CORK MOTOR CLUB
Over 40 years organising motorsport
Marshals needed for Stonethrowers
Results for the 2018 CFF Group Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally will be available from around midday on Saturday on irallyresults.com
Summer Autotest, Saturday, June 30. Results here
Regs, Entry Form, Map and more info at
Congrats to Alan and George Shinnors, winners of our 2014 Startrek Navigation Trial
Click here for event write up plus full and short versions of results
Click here for event write up plus full and short versions of results
We have moved our meetings to The Angler's Rest, Leemount, Carrigrohane, Co. Cork, on the second and fourth Tuesday each month 9pm
Murphy Claims 2nd Valvoline Title
The Directors and members of Cork Motor Club wish to congratulate Owen Murphy on winning the 2014 Valvoline National Forest Rally Championship. Owen claimed the title with some very calculated driving at a final round shoot-out on the Glens of Antrim Rally. This is Owen's 2nd time taking the title having previously been crowned champion in 2011.
CMC members our favourites to take 2014 Valvoline series
Cork Motor Club members are again doing well in the national forest championship. CMC's Owen Murphy and James O'Brien head north next Saturday with a good chance of taking the 2014 Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship title.
For Owen, a top three place will be enough for him to become national forest champion again, no matter how his two main rivals, Josh Moffett and Desi Henry, finish.
For James it is looking a little different. He really needs a win unless of course Jason McKenna were to finish second, in which case a top three would also be enough for the Cork navigator to take the championship.
In the classes, CMC's Johnny Kenneally and Ken Carmody have already secured victory in Class 1 with four wins and a second place, while in Class 2 Tim Howard has won the drivers' title and DJ Howard is top navigator with five victories.
The final round of the 2014 Valvoline National Forest Rally Championship takes place in Ringsend, Co. Derry this Saturday November 8. Best of luck to all competitors, marshals and organisers. (see below for preview by Greg Shinnors).
Round 7: Glens of Antrim Preview by Greg Shinnors, Valvoline Championship PRO.
Title pursuit goes down to the wire.
The final round of the 2014 Valvoline National Forest Rally Championship takes place in Ringsend, Co. Derry this Saturday November 8th. The forests of Cam and Springwell play host to an epic finale to this year’s championship as Josh Moffett, Owen Murphy and Desi Henry bid to claim the 2014 title. Never before has there been such a hair rising finish to the championship with a three way shootout on the final round culminating with the closing stages in the dark.
The events consists of 6 stages (2 done 3 times), Sringwell offers 5.2 challenging miles while the renowned “Cam” offers 7.4 miles. There is a service after each loop at the event sponsors’ premises the “River Ridge Recycling” complex in Ringsend. There are 38 stage miles with a compact loop of just 65 road miles. Scrutiny and Documentation take place Saturday morning at River Ridge Recycling with the first car away at 11:01. Following the opening loop first service is scheduled at 12:18 with the final service at 14:45 before the closing loop set to run in darkness. The first competing cars are due at the finish podium approx. 17:10 where the event winner will be declared and the 2014 Valvoline Forest Rally Champions will be unveiled.
Top seed Kenny McKinstry (Impreza S14 WRC) will have to fend off Martin Carins (Impreza S14 WRC). Cairns won the recent Bushwhacker Rally and has an identical machine to Banbridge ace McKinstry. However the young guns with their Group A Evo 9’s will be right in contention as they battle for the 2014 title. Current point’s leader Josh Moffett is at no.3 – the young Monaghan man won the penultimate round in Carrick on Suir and is match fit having competed on the Fastnet Rally in the “Family” Fiesta WRC. Owen Murphy is at no. 4, the Cork man claimed a hat trick of wins mid-season. The 2011 Champion will be determined to make amends having dropped to 3rd on the final stage in Carrick. He was out last Saturday night competing on the “Startrek” navigation trial and will be the man to watch in the dark. Round 1 winner Desi Henry is no.5 and the third man in the “Valvoline” battle. Just like his rivals Henry has had seat time since Carrick. The Portglenone native took a notable 3rd overall on the recent Galloway Hills rally in Scotland. It’s simply too close to call, all three men have the speed. Add in the multiples of permutations, combinations and dropped scores who knows who will be crowned the 2014 Valvoline Forest Champion.
Marty McKenna (Impreza S12B WRC) is at 6 and is due a good run. Sam Moffett at no.7 is hoping to make the podium in the Valvoline Gp N category. No.8 seed Gareth Sayers will go hard in his Evo 7. Liam Regan can never be under estimated at no. 9 with his unusual Peugeot 206 4x4. Frank Kelly (Mk2) rounds off the top ten and is the first in a tantalizing 2WD line up including Adrian Hetherington (Mk2), Seamus O’Connell (Mk2), Shane McGirr (Starlet) and Micky Conlon (Mk2). The latter duo will battle for the Valvoline 2WD laurels. Niall Henry (Evo 9) and Patsy Keenan (Evo 9) are front-runners on the Gp N leaderboard and either driver can take the honors. Alan Atcheson (Mk2) should wrap up class 4 as his main opponents are not travelling. Tim/ DJ Howard (Nova) are making the long trip from Co. Cork and are on course to secure class two.The Seeded Entry List is available at www.mamc.co.uk.
