Northeast Motorsports Club Loose Autocross - 6 Aug '00

Posted: August 7, 2000 10:59 PM

Ollie McCormack in an Opel Corsa who had been leading the event after the first run, saw his lead diminishing as Niall got to grips with the car, but still only finished 5.2 seconds behind. Eugene Cahill showed that a little Mini still has the nimbleness to threaten the front runners, on a track that was drying out all day. Eugene finished third, 0.9 seconds behind Ollie.

In class 1 the winners were, 1st Brian Lawlor, 2nd Niall Taaffe, 3rd Mark Courtney. A very well done to Niall Taaffe who had his first competition since fitting a new engine to his Glendower Construction sponsored Fiat Uno.

Class 2 provided the largest number in one class and the winners were, 1st Trevor Farrell, 2nd Ciaran McPhilips, 3rd Tommy Gerard. In contrast class 3 provided the smallest competition and 2nd place overall Ollie McCormack took the honors here.

Last years third place contender, Trevor Lancashire took first place in class 4, followed by Arthur Kierans and Eddie Kinrons. The brothers Eugene and Joe Cahill took 1st and 2nd respectively in class 5 in their Mini. Brian Keegan finished in 3rd place.

And finally, the highest placed club member prize went to Shane Briscoe, whose day did not run smoothly, when his car was flooded and then had an engine fire. All this was associated with the entertainer of the day, Brian Sharkey, when he put the car into a 5ft deep pool of water.

Final Top finishing positions:
No. Name   Car   Time (Mins)
1. Niall McShea  Toyota Celica     03:39.8
2. Ollie McCormack Opel Corsa      03:45.1
3. Eugene Cahill  Mini             03:46.0
4. Trevor Farrell  Ford Escort Mk2 03:46.2
5. Joe Cahill  Mini                03:36.9
6. Trevor Lancashire Ford Escort   03:48.7
7. Arthur Kierans Ford Escort Mk2  03:52.4
8. Eddie Kinrons  Ford Escort Mk2  03:53.3
9. Ciaran McPhilips Ford Escort    03:53.9
10. Brian Lawlor  Peugeot 205      03:57.9
11. Niall Taaffe  Fiat Uno         04:00.0

Clerk of the Course Winston Whyte would like to thank all the club members who helped with the preparation and running of the event. Also, to the sponsors Duprint Ltd. (Dundalk), Glendower Construction (Ardee), Kells Hire, Cassidy Motors (Monalty) and Murphy's Quarry (Gormanstown). The Northeast Motorsports Club's next event will be the Triton Showers Single Stage Rally on the 5th of November.

For further information of the event take a look at the club website: www.irish-rallying.com/nemc/