AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

First British Coach Rally Draws Big Crowds

22nd April 1955, Page 44
22nd April 1955
Page 44
Page 44, 22nd April 1955 — First British Coach Rally Draws Big Crowds
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

IN a highly competitive field at Britain's first coach rally at Clactonon-Sea last Sunday, a Roe Dalesman 37-seat body on an A.E.C. Reliance chassis won the premier award in the concours d'eleganee. The coach was operated by Essex County Coaches, Ltd., London, E.15.

Mr. R. Best, of Messrs. R. Best and Sons, London. N.W.10, driving a Sentinel-Whitson 40-seater, returned the best performance in the road section • and driving tests.

A total of 63 operators entered 81 vehicles in both sections of the event. Many of the operators came from London and the HOIlle and Eastern Counties, but there were some from as far afield as Manchester. Sheffield, Isle of Wight, Huddersfield, Mexborough, Keighley and Cornwall.

Some 2,000 passengers were carried to Clacton in the competing coaches.

Coaches left the four starting controls, each a distance of 70-80 miles from Clacton, at regular intervals between 8 a_m. and 9 a.m. on Sunday. Forty-seven vehicles started from London, 21 from Cambridge, seven from Bedford and six from Norwich.

There were two intermediate control points and a "comfort stop" en route. the final control being in Clacton. An average speed of 22 m.p.h. was laid down, and each coach began with a bonus of I00 marks, marks being deducted at control points if they were early or late.

On arrival in the town, the coaches were put through three driving tests on the Marine Parade East. The first test required vehicles to avoid a line drawn across half the width of the road. and to stop with the near-side front wheel in a " Say lying at an angle beyond the line. Manceuvring to get into the bay was not permitted.

al0 In the acceleration and braking tests, all four wheels of a coach had to cross a line. Then it had to reverse under the same conditions, and move forward and stop astride another line.

Manceuvrability and parking Were tested by requiring drivers to take their vehicles between four pylons spaced at equal distances along the centre of the road, reverse into a side road beyond the last pylon, and then drive forward into the main road, stopping astride another line.

These tests were conducted on a time basis. time being added for fouling pylons and markers, and otherwise not completing the tests in the prescribed manner.

Most of the drivers came out well in the tests, although a number failed in the manteuvrability section.

To give all competitors an equal chance in the concours d'elegance, the coaches were ',laced in a sealed paddock until 3 p.m., when cleaning began. Soon after 4.15 p.m., a gleaming and colourful array of coaches lined both sides of the Marine Parade, and under the interested gaze of thousands of spectators who braved the biting east wind, the panel of judges inspected the cream of the products of Britain's coaehbuilders.

The panel included Mr. Kenneth Horne, Mr. S. E. Clark, chief executhe of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Mr. H. J. Ferguson, editor of Passenger Transport, Mr. E. N. Osborne and Mr. J. Graeme Bruce, both of the Omnibus Society, Mr. J. F. Speed, associate editor of Coaching Journal, and Mr. Raymond Baxter, of the B.B.C.

A 1950 bonneted Bedford-Duple Vista 29-seater took first place in Class A (seating capacity not exceeding 30). Operated by Messrs. Biss Brothers. Waltham Cross. it had seen more than 200.000 miles in service.

The rally was sponsored by Passenger Transport, and organized by the East Anglian Motor Club.

CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE Premier Award A.E.C.-Roc Dalcsman 37-seater (Essex County Coaches. Ltd.).

Second Highest Marts Bristol-E.C.W. 32-scatcr (Eastern Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd.).

Class A (Seating Capita; Not Exceeding 30)

L—Bedford-Duple Vista 29-seater (Hiss Bros., W.altham Cross). 2.—Bcdford-Strachans 24-seater (Motorways lOverseasi. Lid.).

Class B (31 to 37 Seats) 1.—A.E.C.-Wcymann Fanfnre 37-seater (Robin hood [Coaches', Ltd.). 2.-11cdford-Pliotton Venturer 31-seater (Frames Tours. Ltd.).

Chris C (More than 37 Seals) 1.—A.E.C.-Duplc Elizabethan 41-seater

(Shotters, id., I.o.W.). 2.—A.E.C.-Burling ha In Seagull 41-,cater (Anderton's Tours, Litl.. Kcigh:c)).

ROAD SECTION AND TESTS Best Performance. Irrespedive of Class R. Rest. Sentinel-Whitson 40-scatcr (Best and Sons London, N.W,t0).

Sons, Performance in Each (lass.-Claw A

14. Russel!, Bedford-Duple Super Vega 25-scater (Blue Ftiband Tours, Ltd.).

Class B 1.—C, Kenzie, Bedford-Duple Vega 35-seater Ilk C. Keuzic. Shelved), Royston).Taylor. Bedford-Duple Vega 36-seater (Oliver ha) or 'Cr/attest. Ltd.. Caterham). 3.—A. J. Cater, Bedford-Burlingham Seagull 36-seater (A. J. Cater. Wisbech). Class C 1.—S. 14, Coe. Bedford-Dunk Vega 3S-scale (Nicholls 1Clarcl. Ltd., Haucrhill). Meadows. A.E.C.-Burlingham Seagull 41-seater (J. M. Coaches. Ltd., London. N.7). 3.—A.

Daintr). Royal Rmatist 41-scaler (Birch Bros. iTransportl, Ltd.).


comments powered by Disqus