1964 March Rally Gossip by TAH

ULSTER RALLY GOSSIP by Terry Harryman

This article is reproduced from Ulster Motorist Magazine March 1964.

FOLLOWING the excellent events of October, November and early December, things got back to normal last month with test-trials, test meetings and the odd rally. The year opened with the Armagh club’s meeting at Meghaberry which, for some reason, didn’t seem quite as enjoyable as usual. This was probably due to some rather uninteresting tests, all done on a very slippery surface and also because of the cold. Six tests done twice (both times counting as opposed to the system used last year) and an entry of no less than 55 would be expected to add up to a very long, boring afternoon, but, surprisingly, all were run off quite quickly. Perhaps the attraction of the club’s annual “do” after the tests inspired everyone to get a move on.

The Woodside brothers certainly did, as the event proved to be a benefit for them with Ian scoring an outright win in his ex-works Midget – claiming 6 f.t.d.s in the process – and Robert bringing his Okrasa-VW home second overall and first in his class. Third overall was Ronnie White in the Sebring Sprite while the larger saloon class went to Adrian Boyd (Rapier).

The following weekend in January saw two major events clashing. These were, of course, the two-stage U.A.C. Winter Rally on the 11th, and the I.M.R.C.’s three-stage Rally on the 11th/12th. Last year these events were run on consecutive nights, this resulting in only one crew going down South. Despite assurances that nothing of this nature would occur this year, an even bigger mess-up resulted with both events being held at the same time.

And who was to blame? To my mind it was the Northern club, for it was they who changed their date from a Friday night to a Saturday afternoon, and who also refused a date-exchange with another local club, all this despite the fact that they were involved in an inter-team competition with the I.M.R.C. It is obvious that they have lost interest in it, for no team was nominated, and had no crews from Ulster gone to the I.M.R.C. rally, then the Harp Trophy would have stayed in the South. The Dublin team (nobody knows when it was nominated, didn’t include Noel Smith, who had represented the I.M.R.C. at both our events) all finished very high up in the finishers list.

As a rally the I.M.R.C. event was pretty poor, but in the typical spirit with which Southern events are run, it tended to make one forget about the motoring and just enjoy oneself, and this the visitors definitely did. However, they were certainly most annoyed at having to miss the U.A.C.’s Winter for this, as expected, turned out to be a splendid thrash in South East Armagh.

As with a lot of U.A.C. events, it was rather spoiled by a few minor things, such as the delay in Newry, but on the whole was one of the better “do’s.” Timing was by officials’ clocks which were fairly well synchronised, but which proved once and for all (to competitors’ satisfaction, anyway) that sealed watches set to standard time are the only thing. The system that was used in “that rally” was relatively, if not completely, new to most officials, yet was still the fastest and most easily worked with system seen yet. Let’s hope that the U.A.C., who introduced sealed watches to this country, appreciate this and don’t take a retrograde move.

The afternoon road section in the Winter was devised to give practice to beginners (so they say), but proved so tight that even the more experienced crews had their difficulties. They included ultra-rough roads and three-minute sections in daylight. Oh dear, when will they ever learn? From the large number who attended the navigators school last Autumn, I doubt if more than a handful have had the opportunity of getting experience.

With the Winter Rally, the U.A.C. instead of scaring beginners off the second stage, should have encouraged them to do it by giving them the instructions at the end of the first stage and setting them a lower average, thus enabling them to get the kind of practice which is really needed. Anyway, the overall winners of the event were Ian Woodside/Esler Crawford (Midget) from Reggie McSpadden/John Armstrong (VW1500S) and Ronnie and Doris White (Sebring Sprite).

LARNE M.C. ran their Island Trial over a nine test course on Islandmagee and in East Antrim. This was a rather long drawn-out afiair. mainly because the first three tests were done twice and this caused hold ups. The tests themselves weren’t the best we have seen, the second attempts at the first three involving doing everything backwards, which was a bit footery. The last test, which was one of the best, was unfortunately packed up before the whole field got round and was, therefore, scrubbed. Overall winner was Lee Lucas in the Grasshopper, from Robert Woodside (Okrasa-VW) and Thompson Glass (Hayrake). The small saloon class went to Michael Ford-Hutchinson (Mini) and the large one to Ken Shields (VX4/90). A very promising performance in this latter class was put up by gill?’ McKnight (Vitesse), who took second despite the presence of Reggie McSpadden.

THE final event of the month was the Queens club’s January Rally, and this turned out to be a real corker, rivalling last November’s Omagh event for supremacy in the closed event field. The route was really marvellous, being just over 50 miles long in the Lagan valley, while the route
instructions were available a half-hour before the start. Sealed watches set to standard time were used in conjunction with the increasingly popular “Fail” system.

