In North Donegal lies a place of such beauty that songs and poetry have been written about it, We are of course talking about Knockalla.

This weekends climax to the 2010 Connaught Competition Engines Irish Hillclimb and Sprint Championship will see the most talked about battle in Irish Motorsport, come to its conclusion.

Current champion Paul O’Connell and title challenger Simon McKinley will battle it out over the two days, with the winner being crowned King of the Hills.

Despite event cancellations, each time these two pugilists met little separated them, on Ballyallaban Simon pipped Paul by a mere 1/100^th of a second. In a weekend that saw records shattered.

And so it has continued right to the last round, Knockalla, a hill described as fearsome at times, will play host to this epic battle of the year. One thing for sure whom ever comes out on top after the weekend, will be a deserving champion.

Paul O'Connell

The Hillclimb committee has brought forward its annual Forum of discussion after a year in which many events were cancelled due mainly to economic reasons.

The Forum will give folks a chance to discuss the circumstances of the year, and the testing times that lie ahead for 2011.

The Forum takes place in the Midway Maldron Hotel in Portlaois on Saturday the 7^th of August at 5pm. Everyone from the Hillclimb Family is welcome to attend.

Automotive Repair Specialist Frank Byrnes threw open his Oranmore Based workshop yet again for another Motorsport & Family day; Frank assembled some of the most exotic Motorsport & Road going cars ever to be seen in the West of Ireland in one spot.

Porsches, Ferrari’s, M3’s Mk1’s MK11, A Rare Eagle, to mention a few, it was hard to know where to look first. With so much exotic metal around.

Dare devil Mattie Griffin was on hand to Thrill the crowds with his motorbike stunts; and this annual event would not be complete. Without a Johnny Wiry burnout in his Mustang…

Model Helicopter displays, vintage cars, kick boxing, etc etc there was something for everyone young and old,

The proceeds of the event are going to children’s Cancer, a worthy cause.

Well done to Frank & Crew for another excellent event.

The pictures are online

Mondello’s paddock was packed to capacity on Sunday, and there’s nothing quite like the sound of a V8 cranking & bursting into life. Simply Glorious.

Martin Tracey had His RS 500 in the ITCC, The Sierra Cosworth, even when parked looked fast, the RS 500 Looks fast & Mean. Capable of swallowing small kids and furry creatures if you stand to close.

The RS 500 is one of those iconic racing cars from the 80’s that can still make the hairs on the back of your neck. Stand up, when it bursts into life.

The rain came down in buckets when the Formula Libre cars took to the track, monsoon like conditions meant the cars started behind the pace car for the first few laps. Drivers picked their way thru the corners. But some still got caught out, as you can see.

The formula Vee’s provided excellent wheel to wheel racing, these racers don’t hold back, and will dive for the corner and overtake at any opportunity.

So forget about Formula 1, it costs a bundle to go see a race, go to Mondello and see the best of the Irish in action. And unlike F1; You can walk around the Paddock in Mondello, and talk to the drivers, and see the cars. 

Pictures from the event are in the Gallery…

Mondello on Sunday was the place to be, the paddock was literally bursting at the seams with competition cars. Of every description, Strykers,  Abarths, Formula Vee’s etc.

You can be sure anytime the Formula Vee’s are in action in Mondello, there’s no shortage of action! Even qualifying as you can see….

The NI Sevens Challenge made an appearance at Mondello and provided some first class entertainment every time they took to the track.

A totally different fire set the Burren a blaze on Sunday; both Simon McKinley & Paul O’Connell unleashed a conflagration that will be talked about for the rest of the year.

Records were not only broken, but smashed, as the dynamic duo of Irish Hillclimbing battled it out over the 2.2 Miles of Torturous Tarmac on Ballyallaban hill. 

  McKinley, the incendiary, set the hill ablaze with his pace, smashing the record of Sylvester Mullins in the process.

Sylvester, who had to sit out morning practice due to car problems. Was unable to match the pace of Simon and Paul. 

