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LinksKildare Heartbreak Night Navigation - 10 Jan '99
Posted: January 12, 1999 8:42 AM - 3143 Hits
Round 4 RIAC National Night Navigation Championship
by Fergus Casey
Michael O'Conor / Paul Phelan (Toyota Corrolla) managed a clean sheet on Saturdays "Heartbreak" Rally despite the arctic conditions. Air temperatures dipped to -5C and provided competitors with hazardous conditions including black ice and frost. However the former National Champions set a steady pace throughout to emerge worthy winners.
Posted: January 12, 1999 8:42 AM
Frank Fennell / Frank Hussey would also have posted a clean sheet were it not for a timing error which saw Frank clock in two minutes early at the final control. The pair were giving their newly built Volvo a shakedown prior to the Monte Retro. Frank hopes that he has now shaken off his timing errors too.
A disappointing entry of 17 starters faced a route of 90 miles in Counties Kildare and Wicklow which concentrated on lanes not seen in the National Championship for many years. However the difficult conditions facing marshals saw two crucial second half Time Points go unmanned.
Pos Driver /Navigator Class Car Mins
1 Bones O'Connor/Paul Phelan Expert Toyota Corolla TC 0
2 Matt Hume/Doug Corrie Semi Expert Avenger GT 3 1st Class
3 Martin Nugent/Colin Dwyer Expert Peugeot 205 GTi 3 1st Class
4 Frank Fennell/Frank Hussey Expert Volvo 4 2nd Class
5 Damien & Aiden Courtney Expert Vauxhall Astra GTE 4 3rd Class
6 Pakie Duffy/Harry Bleakley Expert VW Golf GTi 8
7 Gerry Kelly/Richard Howard Semi Expert Opel Kadett GTE 11 2nd Class
8 Fintan McGorman/Sandy Mills Expert Vauxhall Nova GSi 19
9 Kevin Lunt/Eoin Longworth Semi Expert VW Golf 1.4 34 3rd Class
10 Vincent & David Fagan Novice Nissan Terrano II 104 1st Class
11 A Reid W Fitzpatrick Novice Mini 229 2nd Class
12 Patrick Moran/Andrew Hill Novice Opel Kadett GTE 325 3rd Class
Excluded
Andrew Mackarel/Liam Higgins Expert Opel Ascona
Retirements
Raymont O'Neill Stephen O'Neill Expert Sunbeam Ti
John Carroll Vincent Coughlan Expert Escort 2.0
Karl O'Donoghue Frank O'Donoghue Semi Expert Sunbeam Ti
Simon Evans Damien Connolly Semi Expert Mini
The night saw the return of some crews after long layoff and the regular competitors must have wished they stayed at home. Doug Corrie teamed up with Matt Hume (Avenger GT) for his first competitive outing on the maps in 18 months and was surprised to find himself second overall at the finish. Following a two year layoff Expert crew Martin Nugent / Colin Dwyer debuted their newly acquired Peugeot 205 GTi to a fine third overall.
Father and son team Vincent / David Fagan were another to see off the regular Championship crews in taking the Novice Class honours. While Vincent has been a stalwart on Navigation rallying for many years he changed seats to give 16 year old David his first ever Championship outing.
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