A.E.C. and Bedford Share Brighton Honours
Page 48
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I' an 84-mile road section
beginning at Croydon Airport, followed by a series of six tests on the Madeira Drive, Brighton, and a concours d'elegance, the fourth British Coach Rally was won last week-end by an A.E.C. Reliance, with Plaxton coachwork, entered by Sheffield United Tours, Ltd., Sheffield, 2.
The award for the best performance in the road section and the tests (" The Coach Driver of the Year ") was won by G. Taylor, entered by W. Davis and Sons (Sevenoaks), Ltd., with a Duple-bodied Bedford SEG.
Nearly 60 coaches left Croydon last Saturday morning, making their way at two-minute intervals to Brighton via Poundgate, Cowfold and •the Devil's Dyke. The route presented no particular difficulties (it is used regularly by local double-deckers), but at an average speed of 24 m.p.h. there was little time for errors of navigation. One or two coaches were equipped with speed and distance calculators to deal with the secret regularity section in the highest tradition of the Monte-Carlo Rally.
The afternoon tests at Brighton were run off with commendable dispatch in spite of a chilling sea mist which daunted spectators more than the drivers.
Acceleration and braking, braking and reversing and quick-starting tests presented no great problems (although it was clear that some vehicles were less handy for the stout driver in a burry) Nor did the stop-and-restart test on the hill at the end of Madeira Drive cause any trouble: indeed, the start line might have been placed a little higher up to increase the difficulty.
Undoubtedly the trickiest of the tests was the third, in which drivers were required to park against the near-side kerb after a short reversing movement. The fact that the manceuvre had to be n14 completed in three movements and within 90 sec. gave rise to some diverting exhibitions of examination nerves and the few really clean and rapid performances were greeted with acclamation.
Demonstrations which made it look easy came from G. Taylor, the ultimate test winner, G. R. Bell (Bedford C4Z), C. B. Kenzie (Bedford SB3) and W. Johnson, with a venerable A.E.C. Regal TV. The Dutch expert, S. Paszotta, with a beautifully equipped Leyland Worldmaster with Verheul coachwork (the only entry with left-hand steering) surprisingly found the whole thing more difficult than it appeared. The wiggle-woggle test was a somewhat breathless performance calling for timely application of all the available lock between conical pylons. In spite of the cramped quarters available there were remarkably few pylons dislodged and the long-wheelbase coaches were particularly impressive.
The concours. d'elegance was held on Sunday in brilliant sunshine which seemed to pay suitable tribute to the work which had clearly been done on the coaches overnight. The large entry was faultlessly presented and coachwork, chassis and engines were in showroom condition.