Gerry’s one-off victory for the 1300s

The little Honda Civic of Gerry McGarrity and Derek Ervine became the first car from the new 1300cc class to take the championship, and it comes as no surprise to find that Gerry’s uncle, Patsy, is a director of the N.I. Honda distributors, Savoy Motors.

The following summary of the 1981 Championship has been prepared from multiple sources to tell the story.

“OVERVIEW“

There were only seven events counting towards the 1981 championship due to the Cookstown and Coleraine events suffering cancellation. Thus, the three events in the first half of the year ware run by Maiden City, Omagh and Newry with North Armagh, Dungannon, Enniskillen and Mid-Antrim running the four rounds after the summer break. All seven clubs provided routes worthy of championship status.

The championship, nevertheless, proved extremely interesting and very closely contested. The first two rounds were won by Tommy Speers and Joe Law (RS2000) from Kenny Colbert and Colin Beatty (Sunbeam), with the third round being won by the local crew of Raymond Nelson and Ronnie McKee (RS2000). Kevin O‘Kane and Godfrey Crawford (BRM Avenger) maintained a strong challenge with three third places. David Greer and Dessie Wilson (Escort) won the 1300 class on the first rounds.

With three second places in this class, Gerry McGarrity and Derek Ervine, (Honda Civic) were the championship leaders as the series paused for the summer break. They were closely followed in equal second place by three crews: Ronnie Foreman and Neil Fitzsimmons, Kevin O’Kane and Godfrey Crawford and Tommy Speers Joe Law. Behind them came Ian Cuddy and Walter Cuddy (Escort), after three consistent results in the 1300 class, tying for fifth place with Kenny Colbert and Colin Beatty.

During the summer recess the ANICC banned the fitting of any auxiliary lights to cars competing on road rallies. The ban was requested by the Rallies Committee because many competitors were not dipping their lights when meeting oncoming traffic.

“THE FIRST HALF”

Maiden City Motor Club VALENTINE RALLY – 13 February 1981.

TOMMY Speers and Joe Law took their Crawford Machinery-sponsored Escort RS2000 to a narrow win over the Talbot Sunbeam of Dungannon crew Kenny Colbert and Colin Beatty in last night’s Valentine Rally organised by the Maiden City Motor Club.

This was the first round of the 1981 Northern Ireland Road Rally Championship and it was also the first outing for the new 1300cc class. Sixteen crews had entered in this new Class which will run in conjunction with the Open Championships.

The event proved to be one of the toughest that many crews had tackled for some time with an uncompromising route of 180 miles using all the best rally roads in the West of Co. Londonderry.

The 40 miles to first petrol stop saw Speers and Law take an early one-minute lead at Time Control 4, but Kenny Colbert took two seconds back on the first selective and at the petrol halt, Speers led the event by just 58 seconds. Colbert was second with David McIlroy and Ronnie McKee third in a Sunbeam, but the latter crew were soon to retire with mechanical problems.

The long, arduous 80-mile run to second petrol, which used the high land just East of Strabane and round Plumbridge, proved to be the real meat of the rally and many navigators found the going to be really demanding.

Colbert took a minute off the leaders at Time Control 9 and thus led the event at the second petrol stop while Kevin O’Kane and Godfrey Crawford (Sunbeam) and Tommy Speers had tied for fastest time on the second selective, with a time of 3 min. 13 sec. John Jones and Drew Todd (Escort) were on 3 min. 49 sec., but a later puncture would put paid to their chances of a good result. On the same section, Trevor Haydock and Brian Rowan (Sunbeam) had a time-consuming wrong slot costing them four minutes.

A tremendous battle was in progress in the 1300cc class between Gerry McGarrity in the little Honda Civic and the 1300cc Escort of Desmond Greer. Greer eventually won the class taking fourth place overall into the bargain!

A final 30-mile section took competitors to the finish at Claudy and with the roads getting more treacherous all the time, Speers took advantage of the better traction of the Escort in the frosty conditions to take fastest time and to clinch the event, making it a fifth consecutive rally win for this popular Mid-Antrim Crew.

Overall Results:

1. Tommy Speers and Joe Law, 45.27;
2. Kenny Colbert and Colin Beatty, 46.07;
3. Kevin O’Kane and Godfrey Crawford, 50.13;
4. Desmond Greer and Dessie Wilson, 54.41;
5. Davy Hadden and Fergus McKelvey, 59.36;
6. Gerry McGarrity and Derek Ervine, 59.38;
7. Trevor Haydock and Brian Rowan, 61.20;
8. John Jones and Drew Todd, 65.36;
9. Ian Cuddy and Walter Cuddy, 74.05;
10. G.Martin and R.Lutton, 85.53.

