1969 Erne July Sprint

PHILLIPS PHASTEST AT ERNE SPRINT

This report and pictures by Richard St. John Young first appeared in Motorweek 11 July 1969.

ARCHIE PHILLIPS brought the Erne Trophy with him to Rossahilly airfield last Saturday, having held it for one year; At around 2 pm. he gave it back to Clerk of the Course Austin Frazer, and then proceeded to win it again, beating a number of very quick men in the process.

In order to make the course a bit more interesting, not to say difficult, the organisers had added yet another chicane to the 1000 yard lap, making three in all, but while the two originals were comfortably “on” in third gear the new addition’ was a real stinker, necessitating much arm waving in second, with a coup1e of very solid looking walls of tyres to discourage any “straightening” of the course.

The entry was a good one, headed, of course, by Archie Phillips, with his famous white Midget, while similar (in name, anyway) cars were handled by Eric and Edward Scott, and Dessie McAuley who shared his car with Jim McClements, whose Elf was “hors de combat” after a bale stuffing session at Kirkistown the previous week.

Top saloon men included Ronnie McCartney and Rob Pollock with Mini variants of one sort or another in Class 3, and in Class 4, the Escorts of Robert Ward.

Single seaters, specials, etc., had a mixed bag, with a couple of Impala specials, and a pair of Clubmen’s Sports Cars making up the entry, none of whom were really in the stakes for FTD.

MINIS

Class one was for 850cc Minis, in various states of tune, and this proved to be a walkover for David Johnston, with his green Min, from the very Well driven, if rather tatty looking red example of Ron Neely, Who beat sister Irene into third place.

Subsequently, a protest against the first two cars resulted in the exclusion of Johnston’s car from the results, giving first and second places to the popular brother and sister team from Ballinamallard.

The 1000 cc saloons were next, and fastest of these was Mervyn Johnston, whose autocrossing Riley Elf came home a full second ahead of his placeman Will Farren (Cooper). Ron Patton made third a good bit behind the first pair, but only 0.1 sec. ahead of George Windrum, whose Imp was the only non-Mini in the class.

OPEN

In the absence of the McClements Elf, the battle for 1300cc saloon honours became much more open, with Ronnie McCartney driving the world’s tattiest Mini, and Bob Pollock in his very nice Wolseley Hornet fighting it out to the finish. On the first runs, both recorded no time for various reasons, Ronnie managing to run out of petrol, while Rob took to the infield, after thumping a tyre marker at the third chicane.

McCartney had petrol on his second outing, however, and fairly hurtled the white (among other colours) Cooper round in 2 mins. 5.6 secs. to win the class, from a rather subdued Pollock who recorded 2-10.0. Robin Lyons, whose 2-16.7 was good enough for third in the class, was well behind the two leaders, although he headed a battling bunch comprising the Coopers of Andrew Irwin, Geoff Symes and Ken Irwin.

Favourites in Class 4, for large saloons, should have been Edward and Eric Scott in their shared ex-Mulligan Anglia. However, the Anglia did nasty things to itself a couple of days before the event, and the ever hopeful pair turned out to do battle in their parental Jaguar 3.4 saloon, whose only concession to this sprinting thing was a wood rimmed steering wheel.

The class itself was taken by Cahal Curley, who drove in typical sideways manner to record 2-07.8 secs. In practice, Cahal had tried quite hard to remove the new chicane, but had to compromise and fly over it when it refused to get out of the way. He made no mistake in the actual runs, though, and led Donegal-man Robert Ward home by 8 secs. Third was, surprise surprise the Jaguar, driven by Edward Scott on this occasion, with 2-24.8 after performing some manouvres that it’s never before had to perform. E. Stewart performed an interesting waltz at the new chicane, but somehow managed to avoid all the solid parts with his Hunter.

SPORTS CARS

Small Sports Cars (under 1300cc) were catered for in Class 5, and with the aforementioned Phillips Midget in this class, the result was something of a foregone conclusion. In fact, Archie’s first run was his fastest, and the fastest of the afternoon at 1-58.5 secs, his second tour being just a second slower.

