1976 Bushwhacker and Wexford Rallies

This account is based on a short report that appeared in Autosport Magazine as “Irish News”, and has been enhanced with details from other sources as well as superb photographs taken by Malcolm Guy, digitally restored by Godfrey Crawford.

Last weekend (14th and 15th August 1976) there were two rallies in Ireland, the Omagh Motor Club’s Duckhams Bushwhacker Rally, a counter in The Belfast Telegraph special stage championship, and the Castrol Sponsored Wexford Rally.

1976 Omagh Bushwhacker Rally.

70 crews lined up at Johnston King’s Garage, Omagh, to tackle he 1976 Omagh Motor Club Bushwhacker Rally. The event was won by Ronnie McCartney and Derek Smyth in the Lloyds of Stafford RS2000 from Brother Dessie’s “forest Carrera”, partnered as usual by Terry Harryman. Robert McBurney in his incredible Porsche-engined VW was just four seconds behind in third place.

Ronnie and Dessie McCartney, the Larne garage proprietors, completed a unique first and second for the second year running in Omagh Motor Club’s Bushwhacker Rally last weekend. Held in the forest of West Tyrone, the fourth round of the Belfast Telegraph special stage championship was a complete contrast to the tarmac special stage rally of last year, which the McCartney brothers also dominated. 

The new Clerk of the Course, Seamus McCanny, had laid on a very demanding route consisting of 12 special stages, totalling 31 miles, and the current championship leaders, David Lindsay and David Sandford (Escort RS 1800) led the field away from the start at Johnson King motors at 10:01 am. Number two seeds were Dessie McCartney and Terry Harryman in a Porsche Carrera, followed by Robert McBurney and Norman Smith in the Carrera-engined Volkswagen Beetle. Paul Martin and John Hunter, (Escort RS 1600), were at number four, and they were followed by David Agnew and Robert Harkness in another Porsche Carrera, and then the first of the local driver contingent, Hugh O’Brien and Drew Todd, driving the ex-Ford of France Escort.

Eventual winners Ronnie McCartney and Derek Smyth, in an Escort RS 2000, were at number seven and Freddie Patterson and Lenny Weir (BMW 2002), Jimmy Logan and Peter Ervine (Escort RS 2000) and Robin Lyons / Ian McFarland (Avenger 1600 GT) completed the top 10.

The rally used 12 stages totalling approximately 30 miles in the West Tyrone area, taking in the Gortin Glen, Castlederg and Baronscourt areas, and while some tests were very rough, the ones which were not rough were reported as being excellent. Paul “Bigfoot” Martin finished fourth in his RS1600 (formerly a Twin Cam) having recovered from an indifferent morning to go really well in the afternoon.

The first special stage at the Gortin Glen proved to be very slippy and all crews took things carefully with the exception of Jim Cathcart and Brian Rowan (Escort RS 2000) who went off and received a maximum time. Paul Martin was fastest one second ahead of David Lindsay stage to Legoland was in contrast fast and bumpy and Lindseys extra power helped him to draw a slightly over Martin. 

Stages at Sawmills, Lough Braden and Ardnabrandy followed, and at the lunch stop at Castlederg it was found that Lindsay had been off the road losing three minutes, and that Ronnie McCartney was in the lead by 12 seconds from Robert McBurney.

The positions at the half-way halt were as follows:

1. Ronnie McCartney 21.16
2. Robert McBurney 21.28 (+12)
3. Paul Martin 21.36 (+8)
4. Dessie McCartney 21.37 (+1)
5. David Agnew 21.49 (+12)
6. Freddie Patterson 21.50
7. Hugh O’Brien 22.01
8. Fred Crawford 22.07
9. Jimmy Logan 22.10
10. Brian McBride 22.37

After the break the rally headed back to the two Lough Brandan stages in reverse, the famous Bessie Bell, Leglands 2, Gortin Glen 2, and then a private road at Lough Fingrean.  At the finish Lindsay could only manage seventh place, despite some competitive motoring. Ronnie McCartney had, with some very inspired driving, kept the Porsches at bay to finish first overall and first in the Group One category, a full 11 seconds ahead of brother Dessie, who was a further 4 seconds ahead of Robert McBurney.

The local success story. of the day fell to Omagh pair Gary McKibben and Godfrey Crawford. McKibben, a relative newcomer to the sport, drove with confidence at the wheel of an Escort Twin-Cam to take a very creditable eighth place overall and first in Class 5.

Series leader David Lindsay finished a distant seventh in his RS1800 having lost two minutes in the morning with two punctures. David Agnew, in perhaps his last outing in the LH Stuttgart-prepared Carrera, finished fifth.

In conclusion, it can only be said that Omagh Motor Club continued with its high organisational standards and many competitors voiced their opinion that it was the best round of the championship so far.

RESULTS – Duckhams Bushwhacker Rally 1976

1. Ronnie McCartney/Derek Smyth (Escort RS2000) 38m 32s
2. Dessie McCartney/Terry Harryman (Porsche Carrera) 38m 43s
3. Robert McBurney/Norman Smith (Porsche VW) 38m 47s
4. Paul Martin/John Hunter (Escort RS1600) 39m 10s
5. David Agnew/Robert Harkness (Porsche Carrera) 39m 34s
6. Fred Crawford/Tommy Speers (Escort RS2000) 40m 42s
7. David Lindsay/David Sandford (Escort RS1800) 41m 04s
8. Gary McKibben/Godfrey Crawford (Escort TC) 41m 21s
9. Brian McBride/M. McBride (Vauxhall Magnum) 41m 29s
10. Tommy Reid/M. Cushnie (Escort RS2000) 41m 42s

1976 Castrol Wexford Rally

Meanwhile, down in the South, the Wexford event witnessed the return to competition of one of Ireland’s most popular personalities, Adrian Boyd, who in Agnew’s other Porsche (a RHD example in ‘cooking’ trim), finished 41 seconds behind local man Gerry Buckley in an RS1800.

Adrian was apparently delighted with the car, which he said he drove very carefully in order to get used to it and now feels he can go much faster if necessary. The white Porsche is being ‘borrowed’ by the Boyd brothers for the remainder of the year, and probably for 1977 as well. Adrian plans to use the car on the Ulster Rally (September 3/4) before handing over to Derek for the Manx.

Just after the Ulster Adrian is to practise for the Criterium d’Quebec on which he is competing with his Alpine and Beatty Crawford. The rally is scheduled for September 11/12 and takes place in an area of forests about 50 miles North of Montreal. For this event the Alpine is being sponsored by Gabriel Striders, a large US shock absorber manufacturer.

Adrian and Gerry Buckley dominated proceedings in last weeks Wexford Rally, finishing over four minutes ahead of Joe Pat O’Kane’s Porsche. The latter was harried all the way to the finish by Sean Campbell, again being co-driven by his wife.

Both Cahal Curley and Phil Coulter non-started due to a lack of gearbox parts, but perhaps the drive of the rally was logged by Ron Neely in his 1400 Mini. After the Saturday run the incredible little car was lying third but he retired on the first stage on Sunday when a wheel fell off.

The Bernard Banning/John Horton Chrysler Avenger finished sixth overall. It appears that Reggie McSpadden will not now use the LHD Carrera screamer formerly driven by David Agnew until it has been converted to RHD.

RESULTS – Castrol Wexford Rally 1976

1. Ger Buckley (Escort RS1800)
2. Adrian Boyd (Porsche Carrera)
3. Joe Pat O’Kane (Porsche Carrera)
4. Sean Campbell/Yvonne Campbell (Escort RS2000)