Open Class:

1. Tommy Speers and Joe Law, 45.27;
2. Kenny Colbert and Colin Beatty, 46.07;
3. Kevin O’Kane and Godfrey Crawford, 50.13;
4. Davy Hadden and Fergus McKelvey, 59.36;
5. Trevor Haydock and Brian Rowan, 61.20;
6. John Jones and Drew Todd, 65.36;

1300cc Class:

1. David Greer and Dessie Wilson, 54.41;
2. Gerry McGarrity and Derek Ervine, 59.38;
3. Ian Cuddy and Walter Cuddy, 74.05;
4. G.Martin and R.Lutton, 85.53;
5. Matt Doherty and Martin Chance, 87.23
6. D.Jobb and G.Skeath, 119.42.

Omagh Motor Club PRE-CIRCUIT Rally – 6 March 1981

This report appeared in the Tyrone Constitution on 13 March 1981.

OMAGH Motor Club‘s Pre-Circuit rally on Friday night, which attracted upwards of 40 starters, was won by Portglenone‘s Tommy Speers and Joe Law in an Escort. The 120-mile event, which was the second round of the 1981 N.I. Road Rally Championship, was held around the Omagh area and despite heavy rain, and some flooding near Newtownsaville, the event proved very popular.

The runners-up were Dungannon pair, Kenny Colbert and Colin Beatty, and in third place was Omagh’s Kevin O‘Kane and Godfrey Crawford in their BRM Avenger.

There was a ding-dong battle between the top three pairs throughout the event and at the half-way stage O’Kane and Crawford, in the Avenger, were a minute in the lead, but then lost ground in the second half of the event.

However, it was a creditable performance, just as it was from Noel Dickson of Sixmilecross, partnered by Kevin Nixon, who finished in fourth place in their 1600cc Avenger.

The new Class for cars up to 1300cc, which was introduced for the first time this year, was well supported, and won by Ronnie Foreman of Killinchy, partnered by Neil Fitzsimmons, in an Escort.

The event started at Associated Tyre Services on the Derry Road in Omagh and finished at O’Hagan’s Lounge in Eskra.

Overall Results:

1. Tommy Speers and Joe Law, 19.04;
2. Kenny Colbert and Colin Beatty, 21.12;
3. Kevin O’Kane and Godfrey Crawford, 21.20;
4. Noel Dickson and Kevin Nixon, 21.56;
5. Ronnie Foreman and Neil Fitzsimmons, 28.24;
6. Gerry McGarrity and Derek Ervine, 29.12;
7. B. Stinson and J. Allen, 29.23;
8. T. Jordan and Stuart Carphin, 37.38;
9. Ian Cuddy and Walter Cuddy, 39.12.

Open Class:

1. Tommy Speers and Joe Law, 19.04;
2. Kenny Colbert and Colin Beatty, 21.12;
3. Kevin O’Kane and Godfrey Crawford, 21.20;
4. Noel Dickson and Kevin Nixon, 21.56;
5. B. Stinson and J. Allen, 29.23;
6. T. Jordan and Stuart Carphin, 37.38;

1300cc Class

1. Ronnie Foreman and Neil Fitzsimmons, 28.24;
2. Gerry McGarrity and Derek Ervine, 29.12;
3. Ian Cuddy and Walter Cuddy, 39.12;
4. J.McCracken and M.Crowe, 49.55;
5. D.Jobb and G.Skeath, 53.35;
6. G.Green and A.Ward, 59.17.

Newry & District Motor Club CIRCUIT OF DOWN RALLY – 3 April 1981

NELSON AND McKEE CLINCH DOWN RALLY

RAYMON Nelson and Ronnie McKee scored their first Northern Ireland road rally championship success when they won last night’s Circuit of Down organised by the Newry Club, an event in which many of the leading crews struck trouble, either mechanical or navigational.

The Nelson/McKee Ford Escort RS2000 finished ahead of Ronnie Foreman and Neil Fitzsimmons driving a 1800cc Escort with semi-expert crew Stephen Curran and Alan McKee – Ronnie’s brother — in third place in their 1600cc Escort.

