Ipswich Bus Rally 9/4/2017

[Felly Magic]

Today was the Ipswich Bus Rally, poor turnout thanks to it clashing with the big bash at Brooklands. Had a ride on a rare ultralow Bristol VR series 2, but called it a draw as not much to see and the leg issue was showing it's self badly. Good weather though for a change. Here's a few tasters of what was there. More later

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Partridge]

Stop teasing me and show some of the '70s coaches!

 

I love '70s coaches...I mean, who wouldn't!?

[Felly Magic]

There were just 2 1970s/80s coaches there, both Plaxtons, a Panorama Leyland leopard with a Supreme front end, and a very late Supreme 5 Volvo B10M

 

 

 

[Felly Magic]

Not only were there 2 ultra rare Crossley double deckers in attendance, there was this even rarer Dennis Lancet! Not bad for a small rally

 

[paulscavalier]

Cracking pictures. Would have loved to have been able to go

[Felly Magic]

Thanks Paul, more to come once I've edited them, plus a vid clip of a ride on the Oxford Bristol VR, which sounded like the mitre box in the drivetrain was having a grumble, a weak spot on VRs

[RoadworkUK]

Aww, bugger. I didn't know this was on.

 

I'd have loved to travel one either of those Plaxtons. I love coaches with acres of glossy printed mahogany inside. And a big analogue clock with a stylised castle on it.

[Felly Magic]

I don't think it was well publicised to be honest, the Peelings Plaxton did a run I think, not sure the Southdown one did though

[Dick Cheeseburger]

I'm slowly turning into a classic bus perve. Looking at that photos makes me wonder how much time and effort it takes to get a vee-hicle of that size gleaming ready for showing. I grumble when I need to wash the car!

[RoadworkUK]

It's a little eye opening that the Supremes and Dominants that dominated my school bus route when I started secondary school would only have been around ten years old at the time.

[Junkman]

I'm slowly turning into a classic bus perve. Looking at that photos makes me wonder how much time and effort it takes to get a vee-hicle of that size gleaming ready for showing. I grumble when I need to wash the car!

 

I'd have other nightmares, such as:

 

How much is a respray?

Ever wondered how much retrimming 63 seats costs?

How much real estate is required to keep one?

 

Here is a breakdown of the estimated restoration cost of the last remaining Gay Hostess:

 

https://www.gayhostess.co.uk/7.html

 

And if I'm applying my time honed project management skills, that's only half of what it will actually cost.

[Felly Magic]

I remember when Johnson's of Hodthorpe had a near derelict Bedford VAL restored by Cobus of Carnaby, it left little change from £300,000, and an old mate spunked the thick end of £50k on the first production Leyland Lynx, and it still wasn't right. Bus preservation is a very expensive hobby when you look at total restorations, and you really do need to be mechanically minded, a lot of former preserved buses have ended up scrapped because they were bought by mechanically inept people who didn't know the true cost involved, so when a minor fault developed, instead of trying to repair it, they just phoned the scrapman

[83C]

Was the Lynx C920 FMP? It seems to have disappeared off the radar at the moment, has Adam still got it?

 

Storage is the biggest issue of all with buses and other large shite. Find secure storage and it's half the battle, even better if its undercover.

 

Fortunately my two came as working machines - I certainly haven't the funds to do a major resto on an old wood-framed vehicle like a Plaxton Supreme.

[Felly Magic]

Indeed it was, not sure if Adam still has it, last time I heard he was separated and he now has a mk1 Austin Metro. He did get totally disillusioned with the whole bus preservation & rallies quite a while back, he does occasionally drive Brad McMullen's Black Prince Merc Prisma though.  

[83C]

To be honest it's a tough old game. I don't venture out much with mine pretty much because of half the enthusiasts out there.

 

Take for example the Exeter Running Day last month - I carried over 150 people all in, not a single one stuck their hands in their pockets to donate anything towards 1725's upkeep. The majority didn't even want to talk, yet online there have been people wanking off over the fact it was there. Last September's Crosville Running Day had people up in arms over the £10 admission fee which not only got you into the event, but gave you unlimited access around the helicopter museum. Many enthusiasts seem to think it's all free, that nothing has to be paid for - I heard plenty at Exeter grumbling about having to pay £3 for a programme.

 

If preserved bus owners could charge a £1 nominal fare per person it would be much better. As it is, the day cost me £50 in fuel, before any wear and tear is factored in.

[Felly Magic]

Yup, getting donations out of 'veg' is like getting blood out of a stone, even getting them to chip in for juice on a run to a rally is bloody impossible. Veg think buses run on fresh air, and are there for their entertainment

[Felly Magic]

I mustardmit Leyland Leopards are nice old things to drive, after playing with a mates around Castleford, Pontefract and Wakefield, sat nicely at 75 on the M62 and the look from the Shearings driver as I cruised past, burbling and farting away. 

 

Anyhoo, here are a few more from the rally yesterday

 

 

 

 

 

 

[83C]

I mustardmit Leyland Leopards are nice old things to drive, after playing with a mates around Castleford, Pontefract and Wakefield, sat nicely at 75 on the M62 and the look from the Shearings driver as I cruised past, burbling and farting away.

Yes, the Tiger gets much the same reaction when passing modern machines. I keep toying with derestricting the B10M as its old enough not to need one, but really I ought to leave it alone.

 

Routemaster Buses had an ex-Stagecoach Western Leopard that was geared for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. 55mph flat out but by eck did it get there quick. The minor hillocks and bumps of Crewe were no match for it.

[Inspector Morose]

Coach leopard are too high geared. They max out at around 84-86mph but the power (unless updated with a power plus) can't match that on hills with a load on. What you need is a 680 powered RE. Tops out at about 73 but can go uphill.

Apparently.

[Felly Magic]

A bit of modern toss, how someone can take a roadsweeper (Solo) to a bus rally I will never know. Go Ahead Anglia turned up with a Merc coach and a Scania Omnishitter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Yoss]

Well as you've mentioned Brooklands here's a few from there. I'll spare you the Routemasters as I noted your comments on another thread last week. I was actually formulating my response when the site crashed so we'll just agree to disagree!

 

To be honest even I don't pay much attention to the RM's at rallies as they are a bit common, though they're common for a good reason. I take mine for social reasons rather than to show it off, just a chance to meet friends I don't see anywhere else.

 

Anyway a few pictures. To be honest I don't take that many at rallies as they're a bit static but a few things caught my eye.

 

I like this. LS444. I like a National 2, make a great noise and this has a nice patina.

 

And I was surprised to see these two. V1 and V3, two of the three prototype Volvo Ailsas that LT ordered in about 1984. V3 had an experimental rear exit and twin staircase a bit like a Boris Bus. They never went with any more though. Surprised they didn't park them together unless there's some sort of V class rivalry going on and they don't talk! This got me wondering what happened to V2. DVLA says it's sorned so it may still exist.

 

 

 

But this was star of the show for me. I love these. I'd swap mine for this, though I might regret it later trying to find parts.

 

 

Best seat in the house!

 

And split level interior.

 

 

 

 

 

Did I say no RM's? Tough, I'm gonna slip this in. I spent the whole day Saturday trying to wash mine. I was thinking of doing a live bus wash thread but obviously we had no forum. But here's a couple.

 

This is an angle you don't see everyday. One side of my bus turns green over winter as it's parked near trees. To reach the top deck I have to stand on some handy storage containers. This doesn't show the dirt and algae as much as I hoped.

 

Then I moved over to the hose (different part of the yard) to do the lower parts. Whilst doing this a friend turned up. I like this picture. Two buses from the same year, looking very similar to the untrained eye, both with the classic AEC grille but both very, very different in almost every way. Both worked in Southampton at different times too.

[phminiman]

I have no idea why I want an old bus. But I do.

 

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[Felly Magic]

I know the owner of V1, Keith Billingsley, he used to own V3, and is an Ailsa apologist, owning 2 West Midlands examples, and the now black Prince liveried Derby lowheight. V2 is around somewhere in the south, last seen still wearing Black Prince yellow and red. 

[Felly Magic]

This post was lost in the ether, so reposting. Wind noise warning.