Brian McDaid’s new ‘On The Road Again’ column is attracting more new readers each week than he does insects on his windscreen in July (that’s a lot of readers – or insects!)
This week he goes back to his roots and reports from the Eamonn Harvey Memorial Navigational Rally which was based at the Mulroy Woods Hotel in Milford.
That, along with his fuel watch and a wise-cracking fellow reporter who has a new name for his column….
Rally Special – 1st Event of 2016
Donegal Motor Club Chairman, Brian Brogan with Darren and Andrew HArvey at the Navigation Rally in memory of the their late father Eamon Harvey. Photo Brian McDaid
There wasn’t enough brown envelopes on Saturday night to go around at the briefing for the opening rally event.
Donegal Motor Club members turned up in big numbers to give a helping hand and the brown envelopes with the various time points and controls were soon snapped up as the officials headed off to there start positions.
On Saturday 23rd of January, local rallying hero – the late and great Eamonn Harvey was remembered in his memorial event. Indeed lots of friends were remembered with memories recalling some great nights of rallying.
People like the late Lottie Reid, and the late Mick Henry, to name but a few and it wasn’t long to the yarns were flowing.
One such night, involved Mick Henry, driving a white RS2000 and myself navigating for him. Our main competition coming from Charlie Reid and his wife, Lottie navigating a Talbot Sumbean.
Paul Reid who was running 1st on the road in the navigation rally on Saturday night. Photo Brian McDaid
With both of us navigators in the semi-novice class, Lottie had me well beat until we reached the herringbone section of the navigation. Then things went from bad to worse when managed to break the Halda Tripmaster. So with no option but considering retirement we headed for the nearest lights of a town in the distance.
Then we accidentally drove through the end control of the section, right approach and everything. The official manning the control informed us were were the only competitor in the rally that came through the control. “Our Big Break” in rallying, as Mick called it, ended up giving us the win in the semi-novice section class that night.
Meanwhile on Saturday night, Letterkenny’s John Crumlish was the Clerk of the Course for the nights event.
And at 14 degrees in mid January it was beautiful weather to watch competitors plotting and dashing through the challenging course.
Our pictures were taken at Lackagh Bridge not far from Glen Village.
They include Darren, son of the late Eamonn Harvey, who was navigating for James Grennan in a Nissan and Paul Reid, son the late Lottie Reid at number 1 in a Subaru Impressa, with Kevin Gallagher in a Subaru.
Donna Friel, Daniel Evesson and Sussie Mc Bride all wrapped up and ready to help on the navigation rally on Saturday night. Photo Brian McDaid
The event was won by Monaghan’s Packie Duffy and Evan Hughs in a Subaru, 1st in the expert section was Martin Tynan and Fintan Clerkin, 1st in the Semi/expert Eoghan Corr and Ruaidri Nash and 1st in the Novice was Aidan Sheery and Oislin Sherlock.
The motor club as always were very thankful to everyone in the local area that helped in any way to make the event another great success.
Raymond Returns
I had a chat with Raymond McLaughlin who was out to give a helping hand on the navigation rally on Saturday night.
A great person to meet out, with some great yarns to tell, we would like to congratulate him on his return to rally after a long break away.
Raymond drove a lot of different rally cars but the Big Nissan 240 RS was the most impressive.
He is back this weekend behind the wheel of a nimble Ford Puma on the Minis Stages which are based at the Hotel Clanree in Letterkenny.
Landrover overseas!
Following our feature on the end of the production of the Land Rover Defender in last week’s Donegal Daily we enjoyed some great stories about the great work horse and some of the many uses.
Thanks to Antoinette Dorrian from Letterkenny who sent us in a class picture of her late father Patsy Molloy at the door of the rugged Otharcharr, (Ambulance).
Patsy, who like his father before him, was an Ambulance driver throughout Donegal and progressed to the Ambulance Controller for the Donegal area.
He is pictured at the door of this 110 inch long wheel base petrol engine version, as he prepares to deliver it to Arranmore Island, The Land Rover was Dublin registered , 367 AZI. Maybe it might jog some nice memories?
The fuel prices keep dropping!
With times being so tight it’s a great short term relief as the petrol and diesel prices are still dropping.
Our picture is from the filling station of Gavin Harris in Convoy. At 99cent for a litre of diesel, it’s just one of the great deals in Donegal for diesel.
When prices are low it’s a good exercise to buy your fill and round it up to the nearest litre rather than the nearest euro. This way it makes you more aware of how many litres of fuel you are using, and will also give you an idea of the amount you will get as they price increases again.
And Finally……..
We would just like to thank all our friends who are giving us great words of encouragement to produce the column every week.
Telling us not to be road testing something the everyday public can not afford to buy was an honest assessment.
We were also very amused at one of our fellow journalists, who came up with a great name for our motoring column -“What about ‘The Steering Column” he said! Your cheque is in the post, Declan!
Remember to stay safe behind the wheel until next week!
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