The first section from then Banbridge start caused a number of problems and saw three of the favourites retire. John Jones went out less than a mile from the start when his Escort RS2000 had a wheel bearing fail; Tommy Speers, winner of the first two rounds of the championship, retired with mechanical problems and Trevor Haydock broke the suspension of his Sunbeam.

Then Kenny Colbert and Colin Beatty dropped out of contention when they missed two route checks. At the end of the first section, Foreman led from the class three Escort 1300 of John Devlin and John Bell with Nelson in third.

On the second section back to the petrol halt on the Newry/Markethill road, Nelson moved up to take the lead ahead of Foreman with the Curran/McKee Escort now in third place. And, although Foreman closed up on Nelson on the final section, there were no changes in the leading positions.

Results — Overall:

1. Raymond Nelson/Ronnie McKee (Escort), 34.17;
2. Ronnie Foreman/Neil Fitzsimmons (Escort), 39.35;
3. Stephen Curran/Alan McKee (Escort), 59.32;
4. Gerry McGarrity/Derek Ervine (Honda), 66.45;
5. Kevin O’Kane/Godfrey Crawford (Avenger), 67.36;
6. Sam McKinstry/Trevor Agnew (Avenger), 80.29;
7. Stanley Gordon and Isaac Busby (Escort), 82.43;
8. Derek Jobb/Gerry Skeath (Escort), 91.22

Class One:

1. Ronnie Foreman/Neil Fitzsimmons;
2. Gerry McGarrity/Derek Ervine (Honda);
3. Kevin O’Kane/Godfrey Crawford (Avenger).

Class Two:

1. Stephen Curran/Alan McKee (Escort);
2. Sam McKinstry/Trevor Agnew (Avenger);
3. Derek Jobb/Gerry Skeath (Escort).

Class Three:

1. Alan Spiers/Keith Cunningham (Mini);
2. John Devlin/John Bell (Escort);
3. Martin Holmes/Bert Young (Magnum).

1300 Class:

1. R.Foreman/N.Fitzsimmons, 39.35;
2. G.McGarrity/D.Ervine, 66.45;
3. D.Jobb/G.Skeath, 91.22;
4. P.Yabsley/P.Williamson, 105.32;
5. I.Cuddy/W.Cuddy, 123.44.

“THE SECOND HALF”

For John Jones and Drew Todd (RS2000) the resumption of the series did not bring a change of fortunes as crew illness and mechanical problems, which had plagued them in the first half, caused their retirement from the fourth round – and the championship. Trevor Haydock and Brian Rowan (Sunbeam) had similar problems to Jones/Todd on the first half, however, Trevor would go on to win two events with the help of both Brian Quinn and Brian Rowan.

The other two events produced a win each for Colbert/Beatty and Speers/Law.

The 1300 class was dominated by McGarrity/Ervine with three class wins and second overall in each case. Foreman/Fitzsimmons recorded another win on the final event when the Honda’s retired with engine problems (only the second non-finish in 90 starts!). The Colbert/Beatty and Speers/Law challenge received a set-back on the Dungannon event when both crews were heavily penalised for an infringement of the regulations.

Any slight hopes Colbert/Beatty still had disappeared on the penultimate event when they missed a control board, while on the same event, Speers/Law, who had to win the final two rounds to win the championship, failed narrowly when they retired near the finish when leading the rally. O’Kane/Crawford had a number of mechanical problems which eliminated them from the title contest.

The only consistently competitive crews in the 1300 class, McGarrity/Ervine and Foreman/Fitzsimmons finished on equal championship points. The championship regulations stated that, in the event of a tie, the competitor who had finished ahead of the other on more occasions be given the decision. The tie was thus resolved in favour of Gerry McGarrity/Derek Ervine who became the 1981 Northern Ireland Rally Champions with Ronnie Foreman/Neil Fitzsimmons in second place and Tommy Speers/Joe Law third.

North Armagh Motor Cycle and Car Club RICHMOND RALLY – 4 September 1981.

Overall Results:

1. Kenny Colbert and Colin Beatty, 27.02;
2. Gerry McGarrity and Derek Ervine, 35.56;
3. Tommy Speers and Joe Law, 42.36;
4. Ronnie Foreman and Neil Fitzsimmons, 44.51;
5. I. Hadden and J. Anderson, 46.23;
6. T. McCullough and Bobby Willis, 52.34;
7. D.Greer and Dessie Wilson, 46.24.
8. Trevor Haydock and Eric Patterson, 75.33;
9. T. Hegarty and P. Williamson, 109.26.

