Irish Notes 25th Nov 2015

It was with a sense of devastation that we received the news last Sunday that former NI Rally Champion Glenn Allen had died in an accident early that morning. He was only 47. Glenn and his family had been at a wedding on Saturday in Portrush and in the early of hours of Sunday he elected to walk back from the wedding hotel to his holiday cottage. His body was found by a walker on Sunday morning at 09.00. A post mortem revealed he had died of asphyxiation after his collar got snagged in a branch.

Glenn was one of the most popular drivers on the rally scene through the Nineties and into the Millennium. His attacking style, quite often as the ‘underdog’, earned him legions of fans. He played hard, drove hard and worked hard in his Cookstown car body repair business. Recently his planned rally return was delayed by an opportunity to buy a small adjacent farm. In his Escort days Glenn won the 2WD category in the NI Championship, and then went on the clinch the full NI Champion driver’s title in 2007, driving his black Corolla WRC. He also led the National Rally Championship for a while that year. He won many rallies. Just a few which spring to mind include the Mourne, the Circuit of Ireland Stages and the 2 day Cork Forestry. Many times Glenn finished runner up and his co-driver for many years, Damien Connolly, reckoned he enjoyed those battles as much as the wins. It was quite often a Samson and Goliath scenario on events, but Glenn never gave up, never stopped trying. He was a big man in every sense and he will be sadly missed.

Multiple Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnelly co-drove for him for a season. The two were great friends and Eugene is just one of many people distraught at his passing. To his partner Olivia, son Philip, daughter Nicole and all his family and friends we offer our deepest condolences.

Glenn’s funeral is from Molesworth Presbyterian Church, Cookstown at 1pm on Thursday 26th. Burial afterwards in Churchtown Cemetery.

On a happier note last weekend’s Triton Showers National Rally Championship prize giving at the Sheraton Hotel in Athlone mirrored the success of the series in its attendance, organisation and enjoyment factor. Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan were officially crowned the new Champions, and were presented with the famous Vard Trophy by Sam Vard. Donagh winning the Trophy brought the old saying to mind – ‘No bus for ages, and then two come along at once’ – from the point of view that it was just 12 months ago that Declan Boyle scored the double – the Tarmac and the National in the one season.

Then Donagh Kelly performs the same feat. Driving his immaculate Focus WRC, Donagh really was the class act of Irish rallying in 2015. He paid tribute to his mechanics, including Paul Flanagan, Chris McLean, Kieran Coyle and Nick Watkins, particularly their passion for doing things right, and in a professional manner. Donagh has been rallying for about 20 years, and came up through the ranks as it were, but is certainly at the top of his game now. He admitted that at times during the season, with Championship thoughts in mind, he tempered his driving. He said also that with having spent a lot of time in 2015 rallying, in 2016 he plans a quieter rally year, expand the business, and compete perhaps on just three rallies in his focus WRC – West Cork, Killarney and Donegal. He also plans to fulfil a long held ambition by taking his Metro 6R4 to Italy to drive in the Rally Masters.

Just a few other comments from Donagh included: “We go on rallies to win, but not at all costs” and also “I’ve had a ball!” The latter remark sort of summed up the National Championship feeling last Saturday night. It was a great year for the Championship and a brilliant awards evening, masterfully compered by Martin Walsh. The man behind the Triton Showers involvement, Kevin Barrett said. “Following 13 years of successful Dunlop sponsorship, we had a void to fill. We feel that we have succeeded, and raised the profile of the Championship as well. We’ll not rest on our laurels, and have a few new ideas for the coming year.” One of the things that Kevin introduced in 2015 was the Power Stage concept, and that is set to continue, perhaps with minor tweaks. Kevin was also behind a brilliant prize for the Junior winners James Bradley/Martin Kehoe. As well as an array of crystal, they were handed a cheque for 2000 Euro to cover tyres, plus a date to test the Brendan Kelly Toyota GT86 at Rally School Ireland.

