Connacht MC Autocross - 9 Apr '00

Posted: April 20, 2000 12:12 AM

The first timed run got underway at 12 noon around the marked circuit in Harrington’s Quarry with each competitor completing three laps, three times producing their personal best time from one of the loops.

James Cassidy from Swatragh, Derry in a Ford Escort set the best time on the first run at 3:09:94 with Sligo’s Dominick McLoughlin (Sunbeam) second on 3:10:68 with Northern Ireland’s Ronnie Coulter (Escort) stopping the clocks at 3:12:06.

On the second run, the tables turned with Coulter setting a time of 3:05:05 with Cassidy next on 3:05:77 and McLoughlin slipping to third on 3:08:14. Surprisingly, none of the leading pack improved on their time on the final run thus leaving Coulter from Five Mile Town, with the overall award thanks to his clear run on the second loop.

Mayo & District Motorsport Club had a number of drivers in contention for class honours. Walter Burke from Williamstown was the highest placed finisher for the Club with 22nd overall. The Escort MKII driver’s best time of 3:18:75 was achieved on the second run (having failed to take a time on the opener) was enough to secure second in Class 8. Ballina’s Trevor Morrow (Suzuki Swift) also finished second in Class (1) with a personal best of 3:26:85 and 40th overall.

Recording a time of 3:23:66 Sean McHugh (Bekan) finished just outside the Awards with 5th in Class 2 and 33rd overall in his Peugeot 205 GTi.

Making their Autocross debut were Fiacre Moran and Kenneth Jordan (Belcarra) who enjoyed their first outing in their newly acquired Nissan Violet.

The next round of the Championship will take place at the same venue on the 21st May.