Open Class:

1. Kenny Colbert and Colin Beatty, 27.02;
2. Tommy Speers and Joe Law, 42.36;
3. I. Hadden and J. Anderson, 46.23;
4. T. McCullough and Bobby Willis, 52.34;
5. Trevor Haydock and Eric Patterson, 75.33;
6. T. Hegarty and P. Williamson, 109.26.

1300cc Class:

1. G.McGarrity/D.Ervine, 35.56;
2. R.Foreman/N.Fitzsimmons, 44.51;
3. D.Greer/D.Wilson, 46.24.

Dungannon Motor Club MOONRAKER RALLY – 18 September 1981.

Overall Results:

1. Trevor Haydock and Brian Quinn, 23.14;
2. Gerry McGarrity and Derek Ervine, 24.25;
3. T.Hegarty and B.Foster, 26.25;
4. Ronnie Foreman and Neil Fitzsimmons, 27.23;
5. Stanley Gordon and Isaac Busby, 27.44;
6. Raymond Nelson and Ronnie McKee, 32.43;
7. I.Orr and R.Young, 35.03;
8. Ian Cuddy and Walter Cuddy, 35.07;
9. Kevin O’Kane and Godfrey Crawford, 39.26;

Open Class:

1. Trevor Haydock and Brian Quinn, 23.14;
2. T.Hegarty and B.Foster, 26.25;
3. Stanley Gordon and Isaac Busby, 27.44;
4. Raymond Nelson and Ronnie McKee, 32.43;
5. I.Orr and R.Young, 35.03;
6. Kevin O’Kane and Godfrey Crawford, 39.26;

1300cc Class:

1. Gerry McGarrity and Derek Ervine, 24.25;
2. Ronnie Foreman and Neil Fitzsimmons, 27.23;
3. Ian Cuddy and Walter Cuddy, 35.07;
4. R.Mason and Stuart Carphin, 62.05;
5. A.Wilson and Brian Dorman, 72.48;
6. P.Yabsley and P.Williamson, 75.10.

Enniskillen Motor Club Erne Safari Rally – 23 October 1981

GERRY AND DEREK LIFT ERNE RALLY TITLE
By Sammy Hamill

GERRY McGarrity and Derek Ervine are the new Ulster road rally champions. Second place in their little Honda Civic on last night’s Erne Safari Rally was good enough to ensure them of the championship for the first time, even though there is still one round to go.

They become the first crew from the new 1300 cc category to win the championship. Their main rivals, Tommy Speers and Joe Law, dropped out of the Safari while leading in the Escort BS2000 and Ronnie Foreman and Neil Fitzsimmons finished fifth in their Escort 1800.

The rally was won by Trevor Haydock and Brian Rowan in a Sunbeam, with McGarrity/Ervine finishing second overall for the third time in the series. Semi-Experts Ken Thompson and Eric Patterson (Toyota Corolla) were third ahead of the Cuddy brothers, Ian and Walter, in another 1300cc car, this time an Escort.

Initial leader was McGarrity in the little 1300cc Honda, but a puncture delayed him and at the first petrol halt Speers was in front with Haydock second. Kenny Colbert and Colin Beatty, also championship contenders, lost time with a navigational error.

On the second leg Haydock moved to the front but shortly afterward he ran into trouble and Speers regained the front spot. However, on the final section the Speers’ Escort stopped and Haydock came home in first place followed by McGarrity and Thompson.

Results Overall:

1. Trevor Haydock and Brian Rowan (Sunbeam) 40.39;
2. Gerry McGarrity and Derek Ervine (Honda) 54.00;
3. Kenny Thompson and Eric Patterson (Toyota) 62.45;
4. D. Jobb and G. Sheath (Mazda) 64.34;
5. Harry Cathcart and Trevor Elliott (Escort) 65.11;
6. Kenny Colbert and Colin Beatty (Sunbeam) 71.32;
7. Ian Cuddy and Walter Cuddy (Escort) 75.36;
8. Ronnie Foreman and Neil Fitzsimmons (Escort) 88.54;
9. Stuart Hyland and R.Heslip (Sunbeam) 137.38;
10. S.Cuthbertson and M.Cresswell 139.19.