Edward Scott beat brother Eric for the second time in their shared Midget, getting down to 2-07.6 for second in the class, Eric being one tenth slower on his second run after a spin on his first. The McAuley – McClements Midget put up with a great deal during the afternoon, both drivers spinning on their first runs, McAuley thumping the new chicane good and hard, demolishing it completely and flattering one side of the car. On their second runs, both drivers recorded 2-10.7 secs to complete the class.

Large sports cars were a little thin on the ground, but fas- test of them was the MGB of Derek McMahon, which went round in 2-12.4 secs despite a rather nasty sounding differential. Second, with 2.15.5 was the very pretty Lotus Elan of Michael Nugent. This car also managed third with 2-23.9 when driven by B. Pattinson. An interesting, if rather unsuitable car in this class was the Jaguar E-Type of Miss Joan Dobbs. This rather ungainly motor car found the chicanes and hairpins a little bit too tight, and 2-35.6 was the best the very brave Miss Dobbs could manage,

The last class, for single seaters and specials, saw Pat (PJ) Wilhaire take the Mini-based Firecrest to a very good win from Richard Young’s nose-less U2. Wilhaire completed his three laps in 2-11.2 secs. to beat the more powerful U2 by one second. Tommy Burns, who shared Wi1haire’s car, finished third after a rather strange first run which included a short cut, and resulted in no time.

An informal prize giving followed at the Manor House Hotel, where a good time was had by all, and the tribute paid by George Windrim to Austin Frazer and his very enthusiastic band of helpers was echoed by all competitors present.

RESULTS IN DETAIL

Class 1. Saloons up to 850cc

1. R. Neely (Mini) 2.30.0secs;
2. Miss I. Neeley (Mini) 2.33.4 secs;
3. J. Thompson (Mini) 2-37.5 secs.

First on Handicap, R. Neely (Mini) 2-00.0 secs Nett.

Class 2. Saloons 851-1000cc

1. M. Johnston (Riley Elf) 2-15.1 secs;
2. W. Farren (Cooper) 2-16.0 secs;
3. R. Patton (Cooper) 2-20.4 secs.

First on handicap, G. Windrum (Imp) 1-54.5 secs nett.

Class 3. Saloons 1001-1400cc’s

1. R. McCartney (Cooper S) 2-5.6 secs;
2. R. Pollock (Hornet) 2-10.0 secs;
3. R. Lyons (Cooper,S) 2-16.7 secs.

First on handicap. R. McCartney (Cooper S) 2-01.6 secs nett.

Class 4.. Saloons over 1400cc’s

1. C. Curley (Escort TC) 2-07.8 secs;
2. R. Ward (Escort TC) 2-15.8 secs;
3. E. Scott (Jaguar) 2-24.8 secs.

First on handicap, C. Curley (Escort TC) 2-00.8 secs nett.

Class 5. Sports Cars up to 1400cc

1. A. Phillips (Midget) 1-58.5 secs;
2. E. Scott (Midget) 2-7.6 secs;
3. E. Scott (Midget) 2-7.7 secs.

First on handicap, A. Phillips (Midget) 1-58.5 nett.

Class 6. Sports Cars over 1400cc

1. D. McMahon (MGB) 2~12.4 secs;
2. M. Nugent (Lotus Elan) 2-15.5 secs;
3. B. Pattinson (Lotus Elan) 2-23.9 secs.

First on handicap, D. McMahon 2-07.4 secs nett.

Class 7. Specials, single seaters etc.

1. P. Wilhaire (Firecrest) 2-11.2 secs;
2. R. Young (U2) 2-12.2 secs;
3. T. Burns (Firecrest) 2-12.2 secs.

First on handicap, P. Wilhaire (Firecrest) 2-06.2 secs nett.

Fastest Time of Day — Erne Trophy – A. Phillips (Midget) 1-58.5 secs.