80 AUTOSPORT.COM 22 AUGUST 2019AL
L^ P
ICS
:^ C
HE
ST
ER
Foley’s MGB inflicted a rare
HRCA defeat on CochraneMotor Sport, ex-Tom Pitcher 1275GT,
gradually closed down the Appendix K
machines and used his Group 1 power to
ease by Lewis for the lead. As the rain fell,
however, Kavanagh slid off and parked in
the gravel to prompt a red flag. Lewis retook
the lead and the win over the impressive
Griffin, with Cullen completing the podium.
Ray Cunningham, fresh from a class win
in the Ulster Rally in his Cooper S, arrived
at Mondello on Sunday morning to join the
fun. Having taken pole for the second race,
the Galway driver relished the horrendous
conditions as he eased away for an
impressive win. Griffin was on form again
as he hung on for second, just pipping
Kavanagh in a drag race to the line.
Jackie Cochrane’s rumbling Sunbeam
Tiger took its customary pole position for
the first Historic Racing Car Association
race ahead of returnee Brendan Keane’s
Mallock and Bernard Foley’s MGB GT V8.
Despite a tardy start, the Tiger was some 15
seconds to the good at the flag, with Foley
fighting off an inspired challenge from Clive
Brandon’s Lotus 47 for the runner-up spot.
In race two, Foley drove the race of his lifeMONDELLO PARK
HISTORIC FESTIVAL
17-18 AUGUSTMondello Park’s Historic Festival might
have been one of many events that
celebrated 60 years of the Mini but, with
Formula 1 demos, visiting UK drivers and
various other paddock entertainments,
it was a huge success for the Irish circuit.
Snetterton Speed Shop’s Jonathan Lewis
clinched pole position when the much-
anticipated Classic Mini racers took to
the asphalt. In the opening race, he duly
led away from team-mates and Mondello
tin-top regulars Michael Cullen and
Dave Maguire.
Steve Griffin, though, was on a charge.
Despite Dave O’Neill’s famous Wolseley
Hornet only being completed the previous
week, and Griffin not having competed
in a front-wheel-drive car for many years,
the combination stormed up to second.
Griffin annexed many of the positions
with some impressive moves into
the final corner.
Neil Kavanagh, in the newly built GranbyLewis wins as Historic Festival celebrates Mini
to inflict a rare defeat on Cochrane,
with Brandon in third being the only
other competitor to remain unlapped
by the charging duo.
Edmund Cassidy’s MG Magnette-based
Iona Special took the opening Pre-1955
race, with Kevin Sheane second and Liam
Ruth completing the podium in Cassidy’s
Mk2 Special. Handicap honours went to
the Alvis Silver Eagle of Nick Bennett.
In race two, Shane Houlihan’s beautiful
Riley 12/4 took the win from Tom Mullins’
modified MG TD and Bennett.
Irish Legends didn’t disappoint on
their first appearance at the Historic
Festival. Perennial pacesetter and reigning
champion Paul O’Brien took the honours
in all three races. UK visitor James
Holman was second in the first race,
with Geoff Richardson taking second
in race two and Greg Richardson being
runner-up in the finale.
Paddy Howley’s ex-Mondello racing
school Rover 25 GTi was quickest of a
large Future Classics grid in qualifying, but
the fact he shattered the dreaded barrier
time meant he started at the back. That
promoted Stephen Martin to pole position,
ahead of class organiser Aidan Byrne.
Class newbie Gareth Thompson and past
champion Timmy Duggan made up row
two, with Gary Duggan taking pole for
the slower class in his Abarth Punto.
Byrne used all his experience to take the
win in race one, crossing the line well ahead
of his opposition. Almost 20 years after
he was involved in the introduction of the
manufacturer-backed Fiat Uno Cup, David
Hammond took a giant-killing second place,
somehow holding off Mike Dermody’s
Vauxhall Vectra in a thrilling race. Gary
Duggan took honours in the slower class,