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Driving Skills Challenge keenly contested at Coach & Bus Live 2009
Competition was at an all time high at this year’s Volvo sponsored Skills Test which took place during Coach & Bus Live on 7th and 8th October. A steady stream of hopeful contestants made their way to the external area outside Hall 17 on both days of the show to have their driving skills careful scrutinised by a team of experts from Coach Displays UK. The eventual winners were Melissa Kinch of Kinch Coaches on the first day one and Simon Brook of Brookline Travel on the second
An excited Melissa, the first ever female winner of Skills Test was particularly pleased and remarked: “This has been a really special day for Kinch Coaches, not only did I win the competition for Wednesday but my sister also came high up the leader board, proving that we women make just as good coach drivers as the men!”
The best score of the whole challenge was recorded on day two when Simon took to what resembled a giant slalom course and clearly he must have heeded the course marshal’ s advice. By maintaining a cautious speed throughout the course he was able to avoid knocking over any of the traffic cones with their costly time penalties.
Remarking on the standard of driving throughout the competition, Course Director Paul Cousins of Coach Displays UK commented: “This was a deceptively difficult course and while it didn’t necessarily take long to complete it was very tight to manoeuvre in places and called upon all the skills and experience of our drivers. Saying that bar was definitely raised a few notches this year with some of the best times and performances we’ve ever seen.”
Presenting certificates and champagne to each of the winners, Show Director Mark Griffin was delighted both by the popularity of this year’s Skills Test and the overall standard. Mark also paid thanks to Don Johnson, Marketing Manager at Volvo Bus for his company’s continued support of the Skills Test as well as the team from Coach Displays who gave up so much of their time to organise and supervise the whole event.
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