CIRCUIT DEJA VUE 2016 (CIRCUIT OF IRELAND)
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 9:37 pm
Just over six weeks now before we all gather in Killarney for the big party weekend. It’s an absolute sell out and we have had to close the books thanks to your fabulous response.
A TASTER
Here’s a sample of what’s in store, some of the people you will meet and the motors you will marvel at. Top of the bill are the seven former winning drivers and the ten winning co-drivers. You’ll see Paddy Hopkirk in his replica Mini Cooper S 33 EJB. Billy Coleman will be in John Mulholland’s fabulous Rothmans Porsche 911. Adrian Boyd will have his recently restored Renault Alpine out for the first time.
And that's only the start. We have yet to finalise the entry but cop some of these names and cars!
Graham Birrell from Scotland is a former international racing driver. Bill Blair from Doagh is bringing his 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 and Maurice Malcolm his 1967 example. Derek and Brian Boyd will be in a Lancia Delta Integrale as will Martin Buckley.
Martin Boyle is another former racing ace. Then there’s Russell Brookes and John Brown, two of our star guests in the Andrews Heat for Hire Lotus Sunbeam on loan from John Leahey. Dan Brosnan, Peter Doughty, John O’Kane and Patsy Keenan are making the long trip from the States.
But when it come to distance traveling Stephen Mills and Peter Lyster have to take the prize. Stephen, a former member of the Coleman team, will partner the great Millstreet driver in his 1974 Ford Escort - MEV 36 J. Whereas Peter who has come all the way from Perth, will be reunited with his old Circuit partner Ken Shields.
Andy Hennessy will be heading a Rootes Group invasion when he rolls into town with his Avenger estate towing the ex-works Hillman Imp - GZ1 that Rosemary Smith used on the 1965 and 1966 Circuits. Richard Claydon from Ruislip will have another ex-works Imp - FRW 304C. Then there’s James and Hillary Wilson and Harry Brown in their Hillman Avengers.
Hennessy’s Rootes Group armada Robert Porter’s 450 SCL
And of course Rosemary Smith will be with us along with two other great rallying ladies Maria Callanan (Maloney) and Melanie Fitzgerald- Power.
Pat Caulfield is bringing his ex-Per Eklund Gp. A, Toyota Corolla. The Dublin photographer Michael Chester, the legendry veteran driver Des Cullen and Nicky Porter from Durham are all in Mercedes, Nicky’s being a 1975 450 SLC.
As expected, in addition to Paddy Hopkirk’s Monte Mini, there will be a host of other Cooper S’s. Tom Clarke is bringing his from Wicklow. International rallyman Ian Corkill is bringing his Cooper S from the Isle of Man. Derek Smith has the Cooper S that was seeded No. 31 in the 1969 Circuit and Elkin Robinson has a 1964 Cooper S. Con Ward’s Cooper S and Ross Mathinson’s 1963 Mini adds to the BMC parade. Adrian Kermode is also come from the Isle of Man with an ex-works Golf GTI.
Keep a sharp eye in the corridors of The Malton as you will be likely to bump into many famous rally people. Donnie Keating, Geoff Crabtree, Francis Tuthill, Cathal Curley the winner in 1974, James Doherty, Joey Greenan, Frank Scanlon, Fred Patterson, David Yeates, Michael Dunnion who is bringing his 1979 Vauxhall Chevette HSR and Frank Fennell who will have his 1968 Circuit class winning NSU out on the classic stages. The former Irish racing and Tarmac Rally Champion Brian Nelson will also be there
Look out for the MG Midget mob. James Doherty is bringing his 1971 example down the road from Adare and Autotest expert Robert Holmes his beautiful home built car from Dromore. The Seed brothers David & Roy have 1961 and 1974 examples.
If you get lost, ask a co-driver and there will be plenty of them around! Austin Frazer, Ian Grindrod, Terry Harryman, all Circuit winners. Maurice Beckett, Paul Nagle, Dan O’Sullivan, Frank O’Donaghue, James O’Brien and Philip Short the three time Circuit winner who sat with both Jack Tordoff and David Llewellin, who will also be with us.
The list of drivers goes on, Drexel Gillespie and Richard Hogg are both bringing MkI Escorts as are John Kelleher and John McDermott. Gus Kearney will have his 1987 class winning Peugeot 205 GTi and Mervyn Johnston a 1979 ex-works Vauxhall HSR Chevette.