There were some longish delays (30 seconds or so at some controls) but on the whole, the time control procedure was fairly slick. The results were available very quickly, less than an hour after the last finisher got in. The route was just about “on” (although nobody made it) and there was a very open tie-deciding test. This was fortunate because there was a tie for first place between Brian Mitchell/Norman Henderson (Sprite) and Norman Smith/Trevor Wilson (Mini) who had both dropped a minute. The tie-deciding test went in the former’s favour who therefore won, while Billy Mullen/ Terry Harryman took third in a TR3.

ON the 1st February Armagh M.C. attracted the boys (38 of them) back to Meghaberry once again for another of their test-meetings, this time with six tests done twice. Again most of the tests were a bit on the mucky side but, nevertheless, quite interesting. Traction was all important. and it was not really surprising to find that a VW, especially with Robert Woodside at the helm, had scored a clear win.

Second was Thompson Glass, who is at last getting to grips with the Hayrake GT (!), while close on Thompson’s heels came the other special, the Grasshopper, with Lee Lucas at the wheel. Class winners were Woodside, Glass and Ken Shields (VX4/90), who is now really a force to contend with in this class. Other good showings were put in by Billy McNinch, who took a class second in his wife’s “shopping Mini,” Brian McIvor (VW) who was third in the same class, and Reggie McSpadden and Brendan Curran in VW 1500S and Cortina GT respectively, who were second and third in the large class.

With that lot over, what have we coming? On February 20th Queen’s M.C. run their Little Circuit Rally which this year is being organised by Norman Smith and Ed. Woods. Apparently it will be similar to the January Rally, only over a longer course, about 70 miles. Mourne club have a date for the following night, while next day we have the first of the year’s Restricted events – the Mid-Antrim club’s Toome test meeting.

On Wednesday 26th Omagh M.C. will be running their, Pre-Circuit “thrash.” This promises to be one of the best events in the first half of the year. Knock Motor Club have a date on the 29th which is unlikely to be used, so most of the enthusiasts are likely to go to Dromara for the Armagh club’s Mudplug.

Dungannon M.C. will run the first event of their season on March 6th while Q.U.B.M.C. close their season the next day with a test meeting. A week later we have the Newry club’s Irish Experts Trial, which I believe this year will be a Mudplug. On Friday 20th the Larne boys have their March Hare, which, it is rumoured, is being organised by last year’s Starlight team. Another Restricted test meeting is scheduled for the following day. this being the N.I.M.C.’s “do” at Limavady.

And then, of course, we come to the Circuit of Ireland Rally. What will it be like?

Briefly, something along these lines:-

• Stage 1 — 7.00 p.m. Bangor — 5.30 a.m. Sligo; 300 miles. 40 T.C.s. (or Controls) and three Special Stages.
• Stage 2 — 6.3O a.m. Sligo — 7.00 p.m. Killarney; 350 miles. 30 T.C.s. five Special Stages and three Speed Tests.
• Stage 3 – 9.30 a.m. Killarney – 4.30 p.m. Killarney: 164 miles. 30 T.C.s. three Special Stages and three Speed Tests.
• Stage 4 – 9.30 a.m. Killarney — 7.00 p.m. Mullingar: 250 miles, 30 T.C.s. four Special Stages and two Speed Tests.
• Stage 5 – 8.00 p.m. Mullingar – 7.00 a.m. Larne: 280 miles, 40 T.C.s. and 3 Special Stages.

What about that then! 1,350 miles. 170 plus T.C.s, 18 Special Stages and eight Speed tests. The latter will all be of the longer type, e.g., Borlinn, but the total Special Stage and Speed Test mileage is only about 60, of which 15 are Speed Tests. This makes the average Special Stage length 2.5 miles. Despite the fact that marks will be lost on the latter at the rate of one per 10 seconds, these, to my mind, are going to count for very little, because they are so short that the fastest 10 or 12 cars will be covered by the same time. As there will be a factor used in the Speed Tests, these also will count for precious little and it will be left to the road sections to do the deciding.

Who will be driving what? Well, it is expected that Triumph will be sending over a team of very hot Spitfires which will be driven by Roger Clarke. Roy Fidler and A. N. Other. Rootes are sending cars for Rosemary Smith and Adrian Boyd, probably a Snipe for the latter, who will be accompanied by Beatty Crawford.

