2016 Imokilly Mini Stages Rally
Gary Kiernan/ James Fulton in the Escort - 2015 IMC Mini Stage Winners. Credit Ger Leahy Photography
Pringle & Fulton shine in ImokillyCavan’s Jonathan Pringle (Ford Escort) and last year’s winning co-driver James Fulton took a commanding win on the Midleton-based Imokilly Mini Stages Rally sponsored by O’Brien’s Garage Midleton , round four of the PlasticBags.ie Southern 4 Rally Championship.
It was going to be a battle of the Escorts no one factored in the fact that Declan Gallagher’s prize winning co driver would actually be able to call the notes for one of the fastest drivers in the country and Declan was second with his novice co driver Shane o Mahoney From Bandon, Enda O Brien from Kilkenny in the Escort a mere few s seconds behind. After the first loop of stages top seed Chris Armstrong (Escort) lost vital seconds when he had a overshoot on the second junction he had a problem with his pace notes which did not help. Pringle was on fire and over the first two stages he edged out a lead of 17.4 seconds to take a comfortable lead from Declan Gallagher with the hard charging Enda O Brien in third who felt he probably wasn’t going fast enough in the morning but the car did not feel right. Armstrong was now 4th and Cork Driver Colin Byrne was now 5th. Daniel Cronin was seventh ahead of IMC Club member Mark Dolphin had a repeat of his misfire problems he has had for the last few events and felt this was definitely costing time but he was still 8th . As the cars headed out for a second run over the stages Pringle had a problem with the car down shifting and as the car locked up entering a bend he slid off the road luckily the rear of the car took the impact and no real damage was done, despite the problem he now had a 28.6 second lead over Declan Gallagher who was thrilling the crowds firing the Starlet into the corners ,3rd placed O Brien after some suspension changes said now the car is handling ,Colin Byrne was holding a strong fifth and IMCs Mark Dolphin seemed to have cured his misfire but was now 14 seconds behind. The third and final loop was all about holding it together for Jonathan Pringle/ James Fulton they eased their pace slightly to take a superb win in the blistering heat of East Cork. Second was Declan Gallagher and third was Enda O’Brien followed by Chris Armstrong ,Colin Byrne who was really happy to be 5th first Cork driver home and on the pace, Daniel Cronin was next in the Mitsubishi followed by Tom Flaherty and a disappointed Mark Dolphin who felt his misfire and a soft brake pedal cost him valuable time , Mark was still top IMC driver and 8th overall with Frank Kelly and Simon Reid rounding out the top 10 . All the leading crews said fantastic event great stages fast dry tarmac which the powerful cars and drivers love but there was also some technical stuff to keep the competitors on their toes. Great credit to Clerk of The Course Emmet Cronin and his team at the Imokilly Motor Club and all the surrounding motor clubs who came to help make the 2016 event a huge success. Other local prize winners included James Fitzgerald / Mossie O’Connell winners of the Brian Hurley award for the top IMC crew Home the lads second in class 11F. Jamie McCarthy Donagh Hurley won the IMC Junior Cup for first IMC Juniors Home. IMOKILLY M C MINI STAGES RALLY AT MIDLETON, CO CORK (ROUND 4 OF PLASTICBAGS.IE SOUTHERN 4 RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP): 1 Jonathan Pringle/James Fulton (Escort) 43m 52s, 2 Declan Gallagher/Shane O'Mahony (Starlet) 44m 23s, 3 Enda O'Brien/John Butler (Escort) 44m 25s, 4 Chris Armstrong/Chris Melly (Escort) 44m 30s, 5 Colin Byrne/Brian Quinlan (Escort) 45m 19s, 6 Daniel Cronin/J J Cremin (Lancer Evo 9) 45m 36s, 7 Tom Flaherty/Martin Flynn (Escort) 45m 40s, 8 Mark Dolphin/Colin Fitzgerald (Escort) 45m 45s, 9 Donal O'Brien/Stephen Quin (Escort) 46m 15s, 10 Frank Kelly/J J Harrington (Escort) 46m 34s. Group N award: Kevin Dolphin/Martin O'Brien (Clio S1600) 49m 16s. Juniors: 1 Eric Calnan/Aileen Kelly (Peugeot 106) 49m 33s, 2 Aaron Regan/Derek Butler (Civic) 50m 36s, 3 Jamie McCarthy/Donagh Hurley (Peugeot 106) 53m 29s Entries Now Closed - Thanks to all who competedImokilly Motor Club are delighted to Announce that the regs and entry forms are now on line for this event .There is a lot of Interest from Competitors throughout the country in this event and the big question is can anyone take the title from Gary Kiernan/ James Fulton in the Escort who put in an impressive display of driving in 2015 risking all as he put it himself to take victory on the last loop of stages in 2015.