Liam O’Callaghan leads the VW parade in his dad Paddy’s old 1971 car – CZT 666, and there will be a number of the ‘big beetles’ with Derek Hadden, Shane O’Callaghan, and Dessie Wilson in Porsche 911s.
In addition to Adrian Boyd’s Renault Alpine 110, Jonathan Radley is bringing his beautiful little 1973 French GT – ZV 5079 and Donal O’Callaghan his ex-works 1970 Renault Alpine.
Renault Alpine 110 Vauxhall HSR Chevette
And the interesting entries just keep rolling in. The journalist Martin McCarthy will have a 1968 Alfa Romeo, Paul McCluney his 1980 Reliant Simitar GTE, Martin McGrath in the roaring V8 Sunbeam Tiger, Chris McNally’s 1982 Lancia Monte Carlo, Barney Noble’s 1960 107e Ford, Maurice Nagle’s 1965 Lotus Cortina, Daragh O’Callaghan’s 1973 Mini Innocenti, Michael O’Neill’s 1964 works replica Triumph 2000 and John Timony’s Ford RS 2000.
David Wylie is hoping to have his recently acquired ex- Warmbold BMW 2002 Ti prepared in time to bring it to Killarney and Des McWilliams is bravely bringing his 1934 Morgan F4 three-wheeler from Crosshaven. It will be the oldest and one of the most interesting cars on the classic Killarney stages.
We have three former bosses of the event coming. Malcolm Neill will arrive from Reading to recall the enormous contribution made to the event by his father Gordon, and his on time as Clerk of the Course in the very difficult years in the early ‘70s. Peter Allen another Clerk of the Course and the Ulster Automobile Club’s archivist will be with us as will Donald Grieve who guided the event in the glorious Group B, Rothmans sponsored years.
It will be great to have Gladys Fisher amongst us and there will be a big welcome for the veteran journalist Mike Greasley back in Ireland as there will for Mark Dixon and David Lillywhite who will be covering the event for Octane Magazine. This great Circuit re-union would not of course be the same without the seven-time winner Jimmy McRae who, as he was on so many of those Easter weekends, be accompanied by his wife Margaret.
A TASTER
Here’s a sample of what’s in store, some of the people you will meet and the motors you will marvel at. Top of the bill are the seven former winning drivers and the ten winning co-drivers. You’ll see Paddy Hopkirk in his replica Mini Cooper S 33 EJB. Billy Coleman will be in John Mulholland’s fabulous Rothmans Porsche 911. Adrian Boyd will have his recently restored Renault Alpine out for the first time.
And that's only the start. We have yet to finalise the entry but cop some of these names and cars!
Graham Birrell from Scotland is a former international racing driver. Bill Blair from Doagh is bringing his 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 and Maurice Malcolm his 1967 example. Derek and Brian Boyd will be in a Lancia Delta Integrale as will Martin Buckley.
Martin Boyle is another former racing ace. Then there’s Russell Brookes and John Brown, two of our star guests in the Andrews Heat for Hire Lotus Sunbeam on loan from John Leahey. Dan Brosnan, Peter Doughty, John O’Kane and Patsy Keenan are making the long trip from the States.
But when it come to distance traveling Stephen Mills and Peter Lyster have to take the prize. Stephen, a former member of the Coleman team, will partner the great Millstreet driver in his 1974 Ford Escort - MEV 36 J. Whereas Peter who has come all the way from Perth, will be reunited with his old Circuit partner Ken Shields.
Andy Hennessy will be heading a Rootes Group invasion when he rolls into town with his Avenger estate towing the ex-works Hillman Imp - GZ1 that Rosemary Smith used on the 1965 and 1966 Circuits. Richard Claydon from Ruislip will have another ex-works Imp - FRW 304C. Then there’s James and Hillary Wilson and Harry Brown in their Hillman Avengers.
Hennessy’s Rootes Group armada Robert Porter’s 450 SCL
And of course Rosemary Smith will be with us along with two other great rallying ladies Maria Callanan (Maloney) and Melanie Fitzgerald- Power.
