Come on how about a day in the Wood Moonraker Forestry Rally Sunday May 16-Marshals required!!!!!!!!!

Moonraker Forestry Rally Sunday May 16 -Marshals required

Club Secretary Derek Power has been appointed stage commander of the Vee stage of the forthcoming Moonraker Forestry Rally scheduled to take place on Sunday May 16 and he will be requiring Marshals on the day to help him run the stage. If you are available to help out please contact Derek on 087 8128195.

Strong entry on West Cork Rally from IMC crews

Clonakilty in West Cork was the centre of attention on the weekend of March 20-21 last as a large group of Competitors from the IMC headed to the town to compete in the West Cork Rally.

Among those of the 151 crews who took to the start line on the Saturday morning to transverse the days 8 stages were the twincam brigade of Allan Treacy/Bob Fitzgerald,Willie Walsh/Carol O Keeffe,James Cunningham/Joe Fitzgibbon,John Sinclair/Finbar Fogarty,Shane Moriarty/Anthony O Donovan and Micheal Murphy/Pat Cashman.The Ford Escort crews were equeally well represented including Mark Dolphin/Pat O Mahony,Wesley Daly/Micheal Walsh,Paul Scannell/Mossy Griffin,Emmet Cronin/Paul O Donovan and Willie Kenneally/ Micheal O Donovan. Midletons Daragh O Riordan was debuting the ex Melvyn Evans Subaru Impreza WRC for the first time and Brian O Keeffe/Derek Power were also out contesting the showroom category also is a Subaru.

As the days action progressed over the stage locations at Ballinascarthy,Clogagh,Ring and Dunworley unfortunately mechanical failure would put an end to the hopes of many of the above crews except for Daragh O Riordan,Willie Kenneally,Brian O Keeffe and Micheal Murphy who at the end of leg one were all having a really good run.

After some overnight rain on Saturday night the sun shone brightly once again as the crews left Parc Ferme on Sunday Morning to tackle the stages in Rossmore, Sams cross,Ardfield, and Hayes Cross. Many of the lads who had to retire on Saturday were back out on Sunday after some overnight work to their cars to compete in the Sunday run.

After the days final stage at Hayes Cross and as all the times were tallied fourth overall and first in class went to Darragh O Riordan who made the perfect start to his first spin in a world rally car.In group N a very consistent drive over the 2 days netted Brian O Keeffe and club secretary Derek Power eleventh overall and the class win(well done boys). Willie Kenneally and Micheal O Donovan took home the trophy for third in class and 27 overall and Micheal Murphy and Pat Cashman finished 52 overall in the ultra competitive class 11.
Well done to all who competed over the weekend and to Cork Motor Club led by COC Darren Mc Carthy for putting on an excellent event.

There is a bucket load of pics on facebook so go check them out !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010 IMC report from Carrick on Suir for round 2 of the National Forest Rally Championship

On March 7 last all roads led to Carrick on Suir for round 2 of the National Forest Rally Championship. As in Mitchelstown a few weeks previous the sun shone brightly as the crews made their way to Ahenny for the first of the days 6 stages

. Fastest out of the blocks of the IMC crews were Ray Benskin/Peadar Walsh followed closely by his brother Sean W.and Joe Fitzgibbon all in Ford Escorts. After that it was off to Anner before the crews tackled the 20.4 kms of Gurteen and then into service to the Millriver business park in Carrick.By this stage in the rally Sean and Joe had opened up a gap on the opposition and over the repeat loop of stages extended their advantage and when the final stage times were tallied in the evening they finished a very impressive 15th overall and second in class 4.

Unfortunately mechanical problems put an end to Rays and Peadars fine run on the second run over Gurteen. Owing to the cancellation of the next round in Birr it will be the Moonraker in May before we will see the forestry championship resume and the many class battles between the boys from the IMC.The Moonraker is the local forest event with stages in Clashmore and the Vee.