Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally
Tipperary Motor Club hosted their annual Stonethrowers Stages Rally last weekend, Based around Clonmel, 112 starters crossed the start ramp to tackle the three rain soaked stages. Corks Brian O Mahony and John Higgins took a 43second win from Thomas Fitzmaurice and Fionn Foley, both in WRC spec subaru’s. Limerick men Colm Murphy and Don Montgomery were 3rd o/a in a Group N Subaru.
Local men Niall Maguire and Enda Sherry emerged as early leaders and held a 17 second lead going into first service but disaster struck in service when a wheel bolt sheared, putting an end to their heroic charge. It was a bad first loop for the triton shower team as Niall’s team-mate and late entrant Kevin Barrett and Sean Mullally crashed out on ss3 while lying in 4th o/a. Jim Mc Kenna and Thomas Treanor also succumbed to the slippy conditions on the opening loop as they slid their escort off the road and out of the event on the opening test. Jack Maguire and Andy Hayes were also victims of the wet stages on the opening loop, as were Eugene Meegan and Paul Kelly.
Despite all this bad luck, Monaghan crews faired much better in group N as Sam Moffatt and James O Reilly took the group N win and a 5th o/a finish. Next up were Shane Maguire and Marty McGarrity who got off to a slow start but improved their pace throughout the day to finish 2nd in group N and 7th over-all. Stephen Wright and Martin Connolly were using this event as a test for the upcoming Ulster Rally this weekend and set some great times to finish 3rd in group N and 10th over-all. Josh Moffatt and John Rowan had been the early leaders in group N and were up to an impressive 4th over-all, but there best efforts were undone on ss6 when the slid the EVO9 off the road to end their challenge.
Further down the field Seamus Connolly and Gary McCrudden put in a superb performance in the wet conditions and slid their twin cam home to a class 11 win and 19th o/a. Barry Greer and Suzanne Wright brought their ford fiesta home with a class 6 win and 24th over-all. Next of the local crews were Michael Carbin and Evin Hughes in their trusty 205. They held the class 10 lead throughout the day to finish in 27th o/a, this result increasing their lead in the national championship. Martin Donnelly and Paul Sheridan finished in 28th over-all in their EVO9. Ryan Lougheran and Fintan Sherry teamed up at the last minute and things seemed to work out well as they took 3rd in the highly competitive class 11. Paddy O’Reilly and Jonathan Treanor teamed up for the first time also and had a clean run all day to take their escort home to 5th in class 13. All in all
a mixed day of fortunes for the locals in Clonmel.
Monaghan Motor Club Endurance Trial
Monaghan Motor Club will host their first ever endurance trial event this Sunday 19th August. CoC for the event is Andy Mackarel and he is currently busy with the setting out of this new event to Monaghan MC. The format for his trial is approximately 10 venues or “selectives” which are ran 2-3 times each with centralised service in Threemilehouse GAA complex. These selective’s consist of a timed run, usually on private ground, timed to the second in which the driver and navigator are required to traverse a predetermined route set out by the CoC. Penalties are applied for failing to traverse the route in the right direction, hitting cones or other obstacles, failing to come to a complete stop within a “stop-box” etc. This new and very popular form of motorsport could best be described as a mix of night navigation and autotest skill’s. Andy’s 10 selectives cover a wide variety of surfaces from grassy & gravel lanes to concrete and tarmac through farms and quarries etc. throughout the areas surrounding Threemilehouse, Clones, Newbliss and Swanns Cross.
As this event is an official Motorsport Ireland discipline, all normal regulations apply and a full list of MI regulations can be downloaded from Monaghan Motor Club website at www.monaghanmotorclub.net (Appendix 35 which include amendments to the 2012 Endurance Trial Regs) Night navigation type cars are allowed up to a maximum 2000cc non-turbo, but no four-wheel drive vehicles of any type are permissible as directed by Motorsport Ireland and as per amended endurance trial regulations. Tyres must be standard road going type. Appendix 35 regulations on club website has an in-depth insight into these events and anyone interested in competing are urged to have a look at these. This event promises to be good value for money as well as a light-hearted days sport.
Regs and entry forms are also available on club web site with scrutiny at Pat McQuaids garage outside Threemilehouse from 7.30am on Sunday 19th with drivers briefing at 10am sharp. Coc Andy Mackarel has indicated that this event will require up to 100 marshals and your help would be greatly appreciated if you are not competing. Andy has also indicated that these selectives are on private property and there is no spectator access to most of these, therefore why not volunteer as a marshal and be part of the running of another successful event for Monaghan Motor Club. Please text or ring Paul Hughes on 086 2571401 to enlist as a marshal for the day. Full Report next week.
Night Navigation Classes
Once again Monaghan Motor Club will run night navigation classes before the upcoming new season starts in early October. These classes will be run over six consecutive weeks starting on Thursday August 30th and once again will be based in Threemilehouse GAA complex. This course will cover all aspects of night navigation as well as the basics of stages rallying navigation. More information next week.
County Monaghan Motor Club 