CRASH AND BYRNE BUT LYONS STILL WINS
Tommy Byrne, returning to Ireland to race James Hagan’s ex-james Hunt Hesketh, was surely responsible for a fair portion of the massive crowd who attended the Historic Racing Festival, which celebrated both Mondello Park’s 50th anniversary and the life of its former owner Martin Birrane.
With classic car drivers gaining free access to the circuit, and many racers from the history of the circuit being invited to attend, both the grandstand and paddock were packed and the atmosphere was wonderful.
Byrne had sensationally snatched pole for the Derek Bell Trophy opener in the dying minutes of qualifying. The former Theodore Formula 1 driver led away but, after a hectic scrap, Michael Lyons wrested the lead away. Byrne fought back but contact damaged his front wing, dropping him back.
Despite Byrne’s best efforts, Lyons controlled the gap beautifully to take the win. Byrne took second with Mondello stalwart Dan Daly completing the podium in third. Next up was the Mclaren of Alain Girardet, from Neil Glover and Kevin Mcgarrity, who was piloting the Birrane/ Mondello Museum Lola T300.
In race two, Lyons just fended off Byrne into Turn 1, but the local hero was on the attack immediately. A run out of Turn 3 brought him close enough for a stab down the inside into Bridgestone. As Lyons closed the door, the pair made contact, slowing the Hesketh momentarily. At the end of the opening lap, Lyons, who was clearly pushing, was already over a second to the good. Despite Byrne’s best efforts, he was unable to close down the flying Lola.
In their wake, Daly was once again on a giant killing mission as he grabbed third. Immediately having to fend off the attentions of Girardet, the F5000 Mclaren clearly quicker in a straight line but unable to find a way by the circuit specialist.
Paddins Dowling was a hugely successful historic race competitor at Mondello some 30 years ago, and he was a very welcome visitor to the 50th anniversary event in his ERA. Having qualified on pole for the HRCA Pre55 contest, an incredible 30 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger, he proceeded to hand his car over to David Morris for the opening race. Morris took the race on scratch, but John Keatley in the Healey Silverstone kept in touch all the way. Once the handicapper had done his work, however, Keatley deservedly took the honours, from Mark Brennan’s Alvis and Edmund Cassidy’s famous MG Magnette-based Iona Special.
In race two, with Dowling back aboard, the ERA predictably decimated the opposition, lapping every other competitor as the Us-domiciled Irishman got into his stride. On handicap however, historic racing stalwart Ken Mcavoy took the honours in his beautiful Riley, from Cassidy’s MG and Formula Sheane pacesetter Kevin Sheane, who provided great entertainment as he hustled the Frank Nuttal Ford Special around, to the delight of the crowd.
After an aborted HRCA start, Bernard Foley got the jump on Jackie Cochrane’s Sunbeam Tiger on the second time of asking but didn’t get to enjoy the lead for too long. Normal service was resumed as Cochrane blasted by to assume his usual position. Recent upgrades to Foley’s now 4.6-litre-engined car had obviously worked, however, as he kept the usually dominant Tiger in view until retiring on the last lap.
In race two, with Foley not making the start, it was Stephen Griffin, who was on the grid at the circuit’s first meeting back in 1968, who grabbed the lead on the run to Turn 1. It didn’t last long though, as Tommy Doherty had launched the three litre Ford Capri to perfection from row two to blast by the pair and snatch the lead. Griffin immediately went back at him and for the opening number of laps there was a great battle, as Griffin’s Modsport Midget had no answer for the staunch defences of the former FF1600 racer, with Paul Gray and Cochrane following closely.
Cochrane fought his way to the front, but hadn’t counted on the pace of young Lewis Dunlop, who was on a charge in the David Kelly owned Crossle 9S. Having despatched all of the other opposition, he set fastest lap as he closed the gap to the usually dominant Tiger to under a second by the flag.