Clare Hillclimb Weekend - 9-10 Jun 07

Posted: June 11, 2007 12:45 PM

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The Premier Machine Tools Hillclimb and Sprint Championship reached its mid point this weekend with two rounds hosted by Clare Motor Club near Ballyvaughan this weekend. Sundays Scalp Hillclimb brought to an end a tough week for competitors who contested the Carlow Sprints just a week ago completing four days motorsport in just eight days. Such a grueling timetable was always going to push drivers and their cars to the maximum and was sure to rattle out some problems.

It was tough at the top for championship leader Paul O’Connell who blew his engine holding off multiple champion Byrnes last week. Class 6 competitor Darryl Ramsay lent O’Connell his OMS single seater for the Clare weekend and the young Limerick man scored some useful points on Saturdays Corkscrew Hillclimb with 3rd place overall. On Sunday however the massive grip on the warm tarmac and the trigger sensitive clutch proved to be a nasty combination and a driveshaft broke on the start line of the first run, ending Paul’s points gathering mission.

With Paul O’Connell out of contention the big battle of the weekend was between Galway’s Frank Byrnes and local Clare driver Sylvie Mullins. Frank, enjoying a power surge in his Pilbeam, he dumped the 4.5 litre TVR V8 in favor of a 5 litre Rover V8 recently, tamed the beast on the torturous Corkscrew hill. He set his fastest time on run 2 with a best of 57.81. Sylvie chased him all the way recording his best time on the final third run a 58.99.

The sun was literally splitting the stones on Sunday. New sections of tar along the Scalp began to melt at midday and the slick tyres of the racing cars were pulling the stones out of it. For the leaders the best times were actually set on the first run. Neither Frank Byrnes nor Sylvie Mullins could improve on Run 2 or 3. Sylvie dashed the first run to win by a full 1.34 seconds from Byrnes. That margin was enough to make him fastest man of the weekend on aggregate. The Ballyvaughan driver was delighted with his home victory.

A driver who did get quicker as the day went on was Simon McKinley in the Warrior Escort. Less grip doesn’t bother Simon and he drifted the white Mk2 home a remarkable 3rd overall. With O’Connell out of the running on Sunday the Dubliner is reeling in his buddy in the championship. The gap between them fell from 14 to 8 points over the weekend. This could turn into the battle of the season. Byrnes closed his deficit of 31 points from O’Connell to 20. With drop scores to be applied at the end of the year he could still make the running come seasons end.

Rounds 11 and 12 are based in the beautiful seaside town of Dungarvan in four weeks time. O’Connell assures us he’ll have his car back together in time. The presence in Clare of “Dr. Phil”, as the boys have christened the head of Connaught Racing, shows the UK companies commitment to the campaigns of O’Connell and McKinley. One thing’s for sure the Clare based rounds have certainly played their part in the story of the Premier Machine Tools Hillclimb and Sprint Championship 2007.

CLARE MOTOR CLUB HILLCLIMB AT THE CORKSCREW, LISDOONVARNA, CO CLARE (DAY 1)
1 Frank Byrnes (Pilbeam MP45 Rover V8) 57.81s,
2 Sylvie Mullins (Ralt RT33 Opel) 58.99s,
3 Paul O’Connell (OMS-Honda) 62.28s,
4 Peter Dwyer (Delta T85 Ford) 62.47s,
5 Simon McKinley (Escort) 63.00s,
6 Lee Stanworth (Reynard RF81 Opel) 63.06s,
7 Russell Stanworth (Reynard RF81 Opel) 63.42s,
8 Rory O’Brien (Reynard RF81 Opel) 63.72s,
9 Derek Daly (Van Diemen RF81 FF1600) 64.37s,
10 Stephen Gillis (Westfield) 65.59s.

