1975 Donegal Highlands Rally

These reports and photos were kindly provided by RallyRetro.

Record Entry for this Weekend’s Highlands Car Rally

THE Highlands Special Stage Car Rally begins this Sunday, 23rd November, at 12.30 p.m. from the Ballyraine Hotel, Letterkenny, and has attracted a record entry for a club event in Donegal. This surely indicates the tremendous interest in the sport and the confidence which competitors place in the Donegal organisers. One hundred entries were received and so great was the demand for participation that the Motor Club had to draw up a reserve list and even then, reluctantly, had to decline further entries.

The Rally is being sponsored by Ballyraine Hotel; McMahon Bros.; Hegarty’s Auto Services; Autospares (Donegal) Ltd., Convoy; McDaid’s Motor Engineers, Letterkenny; Hugh Tinney Motors, Letterkenny; Ward’s Garage, Kerrykeel; Letterkenny Motors Ltd.; and Car Equipment, Great James St., Derry. Local business interests also support the event by advertising in the programme. Without this generous sort of support, the Club could not have undertaken such a second major rally inside six months.

Car scrutiny takes place at McMahon Bros., Letterkenny, on tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon from 2 to 6 pm. Each vehicle will be scrupulously examined to ensure the strictest safety regulations are met.

First car away will be one of the top contenders in the Irish National Rally Championship, Ron Neely, in his lightweight “Tuborg” sponsored Mini Cooper S. He leaves the Ballyraine Hotel at 12.30 on Sunday and will be followed at half-minute intervals by the others, including Ken Shields, fresh from yet another success at the Ken Wharton Memorial Driving Tests. Ken will be making his rally debut in his Porsche Carrera.

The first special stage is at Knockbrack where the road closes at 12 noon. There are six Special Stages, done twice in the same direction, on roads closed to the public for the duration of the Rally. In the interests of public and competitor safety, spectators are asked to follow the instructions of Marshals and Officials who man the Special Stages through the afternoon.

VANTAGE POINTS

Spectator vantage points may be approached as follows:

SS4 and 7: from the main Letterkenny/Convoy road near Cornagiilagh (road closed from 1204pm.); SS2 and 8: limited access only, approach from N.W. of Stranorlar (road closed 12.30 to 4.30);
SS3 and 9: West of Stranorlar, from the road leading to Welchtown (closed 12.30 to 5pm.);
SS4 and 10: may be seen from the main Ballybofey/Glenties road near Reelin Bridge (closed 1pm. to 5pm.);
SS5 and 11: approach from main Cloghan/Fintown road, N.W. of Cloughan (closed 1.15 to 5pm):
SS6 and 12: from main Letterkenny/Fintown road near Breenagh or near Glenswilly Chapel (closed 1.30 to 5.15pm.).

The cars will pass through Letterkenny via Railway Rd. where there will be a service area, between 2 and 3pm, and again on their way to the finish from about 4 o’clock.

There will be programmes giving full information at the scrutiny on Saturday, and at Ballyraine Hotel.

Thrills and excitement in Donegal Highlands car rally.

The Donegal Highlands Special Stage Rally which was held last Sunday from Ballyraine Hotel, Letterkenny, proved another outstanding success for Donegal Motor Club who organised the event. The entry augured well for the event — one hundred cars opting to pit their skills against some
of Donegal’s trickiest roads.

The action got under way early on Saturday afternoon as the cars began to arrive in Letterkenny for the scrutiny at McMahon’s Garage. Scrutiny went on from 2 to 6 p.m. and there were many interested spectators on hand to view the cars and add to the atmosphere of excitement. Rally Headquarters was at Ballyraine Hotel where everyone congregated to discuss the merits or otherwise of what lay ahead. A very entertaining film show was provided at very short notice by Mr. Michael Bonnar, Killybegs, a member of the Club.

The Rally got under way on Sunday afternoon with the first car off at 12.30 pm, followed at half-minute intervals by other competitors. The cars were preceded on the Special Stages by the Clerk of the Course, who went along to ensure that arrowing and safety arrangements were adequate. Derek McMahon drove the course car and was navigated by Dr. Jimmy Stewart, Chairman of the recently formed Maiden City Motor Club in Derry.

The route taken was via Knockbrack, Drumkeen, Stranorlar, Welchtown, Brockagh, Cloghan, Breenagh and through Letterkenny to repeat the route a second time. There were very large numbers of spectators in the start area and on the Special Stages, and at the Service areas throughout.

