1965 DMC April Rally

DUNGANNON RALLY
by Robin McIlwain

This report was published in a 1965 edition of Irish Motor & Water Sport Magazine.

DUNGANNON Motor Club’s April Rally (held on 30th April) attracted a grand total of 41 entrants. This was the first occasion on which a Tourist Class had been included and the success of this inclusion can be judged by the fact that there were all of 24 entrants in the class.

The start was at Coagh, the first car off being Ferguson and Hagan’s Singer Gazelle, and the route covered some 60 miles involving 24 controls. The tourist class was held over a slightly shorter route which incorporated 20 controls and required a lower average speed.

Two special tests were incorporated at the end of the road section to cover the eventuality of a tie and it was, indeed, these tests which decided the winners of both classes. In the expert class there were no fewer than 7 clean sheets at the end of the run and these were held by M. Acheson, F. P.Johnstone, M. Mulligan, R. G. McBurney, D. McCartney, R. Steenson and R. White.

The tourists did not fair so well, however, G. Abernethy and H. Lomax being the only two to have a faultless run. This indeed led to a very exciting finish with 16 competitors qualifying as finishers in the expert section but only 13 finishers out of 24 in the tourist class.

Full credit must go to the all important ‘back room‘ boys from Dungannon Motor Club who are responsible for the laying out of the course and for the efficient organisation of the event.

On results of the special tests Robert McBurney with Esler Crawford as navigator in their Volkswagen were placed first in the expert class very closely followed by Ronnie and Doris White (Mini Cooper) with Maurice Acheson and J.Long in a good third position also in a Mini Cooper.

The novice class finished with the Mini Coopers of Lomax and Abernethy in first and second places. Neither had lost points in the main sections but in the final section Abernethy did a rather poor time. Third came Anna McCartney, who is incidentely Ronnie’s wife, in a Corsaire, who was unfortunate in losing 20 points in the later stages of the rally.

RESULTS
Experts Class:

1. R. McBurney (VW) 60.2;
2. R. White (Cooper) 62;
3. M. Acheson (Cooper) 64.2;
4. D. McCartney (Sprite) 66;
5. M. Mulligan (Cortina) 76;
6. E. Ferguson (Gazelle) 77.5;
7. R. Steenson (Cortina GT) 78;
8. P. Johnston (Cortina) 91;
9. R. McCartney (Midget) 91.2;
10. J. Armstrong (Rapier) 167;
11. J. Stevenson (Cooper) 190;
12. A. Boyd (Cooper) 203;
13. J. Rankin (Cooper) 334.5;
14. R. Armstrong (Cooper) 480.

Touring Class:

1. H. Lomax (Cooper) 74.5;
2. G. Abernethy (Mini) 76.5;
3. Mrs A. McCartney (Corsair) 81.2;
4. J.Coote (Cooper) 129.5;
5. D.Wells (Mini) 153;
6. J.Johnston (Cortina GT) 356;
7. A. Burnette (Mini) 371.2;
8. N. McGuckian (Mini) 477;
9. S. Eakins (Cooper) 481.5;
10. B. Greaves (Mini) 502;
11. A. Buchanan (Mini) 570;
12. A. Hobson (Mini) 634.7.