Further information including time & distance schedule, final instructions & live results during the rally are also available from the club website.
Qulaity Hotel Clonakilty West Cork Rally to join
the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship in 2015
The Directors and Management of the T.R.O.A. (Tarmac Rally Organizers Association) are today delighted to announce that the 2015 Quality Hotel Clonakilty West Cork Rally (organized and promoted by Cork Motor Club) will be a full counting round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship for 2015. This follows a successful inclusion for the first time in the 2014 Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Rally Modified Championship, and the Directors felt that the West Cork Rally would be an ideal fit going forward for T.R.O.A. The initial deal between the T.R.O.A. and Cork Motor Club is for the rally to be part of the championship for a three year period.
David Gray T.R.O.A Chairman stated that he and his fellow directors would like to welcome Cork Motor Club on board and he also added that he had seen at first hand the success the inclusion of the West Cork Rally had given the Modified championship in 2014, which created a new dynamic within the Championship as a whole. Indeed the 2014 event was won by regular Irish Tarmac Rally Championship contenders Donagh Kelly and Kevin Flanagan who were full of praise for the event. Gerard Seaman, Championship Manager said today that “we at the T.R.O.A are indeed delighted and excited to have the West Cork Rally on board as a full and counting round”, he also stated that “the West Cork Rally is one of the best kept secrets in Irish Tarmac Rallying and we are sure that with its addition it will give something new to the whole Championship. Cork Motor Club have worked very closely with us over the last few years and now is definitely the time for their inclusion, and we look forward to working with the team in Cork Motor Club for the years ahead”.
Billy Tobin Chairman of Cork Motor Club commented that “on behalf of Cork Motor Club we are delighted to be invited to be a full round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship and we look forward to welcoming all Championship competitors and hope each and every one of them will enjoy the unique classic stages the West Cork Rally has to offer, and experience the fantastic welcome that Clonakilty town will provide.
The T.R.O.A would like to also acknowledge the work of the West Cork Rally Fundraising Committee who tirelessly work each year to make sure the event is the success it has come to be. John O’Donovan Chairman West Cork Rally Fundraising Committee stated “the West Cork Rally Fundraising Committee are delighted with the news of the West Rally being part of the Championship next year. We hope that with the inclusion of the championship there will be a further economic boost to the West Cork region at a quiet time of the year in terms of tourism. Clonakilty will open its doors and give a "West Cork welcome" to all concerned. It's a testament to the hard work of this committee, its members, the Cork Motor Club and the town in general for backing the rally for over the past 37 years”.
Regards,
Gerard Seaman, Championship Manager, T.R.O.A.
Phone: 023 882 0000. Mobile: 087 2204650
[email protected] [email protected]
Free spin for navigator on Navigation Trial event
As you may be aware, one of the major challenges facing our particular discipline (Navigation Trials) is the difficulty of attracting and retaining beginner Navigators. Knowing this, brothers Ray & Stephen O'Neill, long-time supporters of the Navigation scene, have made a very generous offer. They will provide a free ride on a forthcoming Navigation event to a beginner who might not have a regular driver, and who otherwise might not be able to enter. (Read More Here).
(Picture Ger Leahy)
(Picture Ger Leahy)
The DJD Transport, Jim Walsh Forest Rally, Press Release 4: Mini’s and Millingtons…
The stages are set, the plans are finalised and the countdown is on to the best forest rally of 2014, The DJD Transport, Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally. Round 4 of the Motorsport Ireland, Valvoline Forest Rally Championship sees the country’s top gravel crews descend upon.....Click to read full a
Regs available for DJD Transport Jim Walsh Forest Rally
Preparations are at an advanced stage for The 2014 DJD Transport Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally. The event takes place on Sunday August 24th with it’s headquarters based at The Corbett Court Ballyhea. Round 4 of the Motorsport Ireland, Valvoline National Forest Rally Championship heads for the spectacular Ballyhoura Mountains once more. The Ballyhea based event is largely regarded as the jewel in the crown of the Forest Rally Championship and the one that all competitors look forward to year after year. Read More on 2014 Jim Walsh Forest Rally Page
Cork Motor Club's general meeting of Tuesday, May 20th, 2014, discussed the recent club Survey and the members have decided to change the schedule of club meetings.
Starting straight away, club meetings will now be held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. This will include any months with five Tuesdays. Next meeting will therefore be next Tuesday, May 27. Our June meetings will be on Tuesday 10th and 24th. In July we will meet on Tuesday 8th and 22nd. The decision mirrored the Survey, where 52% of responses suggested fortnightly meetings.