Results – Class One:

1. Trevor Haydock and Brian Rowan (Sunbeam);
2. Gerry McGarrity and Derek Ervine (Honda);
3. Harry Cathcart and Trevor Elliott (Escort)

Class Two:

1. Kenny Thompson and Eric Patterson (Toyota);
2. D. Jobb and G. Sheath (Mazda);
3. Ian Cuddy and Walter Cuddy (Escort).

Class Three:

1. Stuart Hylands and R. Heslip (Sunbeam);
2. S. Cuthbert and M. Cresswell (Mini);
3. R. Brown and K. Boyd (Avenger).

Ladies — Linda Hamilton and Wendy Blackledge (Mini).

1300cc Class:

1. Gerry McGarrity and Derek Ervine (Honda) 54.00;
2. Ian Cuddy and Walter Cuddy (Escort) 75.36;
3. Ronnie Foreman and Neil Fitzsimmons (Escort) 88.54;
4. R.Bryans and J.Clarke 243.22;
5. R.McClurg and G.James 325.43

Mid-Antrim Motor Club SEVEN TOWERS RALLY – 6 November 1981
Sponsored by McCartney Motors.

Gerry McGarrity suffered his first retirement in nearly 80 events when the Honda broke its camshaft during the “McCartney Motors” Seven Towers Rally run by the Mid-Antrim Motor Club.

But Gerry and Derek already had the championship wrapped up and the victory by Tommy Speers and Joe Law in their Escort RS2000 could do nothing to affect the outcome of the series.

But Speers’ win did not come easily. He was down in second place at the first petrol halt after being baulked in a narrow lane, but shortly afterwards he moved ahead of leaders John McCullough and Hugh Wiseman in another Escort RS2000.

Then Speers’ Escort slipped off the road and the four minute delay allowed McCullough back into the lead. However he then suffered alternator trouble and dropped back to third place behind Speers and second placed semi-expert crew Bobby Johnston and Ronnie McKee in an Escort T/C.

Overall Results:

1. Tommy Speers and Joe Law (Escort), 60.22;
2. Bobby Johnston and Ronnie McKee (Escort T/C), 75.01;
3. John McCullough and Hugh Wiseman (Escort), 76.29;
4. J.J.O’Kane and A.McKinlay (Sunbeam), 103.58;
5. Ronnie Foreman and Neil Fitzsimmons (Escort), 104.32;
6. Andy Wilson and Brian Dorman (Fiesta), 134.57;
7. T. Hegarty and A. Sterling, 136.46;
8. Willie Hood and George Millar, 138.59.

1300cc Class:

Ronnie Foreman and Neil Fitzsimmons, 104.32;

Northern Ireland ROAD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 1981

Drivers:

1. Gerry McGarrity, 28 points
2. Ronnie Foreman, 28
3. Tommy Speers, 23
4. Kenny Colbert, 19
5. Ian Cuddy, 19
6. Trevor Haydock, 16
7. Kevin O’Kane, 13
8. D. Greer, 10
9. Raymond Nelson, 9
10. T.Hegarty, 8.

Navigators:

1. Derek Ervine, 28
2. Neil Fitzsimmons, 28
3. Joe Law, 25
4. Walter Cuddy, 19
5. Colin Beatty, 18
6. Godfrey Crawford, 13
7. G. Skeath, 11
8. Dessie Wilson, 10
9. Ronnie McKee, 9
10. Brian Rowan, 8

The 1981 Northern Ireland road rally championship may have started with a positive air of expectancy – a new, cheaper class was introduced for cars under 1300 cc with limited modification. These cars would compete on equal terms for the championship with cars of unlimited capacity and modification. The first six cars in each class gaining points towards the championship.

However, the economic climate had a considerable effect on the sport with the number of entries on each event reduced substantially from previous levels. Although the new 1300 class began encouragingly, with approximately one third of the entries in the class for the early rounds, the number dropped sharply during the second half of the year with only two 1300 cars entered in the final round.

With this disappointing decline in the 1300 class, the Road Rallies Committee, which consists of competitors and organisers, considered it extremely unfair to have a competitive open class competing on equal terms for the championship with a poorly supported 1300 class. Therefore, for 1982, the Northern Ireland road rally championship will be based on overall results and in addition there will be a separate championship for cars under 1300cc, still with limited modifications. This change, recommended by the Rallies Committee, was fully supported by the clubs organising championship events and agreed by the association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs.