Autocross, which is the popular Motor Car Racing on grass, is making its annual return to Ballinahown on Saturday & Sunday, 21st and 22nd July . The racing cars compete against the clock on a course marked out using flags, hit a flag and incur a 5 second penalty. The Racing cars participating at the weekend vary from being a normal saloon car to the Hand Built Special (single seaters similar to the current Formula 1 cars). This Autocross weekend are counting rounds of the Shotblast Engineering Services Midland Birr Autocross Challenge with penultimate round on Saturday and the opening round on Sunday.
Athlone based haulier Vincent Deery, is Ballinahown bound in a Fiat Ritmo. Well known Athlone Rally Navigator Dermot O Gorman with son Diarmuid double driving a Ford Escort. This will be Diarmuids debut in Motorsport. There is speculation that Eamon Keegan may give his Sierra Cosworth its grass debut, after his recent Rosegreen Fiasco he should be interesting to watch. Strokestown interest will focus on Sean Wallace and Brian Farrell along with Walter Burke from Williamstown. Kevin Lunt is taking a Sunbeam for a spin this Weekend with compliments from Motor Supplies Roscommon. Ballinasloe's Cathal Hogan (Vauxhall Special) and Niall Keane (Honda Civic) are also partaking in the Midland Motor Club organised event which promises great excitement and competition between the 60 Drivers that are taking part.
Longford drivers entered include Tommy Donlon (Citreon AX), The O'Toole Brothers Declan and Sean who will have the company of the Prior Brothers, Aidan and Kenneth, from Mohill. Edgeworthstown will be well represented this Weekend with Paddy Gogan (Talbot Sunbeam), Paul Skelly and Mick Kelly in their Ford Fiesta.
Belmont will be well represented on Sunday with the Kenny Brothers, Bryan and Donal, double driving the Opel Corsa, Joe O Byrne (Escort) and the Father and Son duo who will be making their Autocross debut John Kenny Snr & Jnr. Keith Prittie from Kilcormac should take a class win in the G3 Escort. Another set of brothers driving on Sunday will be the Turners from Carraig, Brian and Gareth, with their Rover Special.
Top drivers racing at the weekend include last years winner Gordon Percy with his unique Kawasaki Motor bike engined special. Gordons brother, Richard, will also be out in the Ford Special . The Cavanaghs from Cloughjordan, Dorothy, John and William, are also entered John Cavanagh is leading the Shotblast Engineering Challenge and is a strong Favourite to Take the Title. David, William and Owen Percy are also hoping to be out in their Special if it can be ready in Time. The Percy brothers hail from Cloughjordan.
Nenagh man, Whitby Moynan, will take out his 3.5 litre, Rover engined Chevette, for the Autocross, as too, will Eoin Woods from Toomyvara who might get FTD. John Maher from Rathcabbin will make his debut at weekend and no doubt he will be getting plenty of advice from his neighbour Trevor Hogan. Both are competing in Specials. Following her great win at the Clare Autocross Denise McClearn is going to show all the lads how to drive properly including her Boyfriend Trevor Hogan for whom Denise shares the car with. Rumour has it that Trevor may be retiring from Autocross!
Leading entries confirmed so far include Ger Brennan (Fiesta RWD), Frank O Connell (Mini), Jimmy and Ger Lucey (Toyota Special), John Hackett (Mini), Jimmy Devane (Nissan Cherry) Chris Behan (Honda Special) and the Byrne Brothers Ian & Alan (Nissan Special). Autocross is very much a family sport with about twelve of the well known Wicklow Motorsport Family the Drivers contesting Sundays Autocross.
The programme for Saturday and Sunday starts with Scrutiny from 10am, Practice at 11.30am, and with the racing commencing at 1pm on both days. The venue will be signposted from Ferbane to Athlone. Ballinahown is situated on the Main Athlone - Birr Road (N62), 6 Miles from Athlone and Ferbane respectively. The Prize Giving will take place in Flynn's Bar, Ballinahown.
Further details may be obtained from Eoin Longworth at (0902) 30126 or (086) 817 9297.
