manoeuvring tests should be counted separately. "If you get landed with a bad navigator he can put you right out of the rally, even though your driving may be perfect." Asked before the finals if he thought he stood a good chance Alec, who has participated in many of the rallies and has never yet left empty-handed, replied: "I hope I win. I've been knocking on the door long enough."
The oldest coach to be entered in the rally was a 1965 Bedford-Duple 41-seater operated by Huby Coaches of Goole which despite its age was immaculately turned out and won the best second-hand vehicle award.