1975 Donegal Hills Rally

1975 Hills of Donegal Rally.

THE “Hills of Donegal Rally” at the week-end was a great success, with 45 cars entered for the twelve Special Stage Rally, which ran all through Friday night after a 10.30 p.m. start from The Ballyraine Hotel, Letterkenny.

The route taken was via Churchill, Glendowan, Cloghan, Fintown, Glenties, Ballybofey, Raphoe, and back to Ballyraine where the first car clocked in shortly after 5.30 a.m.

The Rally attracted drivers from all over Northern Ireland, including Belfast, Enniskillen, Lisburn, Portadown, Derry and Strabane, as well as a large number of Donegal drivers.

Heading the Rally was Derek Boyd and Derek Smyth in the ex-Ford-France Racing Escort BDA two-litre, now in rally trim. At the Scrutiny at Letterkenny Motors garage, and at the start at The Baillyraine Hotel, spectators crowded around in their hundreds to see the drivers off. This trend continued right through the night, with literally hundreds of spectators crowding all the special stages, even the inaccessible ones. This really shows the enthusiasm which Donegal people have for Rallying.

At each stage people were arriving long before road closing time to get a good vantage point to view the skills of the drivers at speed on very tricky roads.

McDAID LEADS LOCALS

All the prominent local drivers were there at the finish, led home by James McDaid in his new Group One Vauxhall Magnum who had a memorable night. Driving in his first ever Rally, he was a real upset for the books coming home to finish 2nd in the overall classification, only 59 seconds behind Derek Boyd. Congratulations to James on this fine result and look out for him in the future.

MOTOR CLUB’S THANKS

Donegal Motor Club, who organised the event, wish to thank very sincerely the marshals who helped out in the closing of roads and erecting of arrows on the stages; the timekeepers, the scrutineers, the RIAC steward, Mr. Phonsie McElwee, all club officials and the results staff.

The club also wishes to extend their grateful thanks to the Chief Supt. and the Gardai; to Letterkenny Motors for scrutineering facilities at their premises; Mr. Peadar McGeehin, Fintown, for providing petrol to competitors; the residents on the special stages; the Spectators, the Donegal Co Council for permission to close the roads; the Ballyraine Hotel and the competitors themselves for their support.

RESULTS

Overall

1. D.Boyd/D.Smyth, Newtownabbey;
2. J.McDaid/Miss I.Neely, Letterkenny;
3. D.McMahon/S.Graham, Milford;
4. R.Neely/R.Kernoghan, Ballinamallard;
5. P.J.Wilhaire/S.McGettigan, Carrigart;
6. J.Logan/P.Ervine, Belfast;
7. D.Whittley/D.Ervine, Belfast;
8. R.Hurst/C.Beatty, Enniskillen;
9. W.Hoy/P.Morrow, Portadown;
10. D.Boyd/D.McCurry, Strabane.

Group One Category:

1. J.McDaid/Miss I.Neely, Letterkenny;
2. D.McMahon/S.Graham, Milford;
3. P.J.Wilhaire/S.McGettigan, Carrigart;

Classes 1 & 2 (Combined)

1. W.Hoy/P.Morrow, Portadown;
2. D.Boyd/D.McCurry, Strabane;
3. H.Scott/J.Scott, Belfast.

Class 3:

1. R.Neely/R.Kernoghan, Ballinamallard;
2. R.Hurst/C.Beatty, Enniskillen;
3. R.B.Parker/B.Montgomery, Belfast.

Class 4:

1. D.Boyd/D.Smyth, Newtownabbey;
2. D.Hadden/W.Heeney, Strabane;
3. E.Stewart/R.Brown, Kerrykeel.

Group One Class Winners:

• Class 1&2 – V.Bonner/M.Bonner
• Class 3 – D.McMahon/S.Graham
• Class 4 – J.McDaid/Miss I.Neely