Clerk of the Course Emmet Cronin said the stages are in good condition and there is a lot of interest in our event, we must keep putting in the effort now for the next few weeks it won’t be long coming but we are ready for it. Emmet also said that even though the Regs are just out accommodation is booking up fast. Secretary Contact Details:
Name: Ann Marie O’Driscoll, Address: Avanna, Brooklodge East, Glanmire, Co. Cork. Tel: 086-2596268 (Between 7pm and 9pm only) Email: odriscolltran[email protected] Our 2015 winners, Gary Kiernan & James Fulton lighting up the Stages
in their Escort (Courtesy BlackMotorsportVideos.com) Previous Winners2015 - Gary Kiernan & James Fulton Ford Escort Mk 2
2014 - Wesley Paterson & Johnny Baird Ford Escort RS Mk2 2013 - Roy White & Colman Hurley MG ZR 2012 - Barry Meade & Liam Moynihan Ford Escort Mk 2 |
IMC Junior Cup 2016
2016 see's the launch of a new cup for the first Junior Imokilly Motorclub crew home in the rally. A special word of gratitude must go to our COC, Emmet Cronin, who put this cup forward. Junior rallying has exploded in East Cork in the last two years, with no less than four junior crews from IMC competing, not many rallies can say they had so many of their own Junior crews competing.
The weekend see's the tarmac rallying debut of Killian O'Brien, the son of Phillip O'Brien of O'Brien's Garage, our title sponsor. Killian has competed in hot rod racing for a number of years and has also competed on our Hillclimb in his Honda Civic. Killian is joined by another new comer, Kegan O'Farrell. We wish Killian and Kegan the very best of luck the weekend of the rally Next up we have Jamie McCarthy and Donagh Hurley, in their immaculate Green and Red 106. The lads competed for the first time in Clonakilty in March, and having gained more confidence and speed since then they are definitely ones to watch the weekend of the rally We then have another debutant, Cormac Smiddy. Having travelled to Killarney in May to service for Jamie McCarthy and Donagh Hurley, Cormac decided he wanted to go rallying himself, and went on the hunt for a car. Cormac is joined in his EG Civic by Eugene Cronin on the notes, and we wish the lads all the best. Our sole 1400cc crew is Diarmuid Hallahan and Padraig Walsh in their EF Civic. The car has had somewhat of a makeover since it ended up in a ditch in Dungarvan, in last year's Rally. The lads might not have the power of some of the 1600cc cars, but you can be sure they will be on a mission. To anyone interested in going rallying don't be afraid to call to service the day of the rally and talk to the lads, after all they are the future of IMC and Motorsport in East Cork. Finally, we wish a safe and enjoyable days rallying to all Junior crews, and indeed everyone involved and remember a rally can't be won on the first stage, but it can definitely be lost! Imokilly Mini Stages Launch 2016 great crowd turned out for the Launch of the Imokilly Motor Club Mini Stages Rally Launch 2016 sponsored by O’Briens Garage Midleton and Mallow. A great display of cars was on hand and after the photo shoot out side in the parc ferme area in Market Green it was inside for for more details of the event .