Class winners:
Pete Ray (Mini) 70.11s,
Rory Stephens (Puma) 70.19s,
Stephen Gillis,
Simon McKinley,
Donal Morrissey (Ford Nota) 70.20s (net),
Declan McNamara (Mondiale FF1600) 66.44s,
Peter Dwyer,
Paul O’Connell,
Sylvie Mullins,
Tom Ryan (Corsa) 76.34s,
Mark Cullen (Darrian) 70.03s,
Padraig Egan (Escort) 67.65s.  

CLARE MOTOR CLUB HILLCLIMB AT THE SCALP, CARRON, CO CLARE (DAY 2)
1 Sylvie Mullins (Ralt RT33 Opel) 45.02s,
2 Frank Byrnes (Pilbeam MP45 Rover V8) 46.36s,
3 Simon McKinley (Escort) 48.51s,
4 Lee Stanworth (Reynard RF81 Opel) 48.83s,
5 Peter Dwyer (Delta T85 Ford) 49.42s,
6 Rory O’Brien (Reynard RF81 Opel) 49.88s,
7 Russell Stanworth (Reynard RF81 Opel) 50.76s,
8 Ed Synan (Escort) 51.10s,
9 Thomas Fitzmaurice (Lancer Evo) 51.86s,
10 Derek Daly (Van Diemen RF81 FF1600) 52.15s.

Class winners:
Ian Quinn (Mini) 56.69s,
Sean Conole (Civic) 56.46s,
Peter Bogan (Escort) 53.28s,
Simon McKinley,
Donal Morrissey (Ford Nota) 54.42s (net),
Declan McNamara (Mondiale FF1600) 54.41s,
Peter Dwyer,
Frank Byrnes,
Tom Ryan (Corsa) 57.92s,
Martin O’Halloran (Escort) 57.47s,
Ed Synan.

Clare Motor Club

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PRE EVENT NEWS

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03/05/07 Preview / New Sponsor
The Clare hillclimb weekend kicks into action next weekend June 9th. and 10th.
Based in Ballyvaughan, The Clare Club who successfully revived The Famous Corkscrew Hill last year will run it again this year on Saturday the 9th. and it will be followed by the Scalp Hill near Carran Village on the Sunday.
The Event has attracted a new sponsor "Hayes of Ennis", the main Mitsubishi Dealer for Co. Clare.

Darren Hayes who recently took over the Mitsubishi Dealership in Ennis is very well known in both the motor industry and rallying circles, having competed as a driver and navigator at all levels over many years. He is also a long standing member of the Clare Motor Club and the club are delighted with his generous sponsorship. The event is also rounds 9 and 10 of "The Premier Tools National Hillclimb & Sprint Championship. .

All the championship contenders will attend and the big news is that Donal Griffin from Shannon will launch his recently rebuilt Reynard 90D Formula 3000 Racing Car. The car was originally run by the Italian Junior F3000 Team. In 1998 an Australian by the name of Dieter Gerstl owned and raced the car on the continent. .

Noel McIntyre a garage proprietor from Mullingar raced the car for a number of years in the Euro Boss series in Europe. He held the lap record in Kirkistown Ni with this car. The car at that time was fitted with a coswrth DFY V8 Engine. Donal has been developing the car by fitting a 4.5 Litre Rover V8 with 400 BHP. This is a far more affordable option than the very costly cosworth engine. This is Donal's first outing in the car and he hopes he can achieve his previous Hillclimb Championship wins of 1998 and 1999 with his new car. .

Clerk of the course for the weekend is John McNamara from Lisdoonvarna and secretary for the event is Vicky Finn from Shannon. .

Mechanical & Document Scrutiny will take place at the Whitethorn Restaurant, Ballyvaughan on Friday evening 8th. June between 6-9pm. .

Prizegiving including a Bar B Que will take place on Saturday Evening at The Whitethorn Restaurant Ballyvaughan at 8pm.(tickets can be purchased from the event secretary). .

The Corkscrew hill will be closed to traffic on Saturday between 10.00am - 6.00pm and on Sunday on the Scalp Hill between 10.00am - 6.00pm. and Traffic Diversions will be in place.

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Clare Motor Club