A good discussion was held on how to improve the club for members (new and old) and a lot of positive ideas were put forward that would encourage new members to get more involved. Volunteers will now work on putting these suggestions into practice and a schedule of new events, both social and informative, will be announced later. Any other suggestions from club members who were unable to get to Tuesday's meeting are still welcome.
Three busy weekends for CMC crews and marshals.....
Its ben a busy few weeks for CMC members, competing in three different events across three rally championships from Killarney to Glendalough via Carlow…..
The Cartell.ie Killarney international Rally of the Lakes took place over the recent May bank holiday weekend. A number of CMC members enjoyed a fantastic weekend’s motorsport down in the Kingdom with some fantastic results achieved .
In the National section, James O’Brien guided Clonmel’s Roy White home to a superb 1st O/A in their screaming 2.5 engined MG ZR 4x4. Roy and James emerged the victors after a tremendous weekend long battle with Wesley Patterson and Johnny Baird. Only 33 seconds separated the two crews after 15 gruelling stages in the mountains of Kerry and West Cork.
In Class 9, CMCs Liam Fouhy navigated Shane Stanley home to a giant killing 22nd O/A and 2nd in class in their little 1400cc Honda Civic. A remarkable result for this young crew, who are consistently proving themselves to be class contenders.
Class 15 saw the all CMC crew of Alan O’Riordan and Jimmy Jordan bring home 2nd in class in their GC8 Subaru Impreza.
In the Junior section, Inchigeela man Eamonn Creedon navigated Cathal McCarthy’s Honda Civic to finish 5th O/A and 2nd in class. Christy McCarthy brought his trusty Peugeot 205 home to a fine 6th O/A and 3rd in class.
As always CMC were well represented both on and off the stages for the weekend. CMC timing guru John Harrington and his team provided our state of the art live timing system to KDMC for the duration of the event. This was a mammoth task both from a logistical and organisational front, with John and the team taking it all in their strides. On the Junctions and Stage Locations dotted throughout Kerry and Cork the CMC marshalling crew turned out in force once more. Thank you to everyone who turned out and represented the club.
The following weekend saw the action move to The Carlow Stages Rally, round 3 of the Dunlop National Rally Championship. Once again CMC crews were out in force in the midlands.
For the second weekend in a row James O’Brien sampled the Champaign finishing 3rd O/A in the hotseat for Roy White, capping off a tremendous 10 days for the pair in the MG ZR.
CMC’s Stephen Quin guided 2013 National Forest Champion Mick O’Brien home to 1st in class 8 and a fine 5th O/A in the O’Brien Plant Hire Ford Focus WRC.
All CMC crew of Ed Colton with club chair, Claire O’Mahony calling the notes, brought their Mitsubishi Evo 6 home to a fine 43rd O/A and 3rd in class 20.
Johnny Curran brought his class 13 MK2 Escort home to 28th O/A. Conan O’Riordan claimed 74th overall in his class 10 Peugeot 205. Jill White guided Dermot O’Riordan home to 76th O/A in the class 11 Honda Civic. Donal O’Brien rounded out the day for CMC finishing 84th O/A in the class 13 Escort G4 after disastrous opening loop of stages. Donal got the car back to service after stage 3 where repairs were made and the crew went on to set some very impressive times on the remaining 6 stages.
The stunning backdrop of Glendalough played host to The ALMC’s Forest Mini Stage Rally last weekend. The event was round 3 of the Valvoline National Forest Rally Championship with CMC crews once more out in force enjoying the gravel action.
CMC topgun Owen Murphy takes 1st O/A with James O’Brien concluding a most memorable 3 weekends in a row on the podium. Owen and James claimed a start to finish victory in the Wicklow hills in the Hankook backed Mitsubishi Evo 9. This valuable victory now moves Owen and James to 2nd in the championship standings behind Monaghan’s Josh Moffett.
In class 1, Johnny Kenneally had to settle for 2nd in class after leading the class on the opening stage. A broken shock absorber slowed the crew on stage 2 and following repairs in service the crew came back out fighting. The deficit due to the early time loss proved to be too great and Johnny brought the Suzuki engined MK2 home in 2nd.
Class 2 saw CMC father and son crew, Tim and DJ Howard bring their trusty 1600 8v Nova home 3rd in class.
Class 3 was so near yet so far for CMC crew Ian McCarthy with Vincent Goggin on the notes, bringing their Honda Civic home 4th in class and 31st O/A .
Class 4 proved to be another good day out for Mick “the warrior” O’Sullivan who took a fine 2nd in class and 20th overall in the Pinto powered Mk2.
CMC club championship points tables are updated
Kelly and Flanagan Dominate Quality Hotel West Cork Rally 2014
Changes for 2014 Cork Motor Club Championship
After a discussion by club members at a meeting on Tuesday November 3, many changes to the rules and regulations for CMC's 2014 club championship were suggested. After discussion the final list of championship regulations for 2014 was agreed and passed at our November 10 meeting. See 2014 club championship regulations Here