On hand was a mouth-watering display of top of the range Mk2 Escorts , a mint MK1 Escort, a rapid Starlet and a Honda Civic. Back in the Park Hotel Midleton Rally HQ for the weekend Clerk Of the Course for the Event Emmet Cronin said I am a small part of a big team that are required to run this event ,on the day we will require about 120 people, volunteers to run this event , there is no doubt without all our clubs best efforts , and help from our neighbouring motor clubs it would not be possible to run this event. Emmet thanked our Sponsors, our main sponsor Phillip O Brien, O’Brien Car Sales Midleton & Mallow who said he was delighted to help out the Motor Club and knew many of the members who were loyal customers over the years he also said his family had a great interest in motorsport . Emmet also thanked our associate sponsors Advanced Catering / Bobs Catering and Neil Phelan of Ace Signs , he went on to thank our stage sponsors Donal O Brien Car Sales and KM Plant Hire . Emmet said the location for the Rally Hotel ,Parc Ferme , Scrutiney (which takes place in Bally Cotton Transport Yard ) are all beside each other in Market Green and the start finish ramp will be located in Market Green. Emmet also said entries are flooding in and we are already at 55 so get your entries in fast boys and girls. Emmet said the stages are a huge test of man and machine while the first stage is very technical the second stage is a more flowing open stage. Seamus Cunningham from the Chamber Of Commerce said it was great to see an event like this coming to Midleton and he praised the club for the huge tourist benefit that the rally brings to the area. It’s expected that around 1000 people will stay in the environs of Midleton for the weekend of the rally and many more will arrive to view the event. This year the Culann To Walk Fund was the Clubs charity of choice , thers is no doubt club member Donal McGrath put huge effort into this and two co drivers seats were raffled for a spin with Frank Kelly and Declan Gallagher , Winners of the seats were Shane O'Mahony and JJ Harrington. Donal presented a Cheque to the Culann to Walk fund on the night and MC for the night was the legendary Donie Buckley . Thanks to all for a great night now roll on the Rally on July 17th. Imokilly Motor Club bring Rallying back to East Cork
Plans for the 2016 Imokilly Mini Stages Rally are even this early in the year at an advanced stage , the rally which takes place on 17-7-2016 will feature a loop of 2 stages done 3 times with service after stages 2 and 4 and the finish at rally HQ the Midleton Park Hotel . The event will feature 80 km of smooth fast tarmac which also features technical sections to test man and machine to the limit, road mileage is a mere 55km. Imokilly Mini Stages Rally is Round 4 of the plasticbags.ie Southern 4 Rally Championship.Entry Fee is a competitive
374+125 Insurance Levy. = 499 Euro. The club are delighted to have O'Briens Garage Midleton Mazda/Citroen dealers on board as our main event sponsor. We are also indebted to our associate sponsors Ace Signs, Kelly’s Car & Commercial Repairs LTD., Bob’s Catering, Advanced Catering. Former Clerk of The Course Emmet Cronin is back to run this event with the full backing of his fellow IMC Club members and Richard O'Brien is in as deputy Clerk of The Course. Clerk of The Course Emmet Cronin said I am delighted to be back in the hot seat once again but I am just a part of a huge amount of people who will be needed to get this event over the finish line we have a good committee but we can always do with more people to help in the running of the event. Emmet said we are hugely indebted to our sponsors without these people there would not be an event, when I approached Philip O’Brien of O’Brien's Garage Midleton he was very interested about being on board as our main sponsor. Philip O’Brien has a long association with Motorsport in particular Hot Rod Racing where he is a regular competitor along with his son Killian who is also an IMC member. Philip O'Brien said it’s great to be involved with the Imokilly Motor Club a bunch of hard working volunteers who are bringing Rallying to East Cork , I am sure it will be an exciting weekend in Midleton and a huge tourist boost to the local area. Emmet said we must not forget our associate sponsors Ace Signs, Kelly’s Car & Commercial Repairs LTD., Bob’s Catering, and Advanced Catering and our Stage Sponsor K&M Plant Hire and Sales Ltd, thats club members Kevin Dolphin and Martin O Brien and our other stage sponsor donalobriencars.ie Donal with the yellow Class 14 Escort. The club has over the years always given something to charity after each event and this year the club has rowed in with the Culann Wants to Walk Fund basically it’s to raise money for a small boy who sadly cannot walk , Culann has some medical problems but with specialist treatment and specialist aftercare he should realise his dream of being able to walk it’s going to cost a lot of money and the IMC with the generous support of two of Ireland’s championship rally drivers, Frank Kelly and Declan Gallagher, the Imokilly Motor Club are offering two chances to win Navigator Seats with these drivers on the Imokilly Mini Stages Rally to take place on 17th July 2016. Tickets for the draw to sit with these rally legends are a mere €20.00 each. |
