1969 (Feb8) Rally Scene by TAH

Too Many Circuit Entries?

The nearer Easter gets, the more rumours are circulating concerning the Gallaher “Circuit of Ireland Rally.” It happens every year and it would appear that as each year passes the rumours get more and more exaggerated. At the moment it would seem that considerably less than 50 per cent of the stories going round are factual, but one thing that is for sure this year is that, with a month to go before the entries close, the U.A.C. are about to open a reserve entry list.

Almost 150 reserved entries have been received at the time of writing and while a few of these are possible non-runners, I would say that this year’s final entry list will certainly be over-subscribed. Full marks to the UAC. on achieving what has undoubtedly been one of their prime targets for several years, and also, of course, to Gallaher Ltd for making the whole thing possible with their continued and increased support. I hope they (Gallaher) realise just how grateful everyone is to them even though it rarely seems to get mentioned outside of U.A.C. circles.

Although the club has had entry reservations from such a tremendous number of people, there are still very few ‘works’ runners despite rumours to the contrary. Ford, B.L.M.C. and Rootes are all “said” to be coming but as yet the organiser have received nothing to substantiate these stories. However three ‘works’ Saabs will almost certainly be running, the drivers being local man Crawford Harkness, regular English visitor Doug Lockyear, and the Swedish ‘‘factory” driver Calle Orenius.

It has been said that Ford will be represented by last year’s winner Roger Clark in an Escort Twin Cam, and team-mate Ove Andersson in a Group 6 V6 Capri; B.L.M.C. by Paddy Hopkirk in either a Triumph 2500 PI, a lightweight MGC GT or the inevitable 1293 “‘S,” and Rootes by “Marathon” winners Andrew Cowan and Colin Malkin in Group 6 Imps. My own grapevine says that Clark will indeed be present in a Twin-Cam, Hopkirk will use a Group 6 “S” and Malkin and Cowan will have Imps. However all this is pure rumour and anything can happen.

On the other hand definite entry reservations have been received from RAC Rally 3rd-placeman Jim Bullough and ‘yer actual’ Rallycross star Barry Lee, both of whom will be using Escort twin cams. Undoubtedly these are going to be “the” cars on this years event as a large number of people, from both sides of the Irish Sea, have them entered.

Among the local contingent will be Dennis McKeag and John L’Amie, the latter rumoured to be giving his car the whole works with lots of magnesium bits and pieces in a shell that will be propelled by the twin cam mill from his Lola T60 single-seater.

Phil Cooper, who took 4th place on the R.A.C. Rally, will be heading a very strong English Mini contingent while local Mini-men will include Adrian Boyd, Dessie McCartney, Noel Smith and Ronnie White, but not Alex Poole whose racing commitments have him tied up at Easter.

There is another name missing from this list but more of that later.

Some weeks ago I suggested that Ken Shields would appear in either a continental rear-engined car entered by the factory, or his own B.M.W. 2002; however such will not be the case as he has elected to stay faithful to Vauxhall, and try his hand in a Viva GT.

The local Rootes brigade will again undoubtedly be out in strength with Rallye Imps in various guises driven by Robin Eyre-Maunsell, David Baird and Norman Thompson, the latter despite his present allegiance to the might of General Motors. I haven’t had confirmation of Reggie McSpadden’s plans yet but it has been said that he and Robert McBurney will share a very rapid BMW 2002 while the Lancia Fulvia HF that this pair used with such effect last year will again be running, this time with David Agnew at the wheel.

There are of course lots of other people equally worthy of mention but as things are quietish at the moment I will have to leave something for another week.

Anyone who follows rallying at all will have noticed that Ronnie McCartney’s name was missing from the above and for those of you that don’t already know the reason is very simple — Ronnie is staying at home this Easter. Of course he has said this kind of thing before but this time it appears that he is also giving up rallying and is selling his ex-works Cooper too!

The name McCartney has become synonymous with rallying in Ulster and it was Ronnie who brought it to the fore six or seven years ago driving Volkswagens and then the inevitable Mini in various forms. In fact most people will have forgotten Ronnie’s competitive appearances in all but the Mini-Cooper but before these came on the scene had had built himself quite a reputation, mostly in an Okrasa-powered Beetle. In 1963 he acquired an Alexander-tuned 997 Cooper which brought him a fair share of success but also considerable disappointment — especially in the Circuit of that year when the bearings ran on the last night when he was in a challenging position.

However the following year brought him success in a big way when he drove a 1071 “S” to victory on the Easter event despite breaking his sump on the first night and using over 25 gallons of oil before reaching the finish. Thereafter Ronnie has never looked back and has always been reckoned as one of the. major forces in local rallying and has probably won as many rallies as
anybody in the country. He will undoubtedly be missed on the rally scene, although he will still be taking part in Driving Tests and Autocrosses in both of which he will still be well to the fore.

THE OTHER “McC”

The name McCartney will not however disappear from rally entry lists as his younger brother Desmond would appear to be coming out of his short retirement with a vengeance. Having already baptised his recently completed Group 5 1293 “S” quite successfully on the recent B.B.N.M.C.
“Jack Frost” rally Dessie, is now going full speed ahead with his latest Autocross creation “The Scoop”, and when this is completed Dessie hopes to have all the bits and pieces to start on another rally car — would you believe an Escort twin-cam?

It’s true, folks, and some of the necessary parts are already in captivity. Since the Twin-cam was first announced Dessie has had a yearning for one and recent experiences in the passengers seat and behind the wheel have convinced him that this is the car for him. First appearance… probably in the late summer.

TAH