Busy weekend for Limerick Motor Club members.
Mechanical maladies in their class 13 Escort Mk2 brought an end to Ed O’Callaghan and Keith McCarthy’s day after five stages of the Clare Stages Rally. Keith said after the event “Just wasn’t to be today! Up to third overall & winning 2wd when the oil pump belt broke. That’s ralllying! Thanks to Ed O’Callaghan for a mighty spin up to that. There will be other days. Congrats to Gerry O’Brien and all in Clare Motor Club for great event!”
Sadly Ed’s son Christopher co driven by Donal Balfe had a short day as well only completing four stages in their class 13 Escort Mk2. Not good for Hazel O’Callaghan and co driver Tammy T Lashley either the results only show her on the stage that did not run!
John Byrnes co driven by Brian Grant claimed first in class 2 and 15th overall. John said “First in class on today’s Clare stages rally. We couldn’t give any more the little Group N Renault did us proud. We managed fastest 2WD stage time on the last stage. Will be sorry to see Brian Grant leave the team as today was his last event before he hits for Singapore for two years. Great way to end the year, big thanks to you that supported us during the year. Here’s to 2018. Just need a navigator now.”
And another father and son story the elder Mr Lyons (Ken) finished fifth in class 13 and 22nd overall co driven by Paddy McDonnell, while the younger Mr Lyons (Keith) co driven by Sean Hegarty finished second in class and 18th overall although they did have the class lead for a couple of stages.
Stephen Bawn and Chris O’Donnell had a good day finishing third in class 13 and 11th overall.
Aidan Walsh and Tommy O’Connor sixth in class 13 and 51st overall.
Frank Sweeney and Cathal Nolan did not finish after completing eight of the nine stages with their class 13 RWD Peugeot 205.
Kenneth Ryan and Garry Carroll third in class 11R and 29th overall.
Sean Moran and Jonathan Keane kept the class 13 honours in with Limerick with first in class and eight overall.
Pat Ryan and Jack Dalton first in class 9 and 26th overall.
Liam Mulcair and Jimmy Kiely second in class 12 and 25th overall.
Gerard and Mary O’Shea third in class 3 and 42nd overall.
Mossy and Declan Gannon seventh in class 11R and 48th overall.
Shane Griffin and Ian Madigan first in class 10 and 49th overall.
In the Historic section Maurice and Stephen Meskell took first place with Ford Escort.
and finally the Junior category Thomas Murphy and Stephen O’Connell only show in the results for the first stage that did not run.
A number of members made their way to Rally Isle of Man. David and Rita Dee brought their Austin Mini Cooper home tenth in class H7 and 90th overall. Keith Moriarty was co driving for Callum Devine in an Opel Adam and took first in class RC4 and eight overall.
Back on the island of Ireland Carlow Car were running their two day hillclimb. This event had been postponed from earlier in the year and was now the final round of the Naylor Engineering hillclimb and sprint championship. Peter Cummins finished day one first in class 9 with his aerodynamics compromised Duratec powered Darrien. Peter had a moment leading to damage to the front bodywork and a leaking radiator, after a dab of Quik Steel the leak was sorted, but the bodywork could not be sorted so Peter ran the rest of weekend with a slightly bare front end. Peter improved to ninth overall on Sunday. John Kennedy took second in class 3A both days. In class 2 Willie Barrett took third with his double drive Joe Clifford fourth on Saturday, day two saw Willie holding on to third and Joe dropping back to fifth with the arrival of Alan Drew son of esteemed former club member George Drew. Rob Fenlon brought his Cento on Sunday and finished third in class 1B. This left Willie Barrett and Joe Clifford second and third in class 2 of the championship, John Kennedy winning class 3A, Declan Gannon third in class 10 and Peter Cummins first in class 9.
Donal Griffin competed in the two day Leinster Trophy meeting at Mondello park. On the first day Donal qualified sixth and finshed ninth in the BOSS libre race losing time in the more difficult weather conditions at race time. The second day’s race was for the prestigeous Leinster Trophy where he qualified fifth and finished fourth.