1968 Calary Hillclimb

Posted in 1968, Archives by October 28th, 2021
Freddie Heaney takes a wide line at the top bend on his way to BTD in his 1.3 Cooper S.

MGCC IRISH CENTRE

1968 CALARY HILLCLIMB

This account is from Autosport Magazine, May 24, 1968

SALOON car drivers have scored BTD at two out of the three Eire hillclimbs held this season. At Enniskerry, Steve Griffin set the pace in the 1.3 Smarties Mini-Cooper S; Brian Cullen in his twin cam Lola T60 was fastest in the Cork hillclimb at Farnanes; and on Saturday, Freddie Heaney took the honours with his 1.3 Mini-Cooper S at Calary. The weather was sunny and dry, but the small entry of 31 was further reduced by five non-starters. These included Cullen, who for the second time in six days was in the wars with the scrutineers, who refused to pass a welded driveshaft on his Lola.

Frank Keane innocently upset the entire event when on his second run the 1.6 Alfa Romeo engine of his Lotus 18 disgorged a sump-full of oil over the last half of the 1-mile hill. Bruce Ashmore, the next man on the scene, came within an ace of having a huge prang in his Mirinda (soft drinks)-sponsored 1.3 Hornet on the surface. As it was impossible to clear up the oil in the half-hour left, clerk-of-the-course Dr Norman Jackson wisely decided to call it a day, and results were thererfore based on one run only.

BTD went to Freddie Heaney at 54.12 s, for the second year running at Calary. Richie Heeley, looking none too happy with his potent Lotus-Allard 31 s/c, was second fastest in 54.14, and Ashmore was third at 54.19.

Steve Griffin appeared to take things easy on his first runs, obviously saving his maximum effort for later, but he was caught napping and had to be satisfied with fourth BTD (54.61). The 1.3 Mini, sponsored by Rowntree-Mackintosh Ltd, is now without the multi-coloured Smarties sweets on the white body – a result of a very strong order firom the R1AC. This stuffy and spoilsport attitude is deplored by all and sundry, and certainly does nothing to encourage sponsors.

Richie Conroy was in great form with his revamped 1.5 Buckler-Ford, winning his class by over 2.5 secs from Dave Furlong (1.5 Lotus 7) and setting up fifth BTD (54.45). Sixth fastest at Calary was oil culprit Keane (56.66).

BRIAN FOLEY.

RESULTS
BTD: W. F. Heaney (1.3 Mini-Cooper S), 54.12 s.

Class Winners:

A. Moore (890 Hillman Imp), 61.92 s;
J. Keaney (1.1 Mini-Cooper S), 58.02 s;
W. F. Heaney (1.3 Cooper S), 54.12 s;
S. L. Cosgrave (1.3 Mini-Marcos), 65.04 s;
R. Conroy (1.5 Buckler-Ford), 54.45 s;
R. F. Heeley (1.5 Lotus-Allard31 s/c), 54.14 s.

Open Handicap: 1, M. Coyne (1.0 Mini-Cooper S), 45.51s (handicap 19s); 2, L. Vard (1.3 Mini-Cooper S), 47.19s (12s); 3, B. Manley (850 Mini), 47.85s (31 s).