SLIPPERY STAGES

There was plenty of excitement and thrills for spectators as the first few stages were very slippery and indeed there were many mistakes even on the first stage, which was really something to watch. I am told that fourteen cars took a shortcut at the first corner and spectators had plenty of excitement here. There was much comment on the skills of drivers during the day as they adapted to conditions, which were in complete contrast to conditions in the June Rally and onlookers were very impressed and enlightened to see that these drivers could master the roads in such a casual way.

SPEED:

Just how quickly these drivers can go may be seen from the results of the overall winners who had Stage penalties of 53 minutes 40 seconds. This represents his time taken over approximately 55 mites of Special Stages and one can see from these facts that these boys are really working hard.

DONEGAL DRIVERS K.O.’d.

The course took its usual toll of cars; some due to mechanical failure, others had parts of Donegal getting in their path. Top seed, Ron Neely, retired his leightweight Mini on Special Stage 3 with transmission failure. Most of the local drivers had a bad day; Wilhaire, Bonnar, Harris, Harvey, Parke, Crossan, Hadden, Porter, Tinney, all failing to finish due to mechanical problems – except in the case of Hugh Tinney who, almost within sight of the finish, went off into the scenery on the last stage and ran out of time. Ward, McElhinney and Scott, however, upheld local honour by showing prominently in overall and class results.

Donegal Motor Club are indebted to many people and organisations for their assistance in promoting this event and would like to thank particularly sponsors — Ballyraine Hotel, McMahon Bros, U.D.T. Finance, Hegartys Auto Services; Autospares (Donegal)Ltd., McDaid Bros. – Motor Engineers, Letterkenny; Hugh Tinney Motors; Letterkenny Motors; Car Equipment, Derry; Wards Garage, Kerrykeel, and all programme advertisers.

Thanks also to McMahon Bros. for use of their Letterkenny premises for car scrutiny; the Gardai Siochana; Donegal Co. Council; the residents on the special stages; Spectators and public; Club Marshals who did an excellent job in keeping everything going smoothly; the invited officials of the meeting, R.I.A.C. Steward, Dr. Mahon; scrutineers, Mr. D, Brien and staff; the Omagh and Maiden City Motor Clubs for time keepers and marshals; their own Club members who acted as time-keepers; competitors, some of who came great distances; Tommy McElhinney, Derry, for donating the Overall Perpetual Trophy, and all others who helped in the rally success.
Prizegiving:

Prizes were handed over at a post-rally dance in The Ballyraine Hotel and award winners were:

Overall Awards:

W.Farren/J.McDaid, Strabane (Cooper S) 53mins. 40secs.
R.Lyons/J.Lyons, Castlederg (Escort RS 1700) 53.41.
C.McElhinney/S.Graham, Ramelton (Escort TC) 54.27.
R.Ward/B.Harkin, Kerrykeel (Dolomite Sprint) 54.28.
K.Shields/P.Lyster, Belfast (Porsche Carrera) 54.41.
J.P.O’Kane/R.Sloan, Castledawson (Porsche Carrera) 54.57.

Overall Group One Awards:

R.Ward/B.Harkin, Kerrykeel (Dolomite Sprint).
J.Logan/P.Ervine, Belfast (RS2000).
P.McCartan/A.Rice, Donacloney (RS2000).

Class Awards

Class 1 (up to 1000cc):

R.K.Kinloch/S.McCanny, Omagh (Cooper S).
P.O’Keefe/G.Cronin, Dublin, (Chrysler Imp).
C.Jackson/C.McCollum, Cavan, (Chrysler Imp).

Class 2 (1001 to 1300cc):

W.Farren/T.McDaid, Strabane (Cooper S).
I.Tanahill/L.Weir, Coleraine (Cooper S).
H.Scott/J.Scott, Convoy (Cooper S).

Class 3 (1301 to 1600cc):

C.McElhinney/S.Graham, Ramelton (Escort TC).
G.Robinson/A.McCash, Ballymena (Escort TC).
R.Cree/D.Grant, Dundonald (Cooper S).

Class 4 (1601 and over):

R.Lyons/J.Lyons, Castlederg (RS1700).
K.Shields/P.Lyster, Belfast (Porsche Carrera).
J.P.O’Kane/R.Sloan, Castledawson, (Porsche Carrera).

Group One Classes:

Class 2 – E.McMillen/D.Wallace, Belfast (Escort Sport).
Class 3 – D.Whittley/R.Cole, Belfast (Avenger GT).
Class 4 – R.Ward/B.Harkin, Kerrykeel (Dolomite Sprint).