Plymouth Rally 2008

23rd WESTERN NATIONAL PRESERVATION GROUP

Bus & Vehicle Rally

Sunday 27th July 2008 on Plymouth Hoe

Five vehicles from my fleet of preserved buses and coaches travelled from their base near Kingsbridge to attend the Plymouth Rally.

Four prizes were won.

Special award 6 Best Bus or Coach of the Rally
Special award 7 Overall Show winner any Class

These were awarded to the Dennis Dart



Making her rally debut was the Dennis Dart L401 VCV.

This was new to Western National Ltd entering service on the 1st May 1994. This was the first Dart purchased by the Company when part of the Badgerline Group. Only six carried this livery. Later examples carried the "flags" or "tickets" on the cant rail.

It has a narrow 7ft 6in body for West Country roads and a lower front step to aid boarding. It was also one of the first to have its registration reflect its fleet number abandoning the "bonnet" fleet number plates carried by Western National from its inception in 1929.

Most of its working life was spent at Plymouth Depot. As it was often out stationed she also differs by having two fuel tanks thus increasing her range of operation.



Here she is at Plymouth Bus Station just a month old. 15th June 1994.

Class D Preserved Single Deck Buses post and including 1962.

This was awarded to my Devon General LH6L



This bus has had a very large number of owners both in service and in preservation. Her main claim to fame was that she was used to transport miners to work during the 1984 National Coal strike.



Joining 112 was sister 108. This only had three previous owners ! She has been restored mechanically and is really superb in that department. At present she is awaiting work to replace all the window rubbers before a repaint.

Class E Preserved Coaches

This was awarded to my Bristol SUL4A.



A real favourite this 33 seater ! She is a small bus all round with a 4 cylinder 4 litre engine and a fairly easy crash gear box. Her main attribute is that she will return over 20 mile to the gallon !



Also joining us was the "long one". This is the opposite of the SUL being a full 12m 40 footer 57 seater ! Although a Leyland Leopard she now has a DAF engine.

All were used in service to carry the general public on trips around Plymouth, though the un-restored LH carried just enthusiast friends who all wanted a drive !

My thanks to Adam, Chris, John ,Maurice and Roger for their driving etc.

Roger, of course was, responsible for producing another show winner !