Kerry MC & Killarney MC Hewison Autotests 9-10 Mar 02

Posted: March 6, 2002 10:48 AM

The aim of Autotesting is to drive a cararuond a set of markers/bollards, adhering to set route in as short atime as possible .The route is defined by diagram and involves compeitors using both forward and reverse gear .They are required to stop astride lines and park in 'garages' and penalties are given for striking markers.When done correctly the car almost glides around the test stopping only for fractions of a second and quickly changing direction fromforward to reverse while on the move.

The action gets under way Saturday afternoon in the Greyhound Stadium carpark with a sries of twelve test laid on around the car park and stadium grounds.This event is organised by the Tralee based Kerry Motor Club and Donal Lynch is the official in charge. Sunday sees the action relocate to tha ALPS carpark in Millstreet with Killarney and district motor clubs Donie Lucy in charge of proceeding.

The event has attracted entries from the top autoteters in the country in the country including the Cashman brothers from Banteer Liam and Mike who drive an opel Corsa and Toyta Stalet respectivly . S ome of the more intersting entries include a brace of Mini Speciials driven by the likes of JJ Farell and Paul Phelan .The top local drivers in this exciting branch of motorsport include Tralees Brendan Farmer (Mini Special )and Newcastlewests Mike Mulcahy (Mini )

The action begins at 2pm on Saturday and 11 am Sunday with the function in the Abbeygare kicking off at 8.00 pm

Hewison National Autotest Kerry Weekend Irish Autotesting (which is the highest standard anywhere in the world) has a habit of throwing up great head to head contests; an ingredient that always adds an edge to any sporting competition. JJ Farrell from Navan who is very much the man-of-the-new-millenium in autotesting leads eight times champion Eamonn Byrne of Delgany by the just one point after 13 of 16 championship rounds.

Last time out, in eleven minutes of action a mere half-second separated the contenders with the third-place man a further half-second behind. It is quite some time, if ever, that the national championship has come to Kerry and this week-end could see the new-for-2002 Kerry Autotest weekend (Kerry Car Club at Tralee Greyhound Stadium on Saturday from 2.00 P.M and Killarney Motor Club at Alps, Millstreet from 12.00 PM on Sunday) decide the outcome. Both championship contenders drive the cut-down Mini Specials, but the battles in other classes are also close with Frank Lenehan just ahead of James Pringle in large saloons, Clonakilty’s Don Giles edging ahead of Vincent Fagan in the smaller class, and Mini Saloon and rear-wheel drive classes in attendance as well. Tralee’s Brendan Farmer and Rathmore’s Conor Falvey are both spectacular local drivers from the Kingdom and Munster championships, whose additional numbers make up to a bumper entry of over 40 entries. To those who haven’t ever attended an autotest it is car control and manouvering at its most!, but carried out by experts verges on art with the cars never stopping motion even in changing from forward to reverse.