TDC Dave Griffin Memorial Multi Venue Autotest 25/01/2015

A cool but dry Mondello Park welcomed the 47 competitors who turned up to take part in yesterdays TDC Dave Griffin Memorial MVAT. Along with the good entry a large band of marshals and timekeepers were also on hand to oversee proceedings which were closely governed by Tim Faulkner and Mark Doran. With a large entry and split group system it meant that all tests would start at the same time in order to keep a steady flow of cars at each test location around the track and perimeter car parks.

Apart from the strong local and club entry there were also a a good representation from the midlands including Eoin Longworth, Ronan Shanahan, Mick Boland, Frank Dwyer and a few other Birr Motor Club members and a strong presence of Northern Irish drivers, Will Corry, James Wilson, Robert Woodside, Simon and Jack Brien, James Colville and John Kelly.

With tests starting at 10am it wasn't long until Will Corry, driving his MeGa Midget, had thrown down the gauntlet to the opposition and set fastest time on four of the first five tests to open up a 6 second lead over the Mini of James Wilson with the Mazda MX5 of Robert Woodside a further 7 seconds in arrears. Best of the locals was Eamonn Byrne (Starlet) in fourth just 2 seconds off Woodsides total for the five tests, but he had Eddie Peterson in a Mini biting at his heels, just 1 second separating the multi Hewison Autotest Champions.

Will Corry

Once the first loop of tests was completed it was straight into the second loop where Corry was at the top of the time sheets on all five tests and as others had penalties or made slight mistakes he kept things neat and tidy but unbelievably quick to extend the lead over Wilson who was flying through the tests in the little Mini

James Wilson

but was no match for the K series engined Corry Midget. Eamonn Byrne had moved up to third after Woodside had incurred a couple of time penalties which dropped him back to joint 4th with Peterson. Darren Quille who is normally seen autotesting a RWD Sportscar was sharing his dads Mitsubishi Colt and setting some good times to hold onto sixth just ahead of the MX5 of Piers MacFheorais.

Eddie Peterson

The third loop of tests saw the Woodside MX5 record a couple of fastest test times as the damp track dried out and this saw the Ballynure man reclaim third position behind Corry and Wilson, the three Northern drivers stretching out an advantage at the front, Peterson remained 4th with Darren Quille slotting into 5th ahead of Byrne, who missed a test when the lunch break was called and forgot to go back to it after the break, the resulting fail ruining his chances of clawing back time on the leaders.

Eamonn Byrne

The final loop of tests saw Corry and Woodside tie for time on three tests and Corry fastest on the two others. The quick times from the Mazda driver meant he overhauled Wilson's Mini to take 2nd place. Meanwhile some good times from Quille near the end saw him go 13 seconds faster than Peterson and jump into 4th place.

Robert Woodside

Byrne remained in sixth with a hard charging John Kelly, in another Corry built Midget, finishing 7th. Nova driver Richard Meeke tied for time with Kelly but the Northern Irish driver got the 7th spot by virtue of being quickest of the two on the opening test. Piers MacFheorais encountered some cooling issues which hampered his progress but he still managed to hold on to a top 10 result. The final spot in the top ten went the way of Simon Brien in another Midget after brake issues with the car earlier saw his son Simon step down from double driving the car in order to preserve the car for his dad.

Simon Brien

Darren Quille

The large entry of rear wheel drive cars meant there was no shortage of entertainers with Joe Doran (Manta), Danny O'Donoghue (Mk1 Escort), Mark Walsh (Escort Mk2) along with the Midgets and MX5s all "playing" for the camera, there was even the odd Starlet trying to get in on the act too.

Kevin Fagan

Danny O'Donoghue

Joe Doran

John Kelly

Mark Walsh

Results:

1 Will Corry (MG Midget) 1501s,

2 Robert Woodside Jnr (Mazda MX5) 1546s,

3 James Wilson (Mini) 1550s,

4 Darren Quille (Colt) 1578s,

5 Eddie Peterson (Mini) 1581s,

6 Eamonn Byrne (Starlet) 1584s,

7 John Kelly (MG Midget) 1623s,

8 Richard Meeke (Nova) 1623s,

9 Piers MacFheorais (Mazda MX5) 1624s,

10 Simon Brien (MG Midget) 1640s,

11 Liam Cashman (Starlet) 1649s,

12 Kevin O'Rourke (Starlet) 1668s.

Class winners: Liam Cashman, James Wilson, Robert Woodside Jnr, Joe Doran (Opel Manta) 1712s

Full results on TDC Ireland

More photos on Peespeed Photography

Next outing: Cars & Coffee, Cherrywood, Dublin 1/2/15.....(weather dependant)