1965 Report from Eire – May

1965 Report from Eire

This report by Brian Foley was first published in Autosport Magazine on May 7th, 1965

I.M.R.C. Driving Tests

The Irish Motor Racing Club had cold, wet and dull weather for their annual Spring Trial driving tests at the Irish Air Corps, Baldonnell Airfield, on 20th March. The Premier Award went to John Hayes who completed the tests in 398.4 secs. with his Mini-Cooper S. Second overall and winner of class A was Stephen Griffin, who had 415.2 marks with his blown G.T.S. Des Cullen was third overall and won class B with a total of 449.9 marks in an N.S.U. Prinz 4.

Larry Mooney had a busy afternoon with a Mini-Cooper and his wheel-lifting 1500S-engined Volkswagen Beetle, gaining second in classes A and B respectively. With a total of 455.4 marks in the Mini-Cooper, he beat himself in the Volkswagen by 0.2 sec.!

RESULTS
Premier Award: J. Hayes (Mini-Cooper S), 398.4 marks.
Class winners:

S.T. Griffin (G.T.S.).4.15.2;
D. Cullen (N.S.U. Prinz 4), 449.9;
K. Begley (M.G.Midget), 459.7;
Novice Award: A. Bradbury (N.S.U. Prinz 4), 481.4.

Circuit of Monaghan

The last fling before the Easter Circuit of Ireland International Rally, was the County Monaghan Motor Club’s Circuit of Monaghan on 3rd April. Winner of this 130 miles rally was Ronnie McCartney in a Renault R8 Gordini. Ronnie won the Circuit of Ireland last year in a Mini-Cooper S, and has won several other major Irish rallies with such cars as Vauxhall Velox, Volkswagen, Ford Cortina G.T., and N.S.U. Prinz. He is certainly the most successful Irish driver in home events, although in the Circuit this year McCartney’s Renault was put out on the third stage with gear selector trouble.

In the Monaghan event, McCartney was navigated by Mike Hart, and they were one of six crews to finish clean on the road. The performances over the special sections decided the first three place, and second to the McCartney/Hart team were Ronnie and Doris White in a Mini-Cooper S, with Noel Smith/Des Bradley third: overall in a Mini-Cooper S. One of the two Sunbeam Tigers was rather badly bent on the first special section.

RESULTS

Co, Monaghan Trophy: R. McCartney (Renault R8 Gordini), 90 marks.
Navigator special award: M. Hart.
Canon Trophy: G. McNamara (Ford Cortina G.T.), 133.
Class winners: R. McCartney (Renault R8 Gordini), 90 marks; G. McNamara (Ford Cortina G.T.), 133; P. Cullen (M.G. Midget), 1,088.
Novice award: W. O’Neill (Mini), 376.

Carlow Driving Tests

Carlow Car Club’s Hanover Cup Trial on 4th April was won by Seamus Griffin with his 1172 Griffin. Nine tests were laid out over a wide variety of surfaces, and competitors unanimously agreed that the tests were among the best ever seen.

RESULTS

Hanover Cup: S. Griffin (Griffin-Ford), 485.2 marks
Class winners: T. Power (Mini-Cooper S), 488.0; C. Bourke (1275 Mini-Cooper), 502.6; D. Cullen (Dellow), 508.8.