County Monaghan Motor Club

Sunday last saw Monaghan Motor Club run a very successful endurance trial in the North Monaghan area. CoC for the event Andy Mackarel laid on a challenging and diverse route, which consisted of 7 “stages” totalling 17 “selectives”.

Its probably fair to say little was known about this form of motorsport prior to this event but all reports suggest that it will become popular after an enjoyable days racing through the Monaghan countryside. Enda McLoughlin from midlands MC had a new Toyota starlet for the event and with local Monaghan man Declan Tynan on the note’s were on the pace of the expert’s early on which they carried throughout the day to take an 8 second win after the 17 selectives. 2^nd over-all went to autotest expert Eddie Peterson with Vincent Fagan navigating, also in a starlet. 3^rd over-all went to Robert Woodside and Sue Graham in an immaculate and unique Mazda MX5.

With HQ in Sean MacDiarmaid’s GAA complex, Threemilehouse where 1^st car left at 10.30 and headed for Wright’s Quarry for the first selective. This test started with a gravel surface and some flowing corners but soon tightened up as it switched to concrete with many hairpins through the concrete slab lined course. Then it was on to the next test known locally as Keenans lane, between Threemilehouse and Corcaghan. This test could be considered the most hazardous of the day, which saw a few cars slid off throughout the day on the grassy and gravel strewn lanes. Both these tests were completed a number of times throughout the morning. As the day progressed the endurance trial moved further west towards Newbliss and Clones. The third selective was around a farm at Boughill on the Killeevan-Magherarny road. This test was a short but very technical sprint with two “stop-boxes” which require competitors to stop their car dead inside a designated area. Failure to complete this resulted in time penalties. Then it was on to Clonavilla farmyard outside Clones. This farm has previously been used on night navigations and the sheer size of the sheds and lanes in the clonavilla complex provided an excellent test for both man and machine as the many ramps in and out of sheds tested a driver’s commitment.

Once the first of the runs around Clonavilla was complete it was into Clones for a well-deserved dinner break at McCaugheys filling station on the Monaghan Road. At the half way stage it was Eddie Peterson and Vincent Fagan who held a slender 1 second lead form Robert Woodside and Sue Graham with eventual winners Enda McLoughlin and Declan Tynan in 3^rd, 15 seconds adrift. Local men Damian Hagan and Derek Mackarel were up to 6^th over-all at this stage in their yaris. It was back to Clonavilla for another run and then onto the outskirts of Newbliss on the Cootehill road for three tests all within close proximity and familiar to regular night navigation competitors. First up was a concrete farm lane known as Corlougharoe. This test had the only “code- board” of the event which required competitors to stop (or slow down if you were quick enough!) and record a code which must then be given at stage end to the marshal to avoid time penalties. Then it was on to Aghareagh (or Bosco’s lane as its known locally) this test was a mixture of concrete, gravel and mud which provided great entertainment for the many on-lookers. The last of the seven tests was close by at Correvan with a lovely flowing gravel surface out to the finish. All of these five tests (or “selectives”) were repeated before the short haul back to threemilehouse before the eagerly awaited results were posted.

McLoughlin and Tynan had done just enough through the latter selectives to take their first endurance trial win ahead of more experienced crews.

            Midlands’s navigation regulars Sam Johnston and Colin Duffy finished in 3^rd overall with fellow clubmen Micheal Reilly and Nigel McCloughery 7^th o/a and 2^nd in class, both crews also in starlets. Other locals to face into the unknown of endurance trials were Damien Hagan and Derek Mackarel who was navigating for the first time on a competitive event. They were up to 6^th over-all at one stage but a few penalties late on dropped them back to 10^th at the end. Kieran “Bilko” McCarra and Darren McCague revived an ex-navigation civic from the dead and certainly looked to have a great days crack, finishing 12^th o/a and 4^th in class. Arthur and Mac Kierans “borrowed!” a civic for the day and despite their best efforts early on at breaking her, she refused to lie down and brought the Aghabog men home to 13^th o/a. Cathal McGlone and David Smyth acquired the infamous Paul Fitzpatrick owned golf for the day and finished 16^th o/a. Josh Moffatt and Gary McCrudden had a primera out for the day and finished 18^th o/a, reports suggest that this is Josh’s road and recce car which bears all the haul marks of a few battle scares!! Samuel and Carol Patterson also had their night navigation primera out on this event and finished 19^th o/a and also seemed to enjoy their day. Peter Farrell somehow coaxed Jim McKenna into the passengers seat for the day and they limped there civic over the line with clutch problems to finish 20^th o/a.  Eoghan Corr and Peter Deery resurrected a seat Ibiza that also refuse’s die and finished 21^st. Steven Rushe and Conor Hagan had a Hyundai Getz on show for the day and finished 22^nd over-all. Think its fair to say this particular car wouldn’t exactly be used to this style of driving! As with all forms of motorsport there are always non-finishers, Evin Hughes was navigating for Karl O’Donoghue but their day was short lived as their rover stopped after the first selective with engine trouble. Trevor Farrell and Noel Hall were forced into early retirement when they burst the sump on their fiesta. Martin Tynan and Fintan Clerkin rung the diff out of their vectra after the 3^rd test, thus proving that bigger cars are not ideal for this form of motorsport.

All in all a great days entertainment for all crews. CoC Andy Mackarel and Monaghan Motor Club would like to thank everyone involved. Firstly the landowners who gave up their farms, quarries, lanes etc. so that this event could be run, your generosity is greatly appreciated. To Sean Mac Diarmaid’s GFC for use of their facilities along with Newbliss Community Centre where results were prepared throughout the day. McQuaids garage, Threemilehouse for the use of their facilities for scrutiny. All marshals who came out on the day to volunteer and ensure the safe running of the event. A big thank you to everyone else who helped out in any way. Well done to Andy for running an enjoyable event at such short notice and hopefully should this event run again it will be better supported from club members.

Ulster International Rally

Well done to club member Enda Sherry who navigated Armagh’s Darren Gass to 1^st over-all on last weekends Ulster International Rally. Darren and Enda had a convincing 1 minute 12 second win over their nearest rivals Gary Jennings in a similar spec Subaru with Darragh O’Riordan 3^rd o/a in a S12B spec Subaru. In the group N category Sam Moffatt and James O’Reilly had a great run through the North Ulster stages to take 6^th o/a and 2^nd in class behind Dublins Robert Barrable in an S2000 Skoda. Stephen Wright and Martin Connolly had a consistent weekend and were rewarded with 3^rd group N and 7^th over-all.

In the National Rally Arthur Kierans was in the hot seat with Derek McGeehan in the Mini WRC and came home in 3^rd o/a, 8 seconds off the rally winner Frank Kelly with Camillus Bradley 2^nd. Mechanical gremlins throughout the weekend possibly preventing the McGeehan mini from claiming an over-all win. Amy Cox had Monaghan’s Emmet Sherry on the notes and they had a steady run in their R3 civic to finish 23^rd over-all. Matthew McKenna was navigating for Michael Carroll in a fiesta ST and had a great run to 28^th o/a and a class win to boot. Jonathan Treanor was sitting with Simon Devlin but their rally was short lived when they stopped on stage 6 in a corolla.

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 start next Thursday night, 30^th August and will run for six consecutive weeks. Once again the classes will be based in Threemilehouse GAA complex, starting at 8pm sharp. This course will cover all aspects of night navigation as well as the basics of stages rallying navigation. Navigation regular Fintan Clerkin has kindly taken on the task of running these classes for this year and if you are interested in partaking please call or text Fintan on 0872297024 to confirm your place as spaces are limited.