1965 Circuit of Munster

This report appeared in The Ulster Motorist Magazine – July 1965. Photographs are from the collection of Derek Jolly, with additional materials from Des Cullen.

In the two-day Bowmaker Circuit of Munster, organised by the Limerick Motor Club, Charlie Gunn overcame the jinx which has made him a non-finisher in four out of the last five years, by winning with a healthy margin from Ronnie McCartney. He was driving the works-sponsored Cortina GT in which he did so well in the Circuit of Ireland and was navigated as usual by Rickie Foote of Cork.

The Rally had 21 starters from an entry of 25 and there were 18 finishers but the battle for the Premier was very much a three-man affair as Gunn (Cortina GT) battled with McCartney (Renault R8) and Connie Bourke (Morris Cooper S). There was little between the trio on the 14 stages but Charlie was well ahead of Gerry King (Austin Cooper S) and Des Flanagan (Austin Cooper) at the Killarney overnight.

The top 10 entries were:

1. Charlie Gunn (Dublin) Cortina GT;
2. Johnnie Moore (Dublin) Cortina GT;
3. Ronnie McCartney (Omagh) Renault R8 Gordini;
4. Connie Bourke (Limerick) Mini Cooper S;
5. Mick Dolan (Meath) Cortina GT;
6. Jim O’Brien (Athlone) Cortina GT;
7. Paddy O’Callaghan (Kanturk) VW;
8. Gerry King (Clonmel) Mini Cooper S;
9. Stephen Moran (Kerry) NSU Prinz;
10. Brian F. Cullen (Limerick) Triumph Spitfire.

McCartney had two punctures within a mile near Glengarriff and in the rush dropped out of the reckoning at that stage. Gerry King lost time on the road on Monday and Des Flanagan skimmed off his fuel system on a stage at Bansha and lost 45 minutes before getting under way again with the help of plastic pipes. Connie Bourke hit a tree after the first Muckross stage on Monday and this put him out a bit but he still got into third place at the finish.

Both Gunn and McCartney had comparatively clean runs on Monday and McCartney was up to second place at the finish. Paddy O’Callaghan, who had been going very quietly in his VW, still managed to be the fastest on one stage and pulled into fourth place followed by the tough-luck men Gerry King and Des Flanagan with Mick Dolan, Ian Pugh and Bill Pryor in the next two berths. Tenth and winner of the Ladies’ Class was Miss Joan Boyd, a cousin of Adrian and Derek, in an Austin Healey Sprite.

Class winners were A: Connie Bourke, B: Ian Pugh, C: Ronnie McCartney and D: Charlie Gunn.

The sports cars had the Cooper S models lumped amongst them in class, and this ruled them out of the running. 

The team award was won by the Carlow MC, consisting of Charlie Gunn (Dublin), Ronnie McCartney (Omagh) and Mike Dolan (Athlone).

The Tour of Munster with 18 entries was run over the same course, and competitors covered all special stages at a 30 mph average, which was still tough going. The winner was Limerick-man Keith Griffin in a Rapier navigated by J. Ryan, and he was followed by (yes) Cork-man Paul O’Flynn.

RESULTS:

1. Charlie Gunn/Rickie Foote (Cortina GT) 42.5;
2. Ronnie McCartney/Mike Hart (R8 Gordini) 60.7;
3. Connie Burke/Reggie Tilson (Mini Cooper S);
4. Paddy O’Callaghan/Harry McEvoy (VW);
5. Gerry King/Dick Keating (Mini Cooper S);
6. Des Flanaghan/Dave Dwyer (Austin Cooper);
7. Mick Dolan/P. MacGuire (Cortina GT);
8. Ian Pugh/Miss T. Pugh (Mini);
9. Bill Pryor/A.G. Bradbury (Mini Cooper S);
10. Miss Joan Boyd/Brian Rickerby (A-H Sprite).