British Win in Nice Rally
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TUST over 100 coaches from six countries, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, took part in the 11th International Coach Rally at Nice last week.
There was one British entry, a 1958 A.E.C. Reliance, with Plaxton body, entered by Sheffield United Tours, which won the Brighton coach rally last month. It nearly repeated that success, being only a few points behind the overall winner, entered by Voyages Pullman, of Liege.
The Sheffield United Tours coach gained three major prizes. In the section for long-distance coaches it won the premier award, the Grand Prix d'Honneur. The judges took into account concours d'elegance marks, technical qualities and driving precision.
In addition, the two most important rally awards went to S.U.T. These were the medal of the Automobile Club of France for elegance of design, and the Medal of the French Tourist Office, for passenger comfort. The driver of the Sheffield coach, Mr. Marcel Mattison', won the driving competition.
There were three main classes: (I) Urban buses; (2) coaches for mediumdistance scheduled passenger services; (3) long-distance coaches.
Marks were awarded for safety, ventilation and heating, ease of maintenance and repair, appearance, comfort and luggage accommodation.
The technical part of the rally consisted of tests in hill-climbing, acceleration and braking, and manceuvring.
Prizewinners were:—
Grand Prix Hers Concours: Voyages Pullman, Liege (Fiat).
Grand Prix du President: Circuits Transcontinentaux, Paris (Sauter).
Grand Prix D'Excellenee: Transcar, Paris (Chausson).
Grand Prix D'Honneur: Sheffield United Tours, Sheffield (A.E.C. Reliance, Plaxton coachwork).
Prix D'Honneur: Voyages isaria, Munich (Krause Maffei).
Prix SPecIaux: Societe T.P.1%.1., Vichy (Chausson). Voyages Generalcar, Rrussets (Chevrolet). Tramways de l'Indre. Milan (Bernet).
Driving Ted: M. Mattison (Sheffield United Tours).