   Simon McKinley

All eyes were on Current Champion Paul O’Connell, as he put in one last valiant attempt to overtake McKinley, only to be beaten by 100^th! Simon McKinley 95.02 sec (new hill record), Paul O’Connell 95.03 sec.

 Paul O'Connell

Skill, bravery, lunacy, call it what you like, but these lads gave an awe inspiring display the likes not seen for many years.

  Results Motorsport Ireland 

1 Simon McKinley (Lant RT2) 95.02s, (Hill record),
2 Paul O'Connell (Pilbeam MP58 Hart) 95.03s,
3 Sylvie Mullins (Gould GR37-Judd) 98.20s,
4 Seamus Morris (Pilbeam MP62-Vauxhall) 103.96s,
5 Brendan Keane (Swallow DR14 F3) 110.00s,
6 Rory Stephens (Radical SR3 Hayabusa Turbo) 110.19s,
7 Eanna Carroll (Civic Turbo) 113.36s,
8 Alan Kessie (Gryphon C73) 113.37s,
9 Thomas Corey (Coogar Ralt Rover V8) 115.13s,
10 Dermot Nolan (Reynard GM 873) 115.31s.

Simon Mc Kinley fired the opening salvoes of the 2010 Hillclimb championship by clinching top spot in Rounds 1 & 2 of the Clare Motor Club Hillclimb weekend.  

Corkscrew on Saturday was wet, Traction, or the lack of it; made it difficult for the ultra powerful single seaters to get any real grip as they exited the bends. A light throttle approach was the order of the day.

Sunday started off dry and Chilly allowing the single seaters to let loose their wild horses, and did they go for it! The speed was astonishing. Its as if they are out of phase with the rest of the universe, one second you see them, the next they are gone.

Rounds 3 & 4 will be back in a few weeks time in Ballyvaughan, with the Galway Motor club round of the championship. Where the battle between current champion Paul O’ Connell and Simon Mc Kinley will resume.

Pictures are on line..

caoradubha@gmail.com

  Simon Mc Kinley

Paul O'Connell

A good days fun in Tynagh, well done Carlow.Pictures online

RESULTS CARLOW MC

CARLOW C C SPRINT AT PALLAS KARTING, TYNAGH, CO GALWAY:

1 Rory Stephens (Radical SR3 Hayabusa Turbo) 2m 42.10s
2 Simon McKinley (Reynard GM 873) 2m 43.77s
3 Brendan Harpur (Delta T81 Ford) 2m 45.18s
4 John Byrne (Jedi-Honda) 2m 46.91s
5 Dean Laffey (Reynard RF81 Opel) 2m 52.99s

Ballyvaughan is HQ to the opening round of the 2010 Hillclimb Championship, this picturesque village is synonymous with Hillclimbs, close by are two of the finest Hills in Ireland; Ballyallaban & Corkscrew Hill.

Clare Motor Club hosts the first round, and is using Corkscrew on Saturday & Scalp, a newer hill; is being used on Sunday.

Over the years many an epic battle was played out on Corkscrew hill, Names such as, Richard Young, Carl Cleary and the Kettle brothers. To name a few, have written themselves into the history books of Irish Motorsport.

Richard Young in the 1980’s set & broke records on Corkscrew, his ability to defy the laws of physics was breathtaking. Richard was; and indeed, still is King of this Hill...

Over the last few years on Corkscrew Hill, road works have been carried out and it has been completely re-surfaced, gone is the Bump on the hairpin below. What was known at the picnic table area, but the character of the hill is still there.

From a spectator’s point of view, this is an excellent hill to watch, as they listen to the sound of a V8 Howling on the start line. The Spectator’s are able to watch the cars, blast through the hairpin bends. They are deceptively tricky, and technical; and, if you put a wheel wrong on this hill, it can be costly.

And what of today’s drivers? Paul O Connell, Sylvie Mullins, Simon McKinley, to name but a few; they are spectacular to watch, and like Richard Young in the past. Have a legion of fans that turn out to see these thespians of speed compete on the hills of Ireland.

Defending champion Paul O Connell will be out to retain his title in 2010, so this opening round of the championship will be one event not to miss.

See you out there…