1965 May Eire Report

Posted in Archives by October 11th, 2021
DICING around the village green in the Hanover Cup Trial is winner Seamus Griffin in his Griffin-Ford.

1965 May Report from Eire

This report by Brian Foley appeared in Autosport magazine 7 May 1965.

I.M.R.C. Driving Tests

IRISH M.R.C. had cold, wet and dull weather for their annual Spring Trial driving tests at the Irish Air Corps, Baldonnell Airfield, on 20th March. Premier Award went to John Hayes who completed the tests in 395.4 secs. with his Mini-Cooper S. Second overall and winner of class A was Stephen Griffin, who had 415.2 marks with his blown G.T.S. Des Cullen was third overall and won class B with a total of 449.9 marks in an N.S.U. Prinz 4.

Larry Mooney had a busy afternoon with a Mini-Cooper and his wheel-lifting 1500S-engined Volkswagen Beetle, gaining second in classes A and B respectively. With a total of 455.4 marks in the Mini-Cooper, he beat himself in the Volkswagen by 0.2 sec. !

Results:

Premier Award: J. Hayes (Mini-Cooper S) 395.4 marks.

Class winners: 1, S. T. Griflin (G.T.S.) 2, D. Cullen (N.S.U. Prinz 4), 449.9; 3, K. Begley (Midget), 459.7.

Novice Award: A. Bradbury (Prinz 4), 481.4.

Circuit of Monaghan

LAST fling before the Easter Circuit of Ireland International Rally, was the County Monaghan M.C.’s Circuit of Monaghan on 3rd April. Winner of this 130 miles rally was Ronnie McCartney in a Renault R8 Gordini. Ronnie won the Circuit of Ireland last year in a Mini-Cooper S, and has won several other major Irish rallies with such cars as Vauxhall Velox, Volkswagen, Ford Cortina G.T., and N.S.U. Prinz. He is certainly the most successful Irish driver in home events although in the Circuit this year McCartney’s Renault was put out on the third stage with gear selector trouble.

In the Monaghan event, McCartney was navigated by Mike Hart, and they were one of six crews to finish clean on the road. The performances over the special sections decided the first three place, and second to the McCartney/Hart teams were Ronnie and Doris White in a Mini-Cooper S, with Noel Smith/Des Bradley third overall in a Mini-Cooper S. One of the two Sunbeam Tigers was rather badly bent on the first special section.

RESULTS
Co. Monaghan Trophy: R. McCartney Renault R8 Gordini, 90 marks.
Navigators special award: M. J. Hart.
Canon Trophy: G. McNamara (Ford Cortina G.T.), 133.

Overall winner: R. McCartney (Renault R8 Gordini), 90;

Class winners: G. McNamara (Ford Cortina G.T.), 133; P. Cullen (M.G. Midget), 1,088.

Novice award : W. O’Neil1 (Mini), 376.

Carlow Driving Tests.

CARLOW C.C.’s Hanover Cup Trial on 4th April was won by Seamus Griffin with his 1172 Griffin. Nine tests were laid out over a wide variety of surfaces, and competitors unanimously agreed that the tests were among the best ever seen.

RESULTS

Hanover Cup: S. Griffin (Griffin-Ford), 485.2 marks

Class winners: T. Power (Mini-Cooper S), 488.0; C. Bourke (1275 Mini-Cooper), 502.6; D. Cullen (Dellow), 508.8.