Carrick-on-Suir Hillclimb Weekend
Rounds 7 & 8 of the Naylor Engineering Hillclimb & Sprint Championship 2013.
The Sunny South East really lived up to its name last weekend with the Hillclimb Community took over Glenbower, Piltown for rounds 7 & 8 of the Naylor Engineering Hillclimb & Sprint Championship. Boasting temperatures of between 28 degrees and 30 degrees on the Saturday congrats must go to all drivers who had to compete with full 3 layered racing suits.
Des O’Keeffe and Team in the Carrick Club had their work cut out to get Glenbower, Piltown ready for this weekend and on Sunday morning Des was seen on his hands and knees at the top of the hill. (It is still unknown if he was actually working or fell).
Saturdays Results
Cinquecento Class
With a special class been formed for these pocket rockets due to the popularity of them it was Aidan Courtney who powered his 1100cc Cinq to Class honours, Closely followed by Senan O’Connor in 2nd and Damien Walsh took 3rd.
Class 1
Nigel (ah yea) Bryson cemented his lead in the Championship with another Class win on the Saturday as he powered his ever faithful Uno to the top of the table. 2nd in class was Aidan Courtney in the Cinquecento and following him was Senan O’Connor in 3rd. Trish Daly gain valuable Championship points by taking 4th place, Damien Walsh took 5th and following him home was Brendan Dawson in 6th.
Class 2
His first Class win of the Championship saw John Bradley claim all 10 points on Saturday. 2nd in Class and powering his Honda Civic home within 0.5 seconds behind first was Kelvin Lyons. Gemma Kerley took the remaining spot in Class and claimed 3rd.
Class 3a
Last year’s Class winner Ian Quinn found himself stuck inside a Connolly Sandwich all day with Father & Son Thomas & Michael. Michael set a blistering time in the Hyabusa powered Westfield and claimed 1st in Class but unfortunately on his 4th run lost control and ended up in the ditch after the first chicane. Quinn fought hard all day but wasn’t able to close the gap and settled for 2nd and gained valuable Championship points. In 3rd place was Thomas Connolly and was gaining on Quinn but unfortunately had to retire along with his son. Peter Boggan wasn’t too far behind in 4th and John Whitley took the remaining spot in the class.
Class 3b
Simon McKinley again brought 2 cars to the Carrick event and the Escort MkII was on song all day and claimed yet another class win. He may be old but youthful looking Rory Stephens may be in the middle of a mid life crisis but his driving style leaves the spectators in awe. He powered his fantastic out-turned Radical Sr8 to 2nd in Class and 4th Over-all. Alex Wilsdon took his MK Indy to 3rd in Class. Eddie Lyons and Jim Butler battled each other all day but it was the last run where Lyons bet Butler for 4th place in Class by a margin of 0.36 of a second.
Class 4
John Farrell’s Mk1 Escort took the honours in the Classic Car Class. Mick O’Sheas MGB GT managed 2nd, Sean Murray in the Lotus Elan claimed 3rd and Buckstown Motorsport member Seamus “cowboy” Anderson drove his Anglia like it was never driven before to claim 4th in Class after the handicap points were added.
Class 5
Eugene French was the only competitor in this Class at the weekend so claimed top spot and 10 Championship points to put him further ahead on top in the Championship standings.
Class 6
Joe Courtney couldn’t put a foot wrong all weekend and claimed Class honours and 2nd over all on the Saturday. Rupert Bell took up 2nd spot in Class in his Crossle R1 and 3rd placed Emmet Dunne battled hard all day but couldn’t close the gap.
Class 7
Class 7 had a poor showing on the Saturday with just 3 competitors. Simon McKinley in his Lant Rt2 took the Overall and outright win this left Dermot Nolan and Deirdre McKinley to fight it out for Class honours. Nolan finished the day with a time of 49.97 but Deirdre wasn’t too far behind with 51.92 but unfortunately for Deirdre her last run claimed the engine in her Reynard Opel Lotus.
Class 8a
Pierce Dohoney lead from run 1 and claimed the class win but was pushed hard all day by Eamonn Hutton in his small but nimble Ford Ka. Lisa Knox took 3rd in Class in her Honda Civic.
