The 2023 UK Coach Rally got underway on Saturday 1 April amid unexpected good weather in Blackpool, with a solid variety of vehicles on show despite a more muted field of entries than in the recent past as operators reported busy diaries.
Against early predictions of rain, the morning road run was completed in strong sunshine, which remained for some of the driving heats that – despite an instance or two of confusion among drivers around the order of ceremonies – will be completed by the finals ahead of trophy presentations the following day.
Sole historic coach entered was a Volvo B10M with Jonckheere Deauville bodywork by Go Goodwins. It was the first vehicle delivered new to the Manchester operator in 1989 and, having been repurchased some years ago, has been subject to a comprehensive restoration.
As a past flagship of Volvo’s coach line-up, the B10M sat nicely adjacent to the OEM’s current coach range-topper, a 9900 in the fleet of local operator Bretherton’s Gold Line Tours of Thornley-with-Wheatley, in the first day’s driving heats.
While entries from Lancashire are in evidence, others from much further afield are also present. Scotland is represented by Prentice Westwood of West Calder. A Welsh presence is from Adventure Coachlines, DJ Thomas and Williams Coaches, the latter submitting a nearly-new Neoplan Tourliner.
Other long-distance travellers include a number of operators from southern England, while a further notable entry is a Temsa HD12 from South Staffs Coach Hire. It is the first new coach ordered by the Tamworth business and arrived only days before presentation at the 2023 Rally.
Meanwhile, Dews Coaches entered a new Mercedes-Benz Tourismo in a special livery to mark the Cambridgeshire business’s 70th anniversary in 2023. In recognition of that, it took entry number 70; ordinarily, no higher than 55 is used. Meanwhile, a Plaxton Leopard-bodied Volvo B8R from Paul S Winson Coaches commemorates 40 years of that business.
Ongoing heavy demand for hires was cited by some of those operators present as a reason for being unable to enter a coach. That apart, the usual level of pride can be seen among entrants. Multiple new models are also on display in the trade area, with exhibitors there reporting ongoing strong demand for vehicles as the coach industry’s recovery continues.
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