It’s that time of year once again, where the coach industry gets together and shows its good side at the UK Coach Rally. 2017’s is in Blackpool, taking place on 6-7 May where 53 entries will fight for silverware
In a little over two weeks’ time, on the weekend of 6-7 May, the coach industry will descend on Blackpool for the 63rd UK Coach Rally.
Just as in 2016, a bumper crop of entrants is set to showcase the sector at its best.
The two-day Rally will follow an established pattern. 2016’s Friday evening social event, held at Madame Tussauds with 100 guests present, was so successful that this year it is being held at the Sea Life Centre, where a fish and chip supper will be complemented by a cash bar.
Saturday will begin with the customary road run, this time through the Lancashire countryside, and upon return to Blackpool the driving test heats will take place on the seafront.
That evening, a Dinner Dance will be held at the Tower Ballroom before judging and driving test finals take place on Sunday, prior to the all-important announcement of the winners.
For the second year, trophies will be presented by Senior Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell.
Stand by your beds
Judging this year will follow a revised format based on feedback from 2016’s contestants with the promise of speedier processing during Sunday morning’s session. routeone will once again be represented on the judging panel.
“We received positive feedback from the Rally’s first year at Blackpool and we have listened to participants as to how we can improve,” says Organiser Ann Cousins.
“We have streamlined Sunday’s judging. Coaches will be brought up the ramp in front of the trade area and a group of five vehicles will be judged together.
“They will then proceed either to the final rounds of the driving tests or back to their parking spaces in front of Blackpool Tower.”
That, she adds, will give operators a better indication of the time that their coach or coaches will be judged, and also allow them to observe the driving test final rounds.
It will also mean that all judges complete their tasks at the same time.
Loyal supporters
Many established operators are once again supporting the Rally, with entries from all four Home Nations.
Northern Ireland is represented by Classic Coaches of Newry, Co. Down for the second year, while both Scottish and Welsh operators have also entered in respectable numbers.
At the time of writing, the entry field stood at 53, the highest number for several years.
Among them are some very established supporters, including Bibby’s of Ingleton, Coopers Tours, Kenzies Coaches, Stanley Travel and many others, but also part of the line-up will be some new names, including Damory Coaches, Glen Valley Tours and hometown entrant Swann Coach Tours.
Competition will be as tough as ever for the top two prizes. In 2016, Parrys International won the big award – for Coach of the Year – for an unprecedented sixth consecutive time with a Neoplan Starliner.
The Cheslyn Hay, Staffordshire operator returns this year in a bid to retain its silverware with a brand-new Van Hool TX17 Astron.
Driver of the Year in 2016 was Russell Cooper, of Coopers Tours. The Killamarsh, South Yorkshire-based operator heads back to Blackpool in 2017 with two coaches.
Trade support
As ever, the UK Coach Rally would not be possible without the loyal support of the trade and this year there is set to be a fine line-up of dealers and their wares.
2017’s Rally sees the UK debut of the all-new Neoplan Tourliner, which MAN Bus and Coach will exhibit alongside a TGE van that is to form the basis of a minicoach range in due course.
Another coach making its right-hand drive debut is the two-axle Van Hool EX15H, which along with a Temsa Safari HD will be shown by Arriva Bus and Coach.
MAN running units will also be among BASE Coach Sales’ exhibits. One is a Barbi Galileo HD-bodied RR2 chassis, part of a pair of 53-seaters ordered by the Anderson Travel Group of London that will be used on private hire and corporate work.
The other will be a MOBIpeople Explorer-bodied RR8 that will seat 74 and recently delivered to Fusco Coaches of Southport.
Irizar UK once again supports the Rally and will bring along a 12.2m i6 integral.
This 49-seater will have most of the customary Irizar refinements, including an Actia video system, leather driver and courier seats and a host of others, and it will be joined by a DAF hospitality unit where visitors will be able to enjoy a drink or a snack.
The Associated Moseley Group will have three coaches in display.
One will be a Van Hool TX16 Acron tri-axle with 57 seats and it will be complemented by a 43-seat, 10.8m Beulas Midi Cygnus on MAN RR2 chassis and a 12.9m, two-axle VDL Futura FHD2 that will be available for demonstration during the weekend.
Pelican Bus and Coach will show a 35-seat Yutong TC9 with half-leather seats, while Plaxton will make a strong showing with three vehicles and a hospitality trailer.Coaches on show from the Scarborough manufacturer are to be a Cheetah XL midi, a Leopard-bodied Volvo B8R and also a Leopard-bodied B8R.
Scania returns to the Rally and this year it will be showing a 14.1m, 63-seat Interlink Finesse built on the K 410 EB chassis.
Volvo will also be exhibiting in the trade area, with coaches to be confirmed.
Almost ready to go
So with an action-packed weekend in store, the stage is almost set for another UK Coach Rally. Not only will it show the industry at its best, it also give the opportunity to view some of the latest models in the trade area and socialise at both evening events.
All that remains is for Blackpool’s weather to co-operate, and for the judges to do their work and decide who and what are the best in the UK coach industry.