Class 8b
Niall Fitzpatrick battled hard all day and brought his Mk1 Escort home in 1st place in front of Pascal O’Sheas Mk 2 Escort by less than 1 second. Colm Doherty’s Toyota Corolla took 3rd place in class.
Class 9
Another lone entry in Class 9 was Liam O’Neill in his Mk2 Escort who finished the day with his fastest run of 59.54.
F.T.D
Simon McKinley set a blistering time on run 1 of 44.90 and the only person to beat this time was himself on his 3rd timed run when he got 43.85.
Sundays Results
The sun may have disappeared behind the clouds but it wasn’t going to dampen the moods of the drivers and spectators who again were hoping for another great days driving and they were not to be disappointed. With the Connolly Family unable to get their Westfield back together left Class 3a to Quinn, Boggan and Whitley to fight it out. Deirdre McKinley remembered that day back in December when she and Simon tied the knot and knew 50% of whatever he owned was now hers so she commandeered the Lant Rt2 so she wasn’t going to miss out a day’s driving. Sean Murrays (1 Star Hotel) shorts were the talk of the pits on Sunday morning and Dermot Nolan was just a little envious but knew deep down he would never squeeze into them.
Cinquecento Class
It was a repeat performance of Saturday’s results in the Cinquecento Class with Aidan Courtney taking 1st, Senan O’Connor 2nd and Damien Walsh taking 3rd place.
Class 1
Class 1 was also a repeat performance of the previous day’s results with just 1 exception. Nigel Bryson took 1st, Aidan Courtney 2nd, Senan O’Connor 3rd, Trish Daly 4th, Damien Walsh 5th and Billy Power 6th.
Class 2
Kelvin Lyons learned from the previous day and powered his Civic to claim 1st in Class. John Bradley took 2nd.
Class 3a
With the 2 Connolly’s out of action the battle between Quinn and Boggan lasted the full day and it was only on the final run when Quinn admitted defeat and shook Boggans hand for a great days racing but when they returned to the pits Quinn was shocked to find out he actually took 2 seconds off his previous run and bet Boggan by just over 1 second. This battle between these 2 seems like it’s going to go all the way to Donegal for the last 2 rounds. John Whitley brought his GTI Golf home in 3rd after setting his fastest time also on the final run.
Class 3b
As of Saturdays results the top 2 places remained the same with Simon McKinley taking 1st and Rory Stephens 2nd. Eddie Lyons took 3rd on the Sunday ahead of Jim Butlers Renault Clio in 4th and 5th place went to Alex Wilsdon in the MK Indy.
Class 4
John Farrell again took class honours in the historic’s and Mick O’Sheas MGB GT came in 2nd. Back in the trophies was Mullinavegas man Seamus Anderson in 3rd and the final 2 slot in the Class went to Sean Murray and Edward Flavahan respectively.
Class 5
Eugene French yet again all alone in the Class took 1st place and the maximum Champions points for the weekend.
Class 6
Again as of Saturdays results the honours went to Joe Courtney, 2nd place again to Rupert and Emmet Dunne took home 3rd in Class.
Class 7
Even though he just realised on Sunday morning that his new wife wore the pants in the relationship Simon McKinley proved he is still the better driver of the Lant Rt2 and powered home to 1st overall and F.T.D. Again it was left to Dermot Nolan and Deirdre McKinley in her newly acquired Lant Rt2. Dermot took the honours on Sunday and Deirdre finished 2nd in Class and Fastest Lady.
Class 8a
Pierce Dohoney again took Class honours followed home by Eamonn Hutton in 2nd who was pushed hard by Lisa Knox in her Civic in 3rd
Class 8b
Niall Fitzpatrick powered his Escort home in 1st place closely followed by Pascal O’Shea. Ger O’Brien and Garry Fitzpatrick took 3rd and 4th respectively.
Class 9
Liam O’Neil again was the sole competitor in Class 9 on Sunday and finished with a very respectable time of 1.18.86
F.T.D
Again McKinley showed why he is Double Hillclimb Champion and claimed another F.T.D on Sunday and brought the Lant Rt2 home with an amazing time of 1.00.30
Next up for the Championship is a trip to North Co. Dublin for the M.E.C Hillclimb on 17th & 18th August. Best wishes also goes to all competing in The Irish Festival of Speed on the 3rd and 4th of August in Limerick Racecourse.
Article By: PRO. Paul Doyle