1978 NI Championship Update

This article is from a Belfast Telegraph report saved by Joe Pat O’Kane and reproduced here with some supporting photographs from the Bryce Sands Collection and my own.

Speers and Law top the table

Consistent performances by Tommy Speers and Joe Law in their Escort Twin Cam on the opening two rounds give them a four point lead in the Northern Ireland navigation rally championship.  They won the opening round, the Coleraine Club’s Snowplough Rally, and were fourth behind Ronnie McCartney on the Cookstown Sizzler.

In second place, and heading the Group One Championship, are Dan Doherty and Brian Russell (Avenger) while Ronnie McCartney (Sunbeam) shares third place with Joe Pat O’Kane (Avenger). Incidentally, Joe Pat’s son, Jo Jo, is in ninth place.

The next round of the series is the Omagh Motor Club’s Pre-Circuit on March 10th.

NI Navigation Championship 1978

Overall Positions after two rounds:

Drivers

• 1. Tommy Speers (Escort TC) 20 
• 2. Dan Doherty  (Avenger GT) 16
• 3= Joe Pat O’Kane (Avenger GT) 12
• 3= Ronnie McCartney (Sunbeam) 12
• 5. Winston Henry (Escort RS) 10
• 6. Tommy Reid (Escort RS) 9
• 7= Eddie Torrens (Escort RS) 8
• 7= Trevor Haydock (Escort RS) 8
• 9= Jo Jo O’Kane (Avenger GT) 7
• 9= Bertie Greer (Mini) 7

Navigators

• 1. Joe Law 20
• 2. Brian Russell 16
• 3. Derek Smyth 12
• 4. Ivor Ferguson 10
• 5= Paul Phelan 9
• 5= Drew Todd 9
• 7= Ian Calvin 8
• 7= Brian Rowan 8
• 9= Dermot Carey 7
• 9= Lenny Weir 7

Rutherford heads the Autotest Table.

The Northern Ireland Autotest Championship is headed by William Rutherford with a second and a  first place on the opening two rounds.  Only two points behind is Sligo’s Alan Murray.  Reigning champion, Castlederg’s Ken Irwin, is driving an MG Midget this season and is back in seventh place.

The beginners championship (after four rounds) is jointly led by five drivers: Wilbur Dallas, Ronnie Newell, Eric Martin, Gareth Doherty and Leslie Black, all on 13 points.  

NI Autotest Championship 1978

Overall Positions after two rounds.

• 1. Williams Rutherford 39
• 2. Alan Murray 37
• 3. Robert Dickson 35
• 4= Lee Lucas 34
• 4= Charlie Irwin 34
• 6. Albert Lucas 30
• 7. Ken Irwin 24
• 8. Paul Phelan 20
• 9. Ken Shields 19
• 10. Ron Mullan 18