MINI ACE LEWIS RAINS ON IRISH HISTORIC PARADE
Mondello Park’s Historic Festival might have been one of many events which celebrated 60 years of the Mini, but with Formula 1 demos, visiting UK drivers and various other paddock entertainment, it was a huge success for the Irish circuit.
Snetterton Speedshop’s Jonathan Lewis clinched pole position when the much-anticipated Classic Mini racers took to the asphalt. In the opening race, he duly led away from team-mates and Mondello tin-top regulars Michael Cullen and Dave Maguire.
Steve Griffin, though, was on a charge. Despite Dave O’neill’s famous Wolseley Hornet only having being completed the previous week, and Griffin not having competed in a frontwheel-drive car for many years, the combination charged up to second. Griffin annexed many of the positions with some impressive moves into the final corner.
Neil Kavanagh, in the newly built Granby Motor Sport, ex-tom Pitcher 1275GT, gradually closed down the Appendix K machines and used his Group 1 power to ease by Lewis for the lead. As the rain fell, however, Kavanagh slid off and parked in the gravel to prompt a red flag. Lewis retook the lead and the win over the impressive Griffin, with Cullen completing the podium.
Ray Cunningham, fresh from a class win in the Ulster Rally in his Cooper S, arrived at Mondello on Sunday morning to join the fun. Having taken pole for the second race, the Galway driver relished the horrendous conditions as he eased away for an impressive win. Griffin was on form again as he hung on for second, just pipping Kavanagh in a drag race to the line.
Jackie Cochrane’s rumbling Sunbeam Tiger took its customary pole position for the first Historic Racing Car Association race ahead of returnee Brendan Keane’s Mallock and Bernard Foley’s MGB GT V8. Despite a tardy start the Tiger was some 15 seconds to the good at the flag, with Foley fighting off an inspired challenge from Clive Brandon’s Lotus 47 for the runner-up spot. In race two, Foley drove the race of his life to inflict a rare defeat on Cochrane, with Brandon in third being the only other competitor to remain unlapped by the charging duo.
Edmund Cassidy’s MG Magnette-based Iona Special took the opening Pre-1955 race honours once the handicappers had done their permutations, with Kevin Sheane second and Liam Ruth completing the podium in Cassidy’s Mk2 Special.
In race two, Shane Houlihan’s beautiful Riley took the win from Tom Mullins’ modified MG TD and Nick Bennetts’ Alvis Silver Eagle.
Irish Legends didn’t disappoint on their first appearance at the Historic Festival. Perennial pacesetter and reigning champion Paul O’brien took the honours in the all three races. UK visitor James Holman was second in the first race, with Geoff Richardson taking second in races two and three.
Paddy Howley’s ex-mondello racing school Rover 25 GTI was quickest of a large Future Classics grid in qualifying, but the fact he shattered the dreaded barrier time meant he started at the back. That promoted Stephen Martin to pole position, ahead of class organiser Aidan Byrne. Class newbie Gareth Thompson and past champion Timmy Duggan made up row two with Gary Duggan, taking pole for the slower class in his Abarth Punto.
Byrne used all his experience to take the win in race one, crossing the line well ahead of his opposition. Almost 20 years after he was involved in the introduction of the manufacturer-backed Fiat Uno Cup, David Hammond took a giant-killing second place, somehow holding off Mike Dermody’s Vauxhall Vectra in a thrilling race. Gary Duggan took honours in the slower class, his 1800cc Punto just holding off the older 1.4-litre machine of Paul Flanagan, with John Twomey third in his Citroen Saxo.
Byrne relished the horrendous conditions in race two to do the double with Irish Touring Car Championship regular Ulick Burke his closest challenger in his borrowed Punto. Darmody was third, just ahead of Hammond. Duggan took another class win, with Jimmy Kilbride’s Peugeot 106 next up from Flanagan in third.