Plaxton Rally 2019
Plaxton’s Scarborough plant hosted a rally of coaches past and present last week, and capped a fantastic day with a cavalcade along the seafront and an awards evening.
Photos: David Cole/Tony Greaves
Plaxton celebrated a heritage of coachbuilding last week with a coach rally which drew 42 entries and a crowd of coach operators to its Scarborough plant.
Taking advantage of the annual summer shutdown, ADL’s Plaxton yard filled with coaches old and new, together with invited visitors who not only had a chance to reminisce but to tour the factory. The afternoon ended with a cavalcade along Marine Drive, mixing it with the summer tourists.
The event, which raised money for the RNLI and for St Catherine’s Hospice, concluded with an award ceremony at Scarborough’s seafront Spa. The weather held to give everyone a lovely evening on the Spa’s sun terrace, and a pie-and-peas supper before a show band got everyone to their feet until the wee hours.
Trophy winners were topped by Johnson Brothers of Worksop, adjudged Best in Show, while the People’s Choice voted by participants was Acklams’ Elitei team coach. Winners were:
- Pre-1964: Johnson Brothers, 1963 Panorama VAL
- 1965–1979: Kenzies Coaches, 1965 Panorama VAL
- 1980–1991: Sharpes of Nottingham, 1981 Supreme IV
- 1992–2010: Henry Cooper Coaches, 1996 Excalibur
- 2011–Present day: Country Lion, 2017 Elite
- People’s Choice 9voted by visitors): Acklams Coaches, 2017 Elitei team coach
- Best in Show: Johnson Brothers, 1963 Panorama VAL
All of the entrants
| Entry | Operator | Model | Year | Chassis | Engine | Seats | Length |
| 2011 – PRESENT | 2011 – Present | ||||||
| 1 | Repton Coaches | Leopard | 2019 | Volvo B8 | Volvo | 53 | 12.2m |
| 2 | A.C. Morse LTD | Panther | 2019 | Plaxton | Volvo B8 | 55 | 13m |
| 3 | Star Coaches of Batley | Plaxton Leopard | 2018 | Volvo | Volvo B | 72 | 13.2m |
| 4 | Country Lion Northampton | Plaxton Elite | 2017 | Vovlo BIIR | Volvo | 36 | 14m |
| 5 | L L Travel | Plaxton | 2017 | Volvo B8R | Volvo | 57/59 | 12.8m |
| 6 | Acklam Buses | Plaxton Elite 1 | 2017 | Volvo | Volvo B11R | 42 | 13.8m |
| 7 | ADL Used | Plaxton Panther | 2016 | Volvo | Volvo B11R | 48 | 12.8m |
| 8 | East Yorkshire Coaches | Plaxton Panther | 2016 | Volvo | Volvo B11R | 53 | |
| 9 | ADL Used | Plaxton Elite | 2015 | Volvo | Volvo B9R | 51 | 12.6m |
| 10 | Stanley Travel | Elite I | 2014 | Volvo | B11R | 75 | 15m |
| 11 | Ryan -Perry’s Travel | Plaxton Cheetah 2 | 2014 | Mercedes-Benz | Mercedes-Benz | 29 | 8.6m |
| 12 | Prospect Coaches | Leopard | 2013 | Volvo | Volvo B8R | 57 | 12.8m |
| 13 | Howard Snaith | Plaxton Panther 2 | 2012 | Volvo | Volvo | 57 | 12.9m |
| 14 | Lothian | Plaxton Panther | 2019 | ||||
| 1992 – 2010 CATEGRORY | 1992 – 2010 | ||||||
| 15 | W.H. Fowler and Sons Ltd | Plaxton Paragon | 2010 | Volvo | B12M | 53 | 12.8m |
| 16 | Yorkshire Pullman | Plaxton Premier 3500 | 2000 | Volvo B10M | Volvo | 53 | 12m |
| 17 | Stagecoach | Plaxton Premiere | 2000 | Volvo B10M | B10M | 48 | 12m |
| 18 | Henry Cooper | Excallibur | 1996 | Volvo | B12 | 49 | 12m |
| 1980 – 1991 CATEGORY | 1980 – 1991 | ||||||
| 19 | Webbs | Paramount 3500 MK3 | 1991 | Mercedes-Benz 0303 | Mercedes | 49 | 12m |
| 20 | Marshalls of Sutton on Trent | Plaxton Paramount | 1985 | Bedford | Bedford | 53 | 11m |
| 21 | Yorkshire Pullman | Plaxton Paramount 1-3200 | 1985 | Ford R1115 | Ford | 53 | 11m |
| 22 | West Riding Automobile Company Ltd | Paramount MK11 3200 Express | 1985 | Leyland Tiger 245 | Leyland TL11 | 46 | 12m |
| 23 | Bradshaw Travel | Supreme 6 | 1983 | Leyland | TL11 Leyland | 53 | 12m |
| 24 | Peelings Coaches | Supreme | 1982 | Volvo 1310M | Volvo | 57 | |
| 25 | Sharpes of Nottingham | Plaxton Supreme MK IV | 1981 | Volvo B58 | Volvo | 45 | 12m |
| 26 | Henshaws Executive Travel LTD | Supreme 5 | 1981 | Volvo B10M | Volvo | 57 | 12m |
| 27 | Yorkshire Pullman | Plaxton Supreme IV | 1981 | Volvo B58 | Volvo | 38 | 11m |
| 28 | Johnson Bros Tours (Redfern Travel) | Single Deck | 1981 | Volvo | Volvo | 53 | 11m |
| 29 | Neil Millington – Classic Connections | Supreme 1V | 1980 | Bristol LHS | Leyland 401 | 29 | 9m |
| 1965-1979 CATEGORY | 1965 – 1979 | ||||||
| 31 | Bibby’s of Ingleton | Supreme /Seddon | 1976 | Gardner | Seddon | 57 | 12m |
| 32 | Coopers Tours Limited | Supreme III | 1976 | AEC Reliance | AEC 505 | 34 | 10.3m |
| 33 | Thornes Independent Ltd | Elite Express III | 1974 | AEC Reliance | AEC 505 | 45 | 10m |
| 34 | Sharpes of Nottingham | Plaxton Panorama Elite III | 1973 | AEC Reliance | AEC | 51 | 11m |
| 35 | Yorkshire Pullman | Plaxton Panorama | 1973 | Bedford | SB5 | 41 | ? |
| 36 | GH Watts Coaches | Plaxton Panorama Elite II | 1971 | Seddon Pennine 4 | Perkins V8 | 53 | 11m |
| 37 | Neil Millington – Classic Connections | Elite/ Leyland Leopard | 1970 | Leyland | Leyland | 41 | 11m |
| 38 | Andrews of Tideswell | Panorama 1 | 1966 | AEC Reliance | AEC AH590 | 44 | 11m |
| 39 | Kenzies Coaches LTD | Panorama | 1965 | Bedford Val 14 | Leyland | 52 | 11m |
| PRE-1964 CATEGORY | Pre-1964 | ||||||
| 40 | Johnson Bros Tours (Redfern Travel) | Single Deck | 1963 | Bedford | Leyland | 52 | 11m |
| 41 | Neil Millington – Classic Connections | Consort | 1958 | AEC Reliance | AEC | 41 | 10m |
| 42 | Keith Kitching | Plaxton Venturer | 1952 | Austin | 14 |