The world famous Granny Grand Prix was once again staged in Mondello Park, forget about Michael Schumacher, he’s only trotting down the road after these lot.  Hector’s Grannies set the tarmac ablaze, wheels smoking, tyre squealing the Grannies battled hard in Mondello.

Cheered on by their family’s the Grannies put on a fine display, and I’ll tell ye lads these girls were on a mission on the track, these ladies were not afraid to throw the cars around the track. And they weren’t afraid to have a go down the inside!

So if you meet one of Hector’s grannies on the road, MOVE OVER!, there’s a granny coming thru.

The pictures are in the Gallery, I’ll add more when I get a chance, if you want copies email me and we’ll send them on to ye.

Thank you Hector and 2FM Team it was some crack, to all of the Mondello Marshals and crew thanks for keeping us all safe.

The final touches to this year’s 2012 Irish Hillclimb & Sprint book are done, the book is 40 pages and we have tried to included as many folks and events as possible from 2012.
The book will cost about €35.00 Euro posted to you, and Caora Dubha is a non profit organization, so the price you pay is the cost of printing and postage.
It is only available on Blurb.com, and will make an ideal Xmas gift, or a worthy edition to any motorsport collection.

Click Here to Preview Book

After half a century of racing Frank Nuthall has hung up his racing boots, Frank has always been one of the most respected competitors, and indeed a wonderful ambassador of Irish motorsport.
Frank is the epitome of a gentleman racer and has seen many changes to motorsport over his career as a driver, numerous class wins and a knowledge of motorsport history that is unsurpassed.

We wish Frank the very best, and say thank you, it was a privilege to watch and photograph you in action.

Irish Festival of Speed

Caora Dubha.com

The Irish Hillclimb & Sprint and Formula Libre Ireland awards night took place in the  killashee hotel Portlaoise, it was an excellent night of frippery and buffoonery, the pictures are in the gallery..

Sylvie Mullins Irish Hillclimb & Sprint Champion 2012

Just added some of the action from Mondello; a very wet start added to the fun on track…

Dawn broke like a rotten egg on Monday morning with the memory of a sensational weekend of racing still very much in the mind, but stranger still was the dawn chorus in Donegal, apparently the crowing began at 3am, and again around 6’ish am. Strange, very strange!?..

The new champion Sylvie Mullins delivered the most spectacular display of skill and bravery the likes not seen for many years. On Saturday Sylvie smashed the hill record on his first run, and again on Sunday he annihilated the previous days record too. Simon McKinley battled hard on Saturday to catch Sylvie, but rain ended the champ’s chances, and the championship slipped from his grasp. Simon continued the day on slicks in the rain and delivered a master class in car control in very wet conditions.

Seamus Morris and Joe Courtney battled hard Saturday and Sunday, Seamus had a moment or two in the wet as he fought hard to contain the wild horses behind him. Both of the lads gave an excellent display of high speed car control in wet conditions.

Dermot Nolan had his first competitive run in his new car, although he paid a brief visit to the side lines, Dermot got faster and faster as the weekend went on as he got accustomed to his new chariot.

Thank you to Danny and the crew from Donegal Motor Club for an excellent weekend once again.

I have only just started to get some of the action from the weekend up, video will follow in a few days, but for now I want to thank you all for another year of wonderful, courageous racing, to the Marshals at the events we say THANK YOU for keeping us safe.

Our thanks to Denis Hogan jnr for the continued support and for constantly flying the Banner for Caora Dubha. Indeed to all who follow the Banner of Caora Dubha we say thank you…

Pictures are in the Gallery, we hope to see you all at prize giving in October.

The final round of the Connaught competition engines Hillclimb & Sprint championship is just over a week away, the Grand Finale takes place on Knockalla hill in Co Donegal on the 1^st & 2^nd of September. At stake is the coveted title of “Irish Hillclimb Champion”; and with just one point separating the main contenders Sylvie Mullins, and defending champion Simon McKinley it will surely be the Race of the year.

The power of Sylvie’s Gould GR 37 is explosive, Sylvie is a daring, and mathematically precise driver, but it may not be enough to deal with the McKinley enigma, Simon’s apparent ability to bend the laws of Physics in his Lant RT2, and go round corners at mind boggling speed beggar’s belief. One way or another in few days time the race of the year will be decided.

Over the course of the weekend numerous other championship classes will be sorted as well, its been many years since the championship classes have been this close, and these final rounds will undoubtedly be the Grande Finale of 2012, and the action Spectacular.

Don’t miss this exciting end to the 2012 championship, Knockalla 1&2 of September

Some of Saturdays action are now on Line, more later

We’re Back!!!

