30 August Tyrone Courier Update.
Mega-Entry for DMC Moonraker Rally with Falloon Motors
While elsewhere in the province navigation rallying seems to be dying a slow death, in Dungannon it seems to be going from strength to strength. Twenty five signed-up entries were already on-hand a full week before the event, and a strong entry it is too. Local stars, the Hawe Cousins Leslie and Gareth, the last crowned N.I. Champions, are on the list, as well as last year’s Moonraker winners, Ciaran and Rachel Carey.
The updated format of the event has attracted a number of Targa Rally regulars to come and give the Moonraker a try, and Dungannon Motor Club is confident they will be delighted with the new-look event. Neil Fletcher and Rodney McCready in their Escort Mk1, Mark Stewart and Alan Gilkinson in their MX5, and Darren Fleck and Gary Wilson in their BMW 316, are all set to do battle on the Tyrone lanes.
Also on the list of entries are the Millar Brothers, Dougie and Glenn in their VW Golf. They have already sampled both Targa and navigation events, and were overall winners on the last navigation rally before the Summer break in Cookstown. Their promotion into Class 3 for Novices marks the end of their “Beginners” career and sets them in with Malcolm McQueen and Grace Campbell (MX5), and Gavin and Cathy Campbell, also in a Mazda.
The rally gets under way at the Dungannon Rugby Club on Friday night, with documentation and vehicle scrutiny from 7:30pm. There will be a drivers’ briefing before the first car pulls away at about 8:30pm to head to the first test near Killyman. About three hours from that, four tests and four regularity sections later, crews will be back at the Rugby Club for supper and results.
Of course it takes a lot of help to staff the various check-points on the rally, and anybody available to lend a hand should also come to the Rugby Club for 7:30pm. It would be a big help if potential helpers could call Eric Patterson to let him know of their availability, or if you haven’t helped before, just to talk about what is involved. Eric can be contacted at 077 1074 1781.
23 August 2016 Tyrone Courier Article
DMC Moonraker Restarts Navigation Rally Season.
After the Summer Break, it is left to Dungannon Motor Club to kick-start the navigation rally season with their famous Moonraker Rally. As Club level motorsport seems to be moving towards the Targa Rally format, the organizing team of the Moonraker plan to appeal to both drivers and navigators by bringing back “selective” sections. Timed to a second like special tests on Targa Rallies, these will bring the added challenge of driving the tests at night.
This year also sees a new sponsor for the event, with Trevor Falloon Motors offering to support the Club in the running of this iconic navigation rally.
Having cultivated a healthy population of navigators by running navigation classes, Dungannon Motor Club is hoping to attract a strong entry, testing both crew members in the car with both 30mph regularity and “selectives”.
Back in March, the Snowdrop Rally attracted 26 entries, with Terry Patterson and Adam Crawford running out popular winners in their Subaru Impreza. Last Year’s Moonraker was won by Husband and Wife team, Ciaran and Rachel Carey, and as A.N.I.C.C Rally Co-Ordinator, Ciaran is very supportive of Dungannon’s efforts to re-ignite interest in this form of sport.
Despite the absence of a proper Navigation Rally Championship this year again, Dungannon Motor Club is trying hard to prevent the demise of this most vital of training grounds for the navigators of the future. The skills acquired competing in navigation rallies are essential for moving on to Targa and Special Stage Rallying. Many of the top co-drivers today started their motorsport career on this type of event.
The 2016 Moonraker starts at the Dungannon Rugby Club on Friday the 2nd September, and will begin with a nearby “selective” on private ground. A Regularity section timed to the whole minute will take crews to the second “selective”, a format repeated again West of Dungannon to yet another night time test. The third and final Regularity section will be timed to the second to check competitor’s ability to manage the 30 MPH average. Navigation will be simple, so the time and distance management will be the key to success.
The rally will wrap up with a final “selective” on private property, and then on to the finish back at the Rugby Club for supper and results. It should be a great night of Club motorsport, and of course requires plenty of help to run the various time controls and tests. Club members should plan to come to the Rugby Club and sign on as an official to help run the event.
9 August 2016
In the downloads panel you can find the regulations and entry form for the upcoming Moonraker Rally on the 2nd September 2016.
Come any try our wee twist to a Navigation rally.
The event will comprise of Simple Navigation regularity sections with a few selectives (special tests) thrown in.
These special tests will have a similar format to our Targa tests,
Navigation will be kept simple, and even those of you with little or no Navigation skills, will be able to complete the route.
Any queries please contact me, the Clerk of the Course, and keep an eye on the website here where more details of the format will be published:
Colin Hazelton, Competition Secretary, Dungannon Motor Club.
Phone: 07766 302445
email: crthazelton@gmail.com