TIME TO GET REVVED UP!!!
The Clare and Galway Motor Clubs are delighted to announce details of their annual upcoming co-promoted event, The Ballyvaughan Motorsport Hillclimb Weekend, which is based among the fabulous Burren Landscape in Ballyvaughan North Clare which takes place on the weekend of the 22nd , 23rd & 24th April. This year the event will be Rounds 1 & 2 of the ‘’Naylor Engineering National Hillclimb & Sprint Championship 2016’’. This year’s 14 round Championship takes place over seven weekends taking in some of the most scenic parts of Clare, Carlow, Wexford, Limerick, Waterford and Donegal and the events bring a much needed boost to the local economy with big demand for accommodation, food and entertainment.
The organisers of this weekend are delighted to welcome Michael Fitzgibbon Contractors and Sheils of Ennis Main Honda Dealer on board as co-sponsors for this year’s event. They are also very thankful to welcome the newly owned Logues Lodge as main headquarters for the event. Each year Ballyvaughan puts on a great show for the Hillclimb fraternity and this year will again be no different. Competitors will begin arriving on Friday afternoon for an optional scrutiny which will take place that evening in Mooney’s Emo service station between 6pm & 8pm where you are invited to get up close and personal with some of the fastest cars this country has to offer and also speak to their brave drivers.
On Saturday morning the drivers will head to the world famous Corkscrew Hill which is being run by Clare Motor Club under the guidance of Tomás McGarry who will be taking on the role as Clerk of the Course. The 1.51km very smooth hill which consists of challenging hairpins and fast sweeping bends will pose a stimulating test for all competitors in the various classes.
Sunday sees the drivers head out the coast road through Fanore and on to Ballinalacken Hill which is being ran by local Ballyvaughan man Aiden Connolly. Some older competitors might remember part of this hill from the PJ Vaughan days but rest assured this is a brand new hill which is 2.1km in length. This hill is technical but also extremely fast in places interspersed with tight bends which is sure to keep the drivers adrenaline pumping from start to finish This will give competitors a great opportunity to compete on two of the best and most challenging hills in this year’s Hillclimb Championship Series. This year the organisers would like to announce details of their new “Honda Rally Car Challenge Competition”. This award will be presented to the fastest team who compete over the two days. Teams must consist of three individual cars (no double drives) and each driver must be a member of the one motor club whom they will be representing as a combined team. If you would like to be part of this event, you can help out by marshalling on the day and seeing these cars up close at full tilt through the burren landscape.
There are also designated and safe spectator areas on both hills which will be marshalled. If a marshal asks you to move from where you are standing rest assured they are doing so for your safety. If you do not obey their instructions you will leave them no choice but to stop the event. Please be courteous and polite to all marshals and officials as these people are volunteers who give their time willingly. There will be more information and maps regarding these areas posted online closer to the event.
Logues Lodge Ballyvaughan is also very happy to be associated with this year’s Hillclimb Weekend as they will act as main Headquarters for the event. They will have a special weekend menu available each night and the prize giving and video footage of each day’s action will take place on Saturday and Sunday evening. The prize giving will be kicking off from 8.30pm on Saturday evening followed by music till late. All are welcome to attend for fun, laughs and stories. We look forward to seeing you all in the Burren in April. Entries secretary for the Ballyvaughan Hillclimb event is Aiden Connolly and he can be contacted on 086-3487757 between 6.00pm and 9.00pm. Entry fee is 230 euro for both day’s or 130 euro for a single day with drivers getting a practice run followed by at least three timed runs each day.
Event Regs available HERE
Entry form available HERE