Pat Caulfield is bringing his ex-Per Eklund Gp. A, Toyota Corolla. The Dublin photographer Michael Chester, the legendry veteran driver Des Cullen and Nicky Porter from Durham are all in Mercedes, Nicky’s being a 1975 450 SLC.
As expected, in addition to Paddy Hopkirk’s Monte Mini, there will be a host of other Cooper S’s. Tom Clarke is bringing his from Wicklow. International rallyman Ian Corkill is bringing his Cooper S from the Isle of Man. Derek Smith has the Cooper S that was seeded No. 31 in the 1969 Circuit and Elkin Robinson has a 1964 Cooper S. Con Ward’s Cooper S and Ross Mathinson’s 1963 Mini adds to the BMC parade. Adrian Kermode is also come from the Isle of Man with an ex-works Golf GTI.
Keep a sharp eye in the corridors of The Malton as you will be likely to bump into many famous rally people. Donnie Keating, Geoff Crabtree, Francis Tuthill, Cathal Curley the winner in 1974, James Doherty, Joey Greenan, Frank Scanlon, Fred Patterson, David Yeates, Michael Dunnion who is bringing his 1979 Vauxhall Chevette HSR and Frank Fennell who will have his 1968 Circuit class winning NSU out on the classic stages. The former Irish racing and Tarmac Rally Champion Brian Nelson will also be there
Look out for the MG Midget mob. James Doherty is bringing his 1971 example down the road from Adare and Autotest expert Robert Holmes his beautiful home built car from Dromore. The Seed brothers David & Roy have 1961 and 1974 examples.
If you get lost, ask a co-driver and there will be plenty of them around! Austin Frazer, Ian Grindrod, Terry Harryman, all Circuit winners. Maurice Beckett, Paul Nagle, Dan O’Sullivan, Frank O’Donaghue, James O’Brien and Philip Short the three time Circuit winner who sat with both Jack Tordoff and David Llewellin, who will also be with us.
The list of drivers goes on, Drexel Gillespie and Richard Hogg are both bringing MkI Escorts as are John Kelleher and John McDermott. Gus Kearney will have his 1987 class winning Peugeot 205 GTi and Mervyn Johnston a 1979 ex-works Vauxhall HSR Chevette.
Liam O’Callaghan leads the VW parade in his dad Paddy’s old 1971 car – CZT 666, and there will be a number of the ‘big beetles’ with Derek Hadden, Shane O’Callaghan, and Dessie Wilson in Porsche 911s.
In addition to Adrian Boyd’s Renault Alpine 110, Jonathan Radley is bringing his beautiful little 1973 French GT – ZV 5079 and Donal O’Callaghan his ex-works 1970 Renault Alpine.
Renault Alpine 110 Vauxhall HSR Chevette
And the interesting entries just keep rolling in. The journalist Martin McCarthy will have a 1968 Alfa Romeo, Paul McCluney his 1980 Reliant Simitar GTE, Martin McGrath in the roaring V8 Sunbeam Tiger, Chris McNally’s 1982 Lancia Monte Carlo, Barney Noble’s 1960 107e Ford, Maurice Nagle’s 1965 Lotus Cortina, Daragh O’Callaghan’s 1973 Mini Innocenti, Michael O’Neill’s 1964 works replica Triumph 2000 and John Timony’s Ford RS 2000.
David Wylie is hoping to have his recently acquired ex- Warmbold BMW 2002 Ti prepared in time to bring it to Killarney and Des McWilliams is bravely bringing his 1934 Morgan F4 three-wheeler from Crosshaven. It will be the oldest and one of the most interesting cars on the classic Killarney stages.
We have three former bosses of the event coming. Malcolm Neill will arrive from Reading to recall the enormous contribution made to the event by his father Gordon, and his on time as Clerk of the Course in the very difficult years in the early ‘70s. Peter Allen another Clerk of the Course and the Ulster Automobile Club’s archivist will be with us as will Donald Grieve who guided the event in the glorious Group B, Rothmans sponsored years.
It will be great to have Gladys Fisher amongst us and there will be a big welcome for the veteran journalist Mike Greasley back in Ireland as there will for Mark Dixon and David Lillywhite who will be covering the event for Octane Magazine. This great Circuit re-union would not of course be the same without the seven-time winner Jimmy McRae who, as he was on so many of those Easter weekends, be accompanied by his wife Margaret.
Doubt I/we would be allowed. 