National reports: Mondello Park; Thruxton; Brands Hatch; Snetterton
MONDELLO PARK CCC AUGUST 18-19
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 Martin Birrane. With classic car drivers gaining free access to the event, and many drivers from the history of the circuit invited to attend, both the grandstand and paddock were packed and the atmosphere was wonderful.
Byrne sensationally snatched pole for the Derek Bell Trophy opener in qualifying’s dying minutes. The former Theodore F1 driver led away in the race but, after a hectic scrap, Michael Lyons in a Lola F5000 wrested first from him. Byrne put up a fight but contact damaged his front wing and he dropped back. Despite Byrne’s efforts, Lyons controlled the gap beautifully to win. Byrne took second with Mondello stalwart Dan Daly completing the podium. Next up was Alain Girardet’s Mclaren 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 obviously pushing, was already over a second clear. Byrne fought hard but was unable to close down the flying Lola. In their wake, Daly was once again on a giantkilling mission as he grabbed third. He immediately had to fend off Girardet, though, whose F5000 Mclaren was clearly quicker in a straight line but unable to find a way by circuit specialist Daly. At the flag Lyons made it a double win with Byrne second again and, adding to the delight of the crowd, Daly once again an impressive third.
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 Pre-55 contest, an incredible 23 seconds ahead of the car’s nearest challenger, he handed 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, 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 grid, Stephen Griffin, who raced at the circuit’s first meeting back in 1968, grabbed the lead on the run to Turn 1. It didn’t last long, though, as Tommy Doherty had launched the 3-litre Capri to perfection from row two to blast by the pair for 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 could not penetrate the defence of the former FF1600 racer, with Paul Gray and Cochrane following closely.
As expected, 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, the relative novice set fastest lap as he closed the gap to the Tiger to under a second by the chequered flag.