July 2014 Motorsport News

Podium for Shrule teenager
Galway MotorClub held a two-day Grass Surface Autocross in Dartfield, Loughrea at the weekend. 14 year old Jason Murphy from Shrule was competing in the Junior class in his 1.4 Honda Civic. An excellent performance on day 1, saw him win the class and pick up valuable points for the championships. Heavy showers on day 2 made the surface very slippery and while finding it hard to get grip, Jason still managed another excellent result, this time claiming 3rd in Class.
A great set of results that during the summer holidays which has many of his school friends racing on Playstations and X-boxes, this young Mayo & District Motorsport member spends evenings in his garage fine tuning his own ‘real’ race car and on the track, learning car control in a controlled environment.

Photos courtesy of Jeremy Raftery

Midland Autocross
Foxford’s Alan Moran recorded his best finish of the 2014 Autocross season to-date, with a class 2 victory at the recent Midland Motorclub’s Loose Surface Event.
In total seven Mayo members made the trip with four picking up prizes.
With conditions ideal at the Ballyfeeney track for the 37 entrants, the day didn’t disappoint, with one of the highlights being the battle between Alan Moran in his Peugeot 206 and Derek Mackarel from Clones in his Vauxhall Nova. When the final flag was waved the winning margin was point zero four (.04) of a second, or as one onlooker described it “The extra coat of paint on Moran’s bumper made the difference”.

The highest placed Mayo finisher was Adrian Deane, who after quite a number of events, and years, finally got the better of his brother Derek, as the siblings finished fourth and fifth respectively. Adrian wants the fact that Derek didn’t compete a third run due to mechanical trouble in his buggy, not to take away from finally claiming the bragging rights at the kitchen table.
Foxford’s James McGreal in his 4 wheel drive Subaru Impreza was first saloon car to finish in 9th place. After a day long battle with some younger machinery and drivers, James proved that he and his car still has what it takes to get the results.
Aforementioned Moran claimed 11th in the 2wd Peugeot 206. Bekan’s Sean McHugh brought his Subaru Impreza home in 18th place overall and picked up 2nd in Class 4.
Westport’s Alan McGuire showed speed and excellent commitment bringing his Peugeot 205 to an excellent 23rd in what is his first season of Autocross. Brian McDonnell who extended his holiday home from Australia to take part in the event wasn’t disappointed, enjoying every second of the day and finishing in 31st place in his Toyota Corolla, his only gripe was the fact that he now has to leave his car behind as he heads back to Perth to continue work, promising to return as soon as he can for some more loose surface action.
The event, which was also Round 2 of the 5 Star Catering National Autocross Championship, leaves all classes wide open ahead of Round 3 in Clonakilty on July 13th and Round 4 in Mayo on July 27th.

Photos courtesy of James Foley