It was an epic weekend of Motorsport in St Goueno and once again Team Ireland wow’ed the French fans with their epic on track display of skill, bravery, and of course their legendary Paddock frolicking. Even Tony, erm.. Dermot the Tiger made an appearance.

The hill at St Goueno is fast flowing and deceptive, the speeds are much higher, and if you make a mistake, it will cost you dearly. The Hill is flanked with Armco on one side, and high clay banking with trees the other. The top French cars are in a different league entirely, they are so low to the ground they rub the tarmac, their cornering speeds simply incredible, to say its like they are on rails is an understatement .

The welcome the Irish drivers and families receive from the people of St Goueno is spectacular, all day long there is a procession of fans who turn up to have their picture taken with the lads, if Simon McKinley was to charge for pictures he’d be a millionaire in no time. It’s the same everywhere you go in St Goueno, you get a warm welcome, and even if you only have a few words of French, because you made the effort. The People of St Goueno appreciate the gesture.

They were even more intrigued by the Irish language, when spoken to them, I had little or no French, and I did not meet a Marshal who understood Gaeilge, but it all worked out ok.

  The Fanatical excitement of the fans when the PA announced “Le Crazy Irish Driver Simon McKinley” was incredible. They stood up and cheered Simon each time he took to the hill; and boy he did not disappoint them, in Simon’s hands the Escort danced through corners at fantastic speeds, and he came within inches of the Armco every time, I think Simon must have been out with a measuring tape.

In the Lant RT2 it was more of the same, except much much faster, his precise control over the car has to be seen to be believed, the mind simply boggles at his cornering speeds. And the French Simply adore him for his driving skills.

Rory Stephens had his gorgeous Radical out this weekend too, turbo and drive shaft problems were all overcome by the lads in the pits. On one run Rory was really flying, his smooth and precise run was interrupted by a red flag. But after posing with some Marshals on the track Rory returned to the start for another run. I kid you not, that’s the kind of welcome Team Ireland get here.

It is on surface’s like this that the Radical excels, and with Rory at the helm it just glides effortlessly around corners at speed.

Dermot (the Tiger) Nolan was in action in his Reynard, but early morning clutch problems during qualifying were quickly sorted, and after that Dermot just got quicker and quicker as he guided the Reynard round the tight corners with ease.

The two Fiat Cinquecento’s driven by Joe Courtney and Neil Bradbury were simply flying, the fans applauded the lads effort, I have never seen a Cinquecento driven so fast, they leaned at a very unsettling angle around the big hairpin bend, all I can say is well done lads, a brave drive indeed.

Phil Price of Connaught Competition Engines who Sponsors the Irish Hillclimb & Sprint Championship was also out in his Stunning Porsche Turbo, with over 500 Growling horses sitting behind him, Phil was  going well during practice when he suffer an off road excursion, although Simon, Phil and the lads worked feverishly to repair the car. It refused to start. A real pity as the car has wonderful growl when driven in anger, I hope he brings it over here sometime soon.

Drive of the weekend has to go to Eanna Carroll of Loughrea, Eanna finished third in class and was a big hit with the Fans. His speed was nothing short of incredible, even the Marshals were left astonished at his speed, he left a black line on the road for about 100 meters at one of the fastest points of the hill. You have to understand that Eanna was up against some of the best drivers in Europe, and they gave him a standing ovation at prize giving, now that’s the kind of admiration you don’t often see. Clad in an Irish Flag, Eanna received rapturous applause at prize Giving, bringing an end to an epic weekend in his Turbo Honda Civic.

Well what a weekend!! And what hospitality the people of St Goueno extended to us, even the dogs walked down from the B&B with us, I kid you not.

Merci beaucoup St Goueno, we will return.

I would like to thank Dermot, Connor and Robert for an epic road trip I will remember for many years to come. Margaret Bell for stuffing me with burgers and Tea, to Simon, Peter, Deidre, and all of Team Ireland I say Thank You. It was Epic.

Some of the pictures are up, but it will take weeks to go through them all….

This coming  weekend in Brittany France, the prestigious Saint Goueno Hillclimb Masters will take place; the event attracts some of the best drivers from across the globe. And Current Irish Hillclimb Champion Simon McKinley has been invited back again to the event; The French respect fearless drivers, and like the great René Arnoux, Simon’s spectacular and daring driving style has won the respect and admiration of the French fans.

Simon is leading the Irish team of Drivers who also include Dermot Nolan in the McKinley Reynard P873, Rory Stephens in his fire breathing Radical SR3, Neil Bradbury  and Joe Courtney in the Fiat Cinquecento. Joe is driving his Fiat from the west of Ireland to the event as they intend to do their own tour de France on the way to the event.

Caora Dubha.com will bring you news, pictures and results over the course of the weekend, from us all here we wish the lads the very best of luck and a safe journey.