1984 Donegal Fleets Inn Harvest Rally

The Fleets Inn Donegal Harvest Stages Rally

This Report by Rory Kennedy first appeared in Carsport Magazine in 1984.

With over one hundred and fifty entries, this year’s Donegal Motor Club, Harvest Stages Rally returned to its last year’s venue, The Fleets Inn, Downings.

Dan Daly and Bill Moffett lead the field away from the twelve noon start in their “Print & Display” Datsun, to complete the first loop of four stages before returning to Downings for the first service.

James McDaid and Rory Kennedy in their “Swilly Homes” Opel Ascona 400, set the pace right from the start, recording 2.38 on the first short opening test. John Connor and Starritt Graham, (the event sponsors) were next up with 2.41 despite having to change the gearbox on the way to the event in their ‘Fleets Inn” Chevette H.S.R. Pat Kirk and Paul Foley followed in their Autotune Nissan 240 R.S. with 2.43. But once again the first stage did not conclude without incident. As Kevin Harley and Roger Whiteside rolled their Sunbeam heavily at the very end of the stage. Fortunately both crew members were unhurt.

John Connor was quickest on S.S.2 (3.30), followed by Pat Kirk 3.36 and McDaid 3.37. Dessie McCartney and Raymond Hill, a welcomed late entry, running in the vacant No. 2 spot, were struggling to get to grips with their “McCartney Motors” R.S. 1800 while running on slicks on the very slippy stages. John Kennedy and Don Wilmont were reported well off the road in their Toyota shortly after the start of S.S.2 and Stephen Russell and Michael Pearson were also casualties on this stage, retiring their R.S. 2000 when they also visited the scenery.

James McDaid dominated on the lengthy stage 3, (approx. 12 miles) recording 12.39, followed by Connor on 12.50, and Kirk 12.56. Meanwhile, Hugh O’Brien and Flint McCullagh were holding fourth spot in their R.S. 1800, followed by last year’s winner Dan Daly, and Robin Lyons and Noel Harvey held sixth in their Lotus Sunbeam, despite a brief off on S.S.3. The classic Atlantic Drive stage followed, with McDaid once again quickest (7.32) followed by John Connor nine seconds in arrears (7.41). Hugh O’Brien followed on 7.49, delighted with his new engine’s performance.

Pat Kirk lost approximately 20 seconds with a slight off, but he had also lost time with an off on the previous stage 3. Raymond and Trevor Knox were also on the early retirement list, after sliding their Autotune Nissan 240 R.S. off the road on S.S.3.

Louis McNern and Shaun Lafferty in their R.S. 2000 held a 22 sec. lead over John Gilleece and Stephen Boswell in their R.S. 2000 at the first service. Jimmy Logan/Derek Ervine in their G3 Escort, were experiencing difficulties trying to get used to their five speed gearbox on the long fast stages, but finished a creditable fifth overall at the end of the event.

McDaid lead by 16 seconds after the first loop of stages, followed by Connor 26.42, Kirk 27.15, O’Brien 27.35, Daly 27.58, Lyons 28.10, McCartney 28.18, McAleenan 28.21, Logan 28.22, McNern 28.32.

A repeat of the first four stages followed, with McCartney taking fastest time on the first stage out (S.S.4) 2.37, the slippy conditions suiting the Escort well. Hugh O’Brien was next on 2.39, followed by McDaid and Kirk both on 2.40. Eamon McAleenan and Eamon McCafferty were holding a good top ten position in their newly acquired Escort R.S. 1800 adapting very quickly to the slippy conditions.

McDaid extended his lead on Connor on stages 5, 6 and 7, holding a twenty second lead before the second run over the Atlantic Drive stage. Connor was eight seconds quicker than McDaid, the latter having to struggle over the last two miles with a puncture.

Robin Lyons was unfortunate to roll his Lotus Sunbeam also on the Atlantic Drive, but limped to the end of the stage and retired. Ken Colbert/Manus McKenna were enjoying their customary trouble free run, but changed a half shaft as a precaution in service 2. Fellow Dungannon men Trevor Haydock/Eric Patter- son lost approximately 4 minutes on S.S.4 with a slight off, but began to reclimb the leader board as the rally progressed.

Seamus and Dermott Carey punctured on S.S.7 in their Sunbeam, dropped their class lead, but made a good recovery to eventually finish 3rd in their class. Jackie and Caroline Harris retired their 2 litre Sunbeam on S.S.11 with engine trouble when lying third in their class.

Dessie McCartney was also a casualty on the second loop of stages, retiring when the head gasket expired. Davy Greer/Mark Crowe punctured their rotary powered Escort on S.S.7, and Sammy Fisher/Kevin Kiely also punctured their “Motor Sport & Spares” Mini, but with minimum time loss as it was very near the end of the stage.

Meanwhile the top runners had completed the first two stages of the final loop, and McDaid continued to dominate, until S.S.11 when a puncture cost him 35 seconds in comparrison lo the previous run over the stage. John Connor now took up the running with a 23 second advantage going into the last stage. Both McDaid and Connor had exactly the same time en S.S.12 (7.43) and of course Connor got the laurels after a very consistent, controlled drive throughout the day.

McDaid once again played bridesmaid, a big disappointment after such a steady drive all day. Hugh O’Brien was awarded third after Pat Kirk’s retirement with a broken axle on S.S.12. Dan Daly also dropped a lot of time on S.S.12 when he punctured but carried on to the end of the stage finishing the rally without any tyre on the wheel, and also in 7th position. Jimmy Logan finished a creditable fourth, with Davy Greer in fifth place. John Gilleece finished sixth, after a late turn of speed over the final stages. Eamon McAleenan finished eighth, followed by Louis McNern who dropped a definite sixth place due to a puncture on S.S.11.

Ken Colbert completed the top ten in his immaculate Lotus Sunbeam. Other late retirements included Andrew Kittle/Mervyn McClure in their Avenger, when they stopped with a broken gearbox on S.S.11 and Hugh Coyle/Joe McGonigle also retired their Avenger with engine maladies.

A good day’s rallying was enjoyed by all on a bitterly cold and windswept Saturday, and hot whiskeys were the main order of the evening.

RESULTS

1. John Connor/Starrit Graham (Downings) Vauxhall Chevette
2. James McDaid/Rory Kennedy (Letterkenny) Opel Ascona
3. Hugh O’Brien/Flint McCullagh (Omagh) Ford Escort
4. Jimmy Logan/Derek Ervine (Newtownabbey) Ford Escort
5. Davy Greer/Mark Crowe (Comber) Mazda
6. John Gilleece/Stephen Boswell (Hillsborough) Ford Escort
7. Dan Daly/Bill Moffett (Belfast) Datsun
8. Eamon McAleenan/Eamon McCafferty (Castlewellan) Ford Escort
9. Louis McNern/Shaun Lafferty (Letterkenny) Ford Escort
10. Kenny Colbert/Manus McKenna (Dungannon) Sunbeam

RORY KENNEDY