1978 MCMC Sperrin Rally

Dessie Boyd and Godfrey Crawford win 1978 Maiden City Championship

After 70 miles of competitive motoring over farm lanes and country roads, made treacherous by sleet and fog, Dessie Boyd and Godfrey Crawford snatched victory in the Maiden City Motor Club’s Sperrin Rally by just 48 seconds from Davy Hadden and Ken Neely. Their win was also sufficient to clinch the Maiden City Motor Club championship for 1978.

This was the final night navigation rally of the year and was sponsored by McClean’s Garage, Drumahoe, from where the customary large entry was led out on the first 50 mile competitive section by David McIlroy and Ronnie McKee in their Chrysler Sunbeam.

Within a few miles of the start, the flavour of the event became evident. Several of the top crews, including McIlroy/McKee and Anderson/Hopper fell foul of the tight navigation and lost 20 marks by missing a route check.

At the petrol halt in Ballymagorry, Boyd/Crawford were down eight minutes while Hadden/Neely had lost 10. An equally hard fought battle was taking place in the Semi-Experts class between Tom Harbinson/Craig Surplus, 17 minutes lost, Elkin Robinson/Gary McKibben (19) and Eddie Campbell/Gerry O’Doherty (21)

Willie Braidan/Harry Bredin were dominating the Novice Class with only 16 minutes lost.

On the final section Hadden stepped up the pace and at the finish near Donemana be was a mere 48 seconds behind Boyd. The nearest opposition was George Hamilton/David Johnston, who were some 10 minutes behind.

The Class 2 (Semi-Experts) battle resolved itself when Elkin Robinson/Gary McKibben missed a route check and Eddie Campbell lost several minutes due to a faulty fuel system. This left Tom Harbinson/Craig Surplus with a comfortable 10 minutes lead. Willie Braidan and Harry Bredin were the sensation of the event by winning the Novices’ class by 18 minutes and finishing equal fourth in the overall classification.

RESULTS

Experts:

1. D. Boyd/G. Crawford (Avenger 1600) 15.40;
2. D. Hadden/K Neely (Avenger 1600) 16.28;
3. G. Hamilton/D. Johnston (Escort 1600) 23.30.

Semi-Experts:

1. T. Harbinson/C. Surplus (BMW2002) 28.20;
2. E. Campbell/G. O’Doherty (Fiat 128) 39.05;
3. S. McCluskey/J. Kerlin (Escort RS2000) 51.15.

Novices:

1. W. Braidan/H. Bredin (Escort RS2000) 28.05;
2. A. Neeson/P.Donaghy (Escort RS2000) 46.25;
3. R. Johnston/H. Wiseman (Escort RS2000) 88.44