1977 Permapost Rally

Ballinamallard Driver Second in “Permapost Rally”

This report is reproduced from the Fermanagh Herald – Saturday, May 21, 1977.

The weekend sunshine made conditions ideal for the second Permapost Rally around Fermanagh, sponsored by Ballycassidy Sawmills, and which was won by Larne driver, Ronnie McCartney, in an Escort RS2000, with Ballinamallard man, Bertie Fisher, in second place.

The importance of the event was underlined by the fact that it counted towards the Pirelli/Belfast Telegraph N.I. Rally Championship, and after Saturday’s result this now means that Bertie Fisher is once again in a challenging position for major honours.

Partnered by his younger brother, Ivan, the Ballinamallard man pulled out all the stops to cut back McCartney’s 12-second lead going into Stage 5. As things turned out, however, the Stage had to be cancelled owing to the fact that a blockage caused by Castlederg man, Robin Lyons, compelled thirty cars to drive through in convoy.

Lyons’ Avenger was one of two cars that rolled – the other being the ex-Timo Makinen car driven by Enniskillen man, Ian Cathcart. His disaster occurred on Stage 6 after he had succeeded in getting the second fastest time on Stage 4.

The Rally was officially started by Mr. George Kidney, managing director of Ballycassidy Sawmills, at 11 o’clock on Saturday morning, and 75 starters zoomed from Ballycassidy to the first spectator stage at Castlecoole. They then headed West and arrived in Belleek at around 1.30 p.m.

At this stage there was a two-second gap between McCartney and Fisher, with Robert McBurney, last year’s winner, lying in third place eighteen seconds behind McCartney.

If the organisers were a little disappointed with the spectator interest at Castlecoole, there was all-round jubilation at Castle Archdale, with crowds of onlookers spilling over both sides of the road. This was to be, in fact, the final stage, and shortly afterwards the drivers finished the Rally at the “Golden Pheasant” where prizes were presented by Mrs. Madeleine Richardson, the wife of the Chairman of the Enniskillen Motor Club.

The detailed Group One and Overall results were:

Ronnie McCartney/Derek Smyth, Larne (RS2000);
Bertie Fisher/Ivan Fisher, Ballinamallard (RS2000);
Jimmy Logan/Peter Ervine, (RS2000)(late entry).

For coming first overall McCartney received £75, the Chambers Perpetual Cup, the Fisher Engineering Trophy, and the Tamlaght Autopoint Trophy.

Bertie Fisher received £50, the R. C. Stuart and Sons Cup for the highest placed Fermanagh driver, and the Omaglass Trophy for the fastest Fermanagh driver on the two spectator stages. This latter trophy was presented by Mr. Jim Cathcart from Monea.

Other winners were:

Class 1—John Lyons/Trevor Semple, Castlederg (Peugeot 104ZS);
Class 2-Ronnie McCartney/Derek Smyth (RS2000);
Class 3-Brian Boyd/Bert Rush, Newtownabbey (1300 Escort);
Class 4-George Robinson/Dermot Carey, Ballymena;
Class 5-Ernest Kidney/Nicky Moffatt, Ballycassidy.

Second in Class 5 was the Omagh pairing of Roy Alcorn and Kevin Nixon who received the STIHL Chain Saws Perpetual Cup, presented by John Cathcart, of Trory, for the most meritorious performance of the Rally.

The Auto Supplies Cup for the highest-placed Novice went to David Jameson/Jim Craig, Carryduff (Escort).

The Clerk of the Course for the Rally was Mr. Austin Frazer; Mr. John Richardson was Deputy Clerk, and Secretary of the meeting was Mr. Gordon Jackson, the Secretary of the Enniskillen Motor Club Ltd.

The Club’s next Rally will be their Rally Sprint at St. Angelo on Friday and Saturday, July 15th and 16th.