Just some of the special Awards included Jonathan Pringle/Martin Byrne getting the Mickey Farrell Trophy and National Mk2 Champions Trophy. Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore were the recipients of the Rally.ie National 2 wheel drive Champion Trophies. Aidan Wray/Kieran McGrath were on hand to receive the Motorsport Safety Team GpN Champion Trophies. There were so many class Awards, it took about 4 tables to hold them all, an impressively glittering sea of crystal. One award that brought the 320 attendees to their collective feet was commentator extraordinaire Dougie Hughes being very deservedly awarded the ‘Spirit of the Championship’. Much of the hard work in the Championship is carried out by Richard Talbot and Laura McMenamin (nee Fuery). Just to make the night complete Laura’s 10 day old baby boy Jayden was a sleepy but beautiful guest as well!

Another gathering last week was of a more serious nature, the very first RallyFuture forum in Ballynahinch and was hosted by Nicky Moffett on behalf of the MSA. The panel included Jacqueline Cambell (Rally Safety Programme Lead) and Andrew Kellitt (Chairman MSA Rallies Committee) Special guests were Kris Meeke and Steve Perez. It was a constructive meeting, with over 300 people in attendance with many NI Motorclubs represented and a couple of MSI affiliated also.

The primary aim of the forum was to try and communicate how the Rally Safety Review findings will be implemented in 2016 and beyond. Many aspects of rally safety, particularly in reference to marshalling and stage set-up were discussed, and all rallies must now compile and comply with a standardised safety plan. Most of these new guidlines are nothing new and admittedly, are already followed by most organisers here. However it is now going to be set out clearly and although it all seems daunting initially, the message also was that if everyone follows the guidelines then they have little to fear. Concerns were raised by several clubs about the new licensing system for Marshals, and in particular new Marshal’s registration. Andrew Kellitt was reassuring when he explained the MSA’s plans including a new Marshall’s database and an on-line induction scheme.

Rally Media will now need to be MSA accredited and in particular, Tabard Media who must hold their own Professional Indemnity Insurance. Very strict guidelines are proposed as to where media can go, and they must now liaise with the rally safety delegate before the event so that chosen spots can be approved.

We are now going into the quiet time of the year when they there is little rally action on the ground, although there were a couple of events last weekend. The Magherafelt MC ran their Glenview Trophies Targa Rally and Robert Woodside/Bruce Drummond in their Mazda MX-5 scored another success on what was at times quite a slushy day. David Crothers/Barbara Kane, also in a Mazda were 2nd and Eamonn Byrne in his Starlet, co-driven by Joanna Lennon was 3rd. On the Cork MC’s Startrek Navigation Rally at Shanballymore Alan & George Shinnors (Impreza) took the overall award, with Donal Healy/Denis O’Donovan (Starlet) and Dermot Whelton/Mark McCarthy (Impreza) 2nd and 3rd although equal on points lost. Owen Murphy/Daire Hayes (Impreza) were 4th.

On the Middle East Rally Championship rally in Dubai Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, co-driven by Chris Patterson in their Citroen DS3RRC took victory. Enniskillen’s Marshall Clarke co-drove Abdulaziz Al Kuwari in their Fiesta RRC to 2nd place.

The ever popular Grizedale Stages saw a nail biting finish last weekend as it went down to the wire on the final stage. Ollie Mellors took victory by just 1 second from David Wright with Stephen Petch rounding off the top three. Pauric Duffy and Kevin Glynn made the trip in their R5 Fiesta and brought the car home in 16th.

Also last week, the three finalists for the Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the year were announced – Killarney’s Rob Duggan, Monaghan’s Josh Moffett and Omagh’s Patrick O’Brien. It will not be an easy task to make the final judgement, but the winner will be announced at the Motorsport Ireland Dunlop Champions lunch on December 2nd.