VW Assemblers of Dublin are entering three 1500S types for Larry Mooney, Brian Kehoe and Tom Burke. Lotus-Cortinas will be seen in the hands of Billy Reid/Brian Waddell (the U.TV entry) and Cecil Vard/Dudley Reynolds. Johnny Moore is reputed to be taking Jack Scott along with him in a Cortina GT. while Des Cullen will be seen at the wheel of an N.S.U. – a hot Prinz-4 this time.

Cooper “S” types will be very much in evidence. From the South there will be Noel Smith, Mick Ivis, Leslie Vard and, possibly, Dave Glover, while locals include Peter Johnston, Cecil Molyneaux, Ronnie McCartney and Colin Andrew. Of these, Peter Johnston will be accompanied by Frank Main (but not in a Broadspeed motor as suggested last month), Cecil Molyneaux may in fact not use the “S” but a Mini instead, and will have Hal Patton with him. Colin Andrew will be taking Donald Grieve along with him, and not, I am assured, just as a social partner. Incidentally, Donald is very Saab-minded at present so don’t be surprised if he appears in a 4-speeder in the near future.

For that matter, Derek Boyd was driving a Saab at the February Meghaberry meeting so he might be seen in one of these in the Circuit. Bill Beattie and Maurice Johnston will be teaming up and will presumably be VW mounted (could this be one of the fantastic 80 bhp Okrasa motors?). Rumours were recently circulating that Malcolm Templeton would be seen in a works Simca 1000 and not in a Saab, but these seem to have been dispelled, while Crawford Harkness and Tommy Reid are reputed to be sharing a Saab, with the latter doing the hills. Two very well known’ drivers are having trouble in finding navigators, these being Robert McBurney and Derek Boyd. The former of these is even considering navigating himself if he can find a driver that doesn’t scare him too much! He reckons that a Group 2 “Beetle” is a better bet than an Okrasa-wagen. Another one with similar sentiments is the other Robert, (VW) Woodside. He however. is in a much more enviable position in that he has secured the services of Norman Devlin since Brian McMeekin won’t be available and Jack Keatley isn’t going. What about the Monte winner? Will he be going? I don’t think even Paddy himself knows the answer to that although there are rumours that say he will. Anyway, many, many congratulations Paddy, on your magnificent and long awaited ‘big’ win. May you have a whole lot more.

COPIES of the regulations for the International Scottish Rally, to be held over Whit weekend, and for the “Express and Star”, which is a fortnight before the Circuit, were recently given the once over. The latter event, unless some other club goes mad, will once again be voted Rally of the Year, as it will take exactly the same form as it did in 1962 and 1963. No more needs be said, except that if you want to see what non-International rallying can be like, get a copy of these regulations and get entered. The Scottish Rally has changed its format slightly from last year in that a night section will be included, this being the first night. Apart from this, the event will follow its traditional pattern with special stages linked by long easy road sections. This event is another ‘must’ and I don’t think that there will be many local crews in Killarney on Whit Sunday this year.

I have recently been getting some experience in the use of Halda’s latest distance measuring device, the Tripmaster. This is, as its name implies, a distance meter with a trip, which can be fitted nearly anywhere on the dash or console of any car. It is easily fitted, very neat (as opposed to the Speed-pilot), has reasonable sized numerals (they could have been bigger), is easily adjusted to compensate for tyre wear, etc., and is very quickly zeroed. It has one key advantage over the Speedpilot in that it is possible to “wind up” any distance required, i.e.. if you forget to zero it at at a point, you can do this later and then “wind up” the estimated distance travelled. One failing with the Tripmeter is the internal lighting which tends to blur the dial, so that on rough roads the numerals are hard to read. However a magnifier (the small lens fitted to Vauxhall speedo’s does excellently) will really help here, while an external light solves the problem completely. Costing about a third of the price of the better Speedpilot, the Tripmaster is definitely worth consideration.

LATEST CIRCUIT NEWS!!

DEREK BOYD has solved his navigator problems; he has “signed up” John Davenport of ‘Motoring News’ (‘Verglas’). Maurice Acheson will not after all be Saab mounted, but will be taking his Cooper ‘S’ in Group 3 tune.

The Saab has been snaffled up by Robin Steenson who will be doing the Circuit in it with Ian Turkington. Ted Hobson is another of the boys from the West who will be competing. He will be Mini-mounted with Austin Frazer giving the instructions. Mervyn Johnston/Ivan Allen will be doing the Touring Event this year in the former’s Cooper. Others in the Touring event are Jack Armstrong/Roland Robinson who will very likely be Porsche mounted, and Cathal Curley who will be seen in a VW 15O0S. Adrian will definitely be taking a works Humber Snipe.