SATURDAY’S meeting at Kirkistown Racing Circuit will have a distinctly historic
feel to it, with pre-1955 cars taking to the track.
Aside from the usual domestic championship competitions, there are races for Austin Sevens and Historic Racing Cars Association sports cars, as well as two flying-lap demonstration sessions for a Classic Lola T70.
The day will start with a combined race for Roadsports and Global GTs. Mike Ward, from Youghal, and Jim Larkham, from Newtownabbey, will battle for the honours.
Meanwhile, the Global race will be a very tight affair, with Navan’s Peter Drennan, Cameron Fenton (Greystones), Richard Finlay (Larne) and Ethan Campbell (Strangford) all expected to compete. Newry’s Jack Conachy is also getting quicker and should be a podium contender at least.
Armagh driver Jackie Cochrane, and his Sunbeam Tiger, will be hard to beat in the HRCA encounters, however, when Belfast’s Mark Russell gets his Morgan Plus 8 wound up, he may give his opponent a run.
Derek Kelly, from Dublin, is driving an MG Midget this time, which means
he will not trouble Cochrane, but he should have a good battle with Wolfgang Schnittger, from Delgany, who is in a similar machine. Stephen Kelly, from Ballymote, always puts on a good show in his Mallock U2 Mk 23.
Ken McAvoy (Greystones) and Edmund Cassidy (Kilsallaghan) usually battle for the lead in the pre- 1955 races. Ken pilots a 1934 Riley 12/4 TT Sprite and Edmund runs a 1936 Iona Special.
However, this time, Holywood’s Simon Brien is driving his 1953 Jaguar C-Type, and it will probably be the quickest car in the field.
There are other, beautiful machines in the field, including two 1920s Bentleys, driven by Stepaside’s Luke Bailey and Enniskerry’s Andrew Bailey.
Bangor’s Ali Carver will be wrestling with a 4.5 litre Vauxhall 30/98 A-Type Special, built in 1917, and Austin Baird, from Holywood, will be driving a 1934 Talbot 95/105 Super Sport, while Holywood’s Dermot Johnson will return in his rapid 1933 Alfa Romeo 1750GS.
Although the Austin Sevens just race for outright victory, there are, effectively, two classes.
The ‘Chummy’ is the traditionally-shaped car, with a very upright stance, large, flat windscreen and folded down hood, while The ‘Ulster’ is built for racing and is quite streamlined. Locals Angus Johnson (Newtownards) and George Johnson (Killinchy), both in Ulsters, and Ali Carver, in an ‘Alternative Ulster’, are expected to be the main contenders.
This year, the Formula Ford 1600 Championship has been very interesting, as more cars have appeared. The battle at the front should be between Dave Parks, from Ballina, and Ian Campbell, from Dundalk.
However, the race for the lower places should be more intense, with Alan Crossen (Comber), Philip Harris (Saintfield), Matthew Gilmore (Belfast) and Alan Davidson (Randalstown) all competing.
At this meeting, there is a special, one-off race for pre-1990 FF1600 cars. The winner will receive the Leslie Drysdale Trophy, while there will also be a trophy for the first pre-1982 car to finish.
Expect a very tight race between Parks, in his Reynard FF89, and Davidson, in his Mondiale M89s, but Philip Harris and Alan Crossen, in Mondiale 89s, and Adam McAuley, in his Reynard FF88, should all keep them busy.
The pre-1982 fight will include Parkgate’s Mike Todd, in a Crosslé 32f, Dublin’s Kieran Hannan, in a similar car, Naas’ Robbie Allen, in a Van Diemen, and Athgoe’s Nigel Smyth, in a Royale RP24.
The Kirkistown Fiestas and Kirkistown Mini Coopers will run together. Travis Mawhinney (Richhill) and Neville Anderson (Banbridge) will renew their rivalry in the Fiestas, while the Minis should provide a fierce battle between Ballyclare’s Taylor Frizzell, Portadown’s, James Turkington, and the Gilmore brothers, Darren and Craig.
The Modi-5-Cup Mazdas have a good field. Craig Ewing, from Dundonald, is the man to beat, but Robert McAllister, from Antrim, is getting closer every race.
Paul Sheridan, from Randalstown, is making a rare appearance and can be very competitive on his day. If Paul McAlinden gets his car going properly, he will also feature at the sharp end.
Pete Gilchrist, from Greenisland, found a lot of speed at the May meeting, and if he were to improve by the same amount again this time, he should give Ewing a run for his money.
Spectators will be treated to a grid walk with the pre-1950 cars, a grand parade of classic non-racing cars and two demonstration sessions featuring David Kelly’s wonderful Lola T70.
The Lola currently races in Classic Sportscar events around Europe, competing in both the Estoril Classic and the Algarve Classic this year. The noise alone will be worth the admission price.
Qualifying starts at 8:45 am and the first of fifteen races will get underway at 11am.