Maiden City MC have confirmed that their traditional post Christmas Turkey Run will be held at Aghadowey on December 29th. COC Ian Connelly is optimistic that the rally will continue to be well supported despite the change in venue. The massive Shackelton complex has been host to the both the Dogleap and Turkey Run’s in recent year’s, but on going negotiations about the sale of the site has put any other activities on hold. Regulations are now available online at the Maiden City Website. http://www.maidencitymotorclub.com/

Meanwhile many rally organisers are releasing their early plans for next year. The West Cork Rally (12th/13th March 2016) is going International, to fit in with the newly mooted FIA Celtic Rally Trophy. The rally has run under an International Permit before, back in 1986 and was won by the late Frank Meagher in a MK2 Escort. The format of the rally will remain much the same as in recent years, based at the Quality Hotel Clonakilty and have 14 fast smooth stages. The event will be a counter in the Clonakilty Blackpudding Tarmac Championship. Greg McCarthy will again be Clerk of the Course.

Although on an opt-out year from the National Championship, the Abbeyleix Manor House Hotel based Birr Rally Clerk of the Course, Bill Ryan, is still on the ball and will run a two stage repeated three times rally with low road miles and centralised service. The event will take place on Sunday 21st February 2016 and Bill can be contacted on 00353 87 9194949 or Entries Secretary Clodagh Henghan on 00353 87 9117707.

A relatively new forest event is on the calendar for January. Mid Antrim MC is running a rally through the Slievenorra and Beaghs Forests on Saturday 9th January. The event, ‘The Icebreaker’, will be based at Loughguile and is being backed by Carey Cleaning Equipment. The tracks are very smooth and firm now, and the intention is to have three runs over the two stages, which sounds good, while the entry fee is pegged at £250. The contact for further details is Simon Michael at 00 44 7922 746084.

The Donegal Motor Club is planning a ‘closed to club’ asphalt mini stages rally on Saturday 30th Jan 2016. Presumably this is in place of the snow delayed forest rally in 2015. Karl Reid will be the CoC this time and the event is to be based at the Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny. The format will be 2 stages, each run three times. The club is awaiting final confirmation from MI before the regulations can be released, but the entry fee is expected to be in the region of 395 Euro for the 90km of stages.

The bursting entry list for the Killarney Historic (5th December) makes for startling reading. There are so many top names in both Historic and Modified categories that is hard to know where to start! Just as a taster, Ryan Barrett/Diarmuid Lynch, Melvyn Evans/Sean Hayde and Seamus O’Connell/Brian Duggan are the top three seeds in the Historics, all in Escorts. Owen Murphy is at 5 in the Lotus Sunbeam and Steve Perez at 8 in his iconic Lancia Stratos. The Modified category also reads like an Irish Rallying ‘Who’s Who’ with Chris Armstrong/James Fulton topping the seeding. Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore are at 2 in their Starlet and are the exception in what is predominantly an Escort top line-up.

We made mention above of Kris Meeke at the MSA seminar. He certainly made a strong contribution with views from the driver’s side at the very pinnacle of the sport. There is still no definite word on his plans for 2016. Certainly the Citroen Racing organisation is not registering for the WRC drivers/manufacturers next season, but they have the option of running team cars on the WRC which would keep Kris in the thick of the action and also able to test extensively, which is not allowed as a ‘registered’ WRC driver. Another option is Toyota. Volkswagen has decided to continue with their present three drivers and has a full commitment to next year, despite the emissions furore. Ford M-Sport, Malcolm Wilson, is to make a decision at the start of next week on their plans, but it is thought that will not include Kris Meeke, although nothing is cast in stone at this game. Hyundai seem to have a full quota of drivers for next year. So, Citroen it is then? We will have to wait and see!

Finally for now – fancy a night at the pictures? The Irish Film Institute is screening Steve McQueen’s 1971 film, ‘Le Mans’, on 70mm exclusively at the IFI at Temple Bar on Monday November 30th. – More info on www.ifi.ie/lemans70mm