1st Mini Run to Ireland 1997

A commemorative run in honour of the outstanding achievement of the 1967 Circuit of Ireland win by Paddy Hopkirk and Terry Harryman.

Just over 30 years ago the Circuit of Ireland rally was won by Paddy Hopkirk and Terry Harryman in a Mini Cooper S. The car was GRX5D, this car has a notable competition history. In its first event, the Monte Carlo Rally of 1966 it finished first on the road, with Paddy Hopkirk at the wheel, to make three consecutive wins for Minis on the Monte Carlo Rally but the lighting fiasco intervened and it along with several other cars were disqualified. In its final event in Canada, the Shell 4000 again it was disqualified! After being sold from the works it passed through a number of hands including Victor Guantlett to become the property of Simon Howes. Last year it took part in the Mini Monte, but was then sold at the Coy’s auction at Silverstone in August. Its new owner is Northern Ireland resident Tom Turkington.

To commemorate the victory on the Circuit of Ireland, Hugh Wyllie and Bob Kelly both experienced navigators put on a touring event under the auspices of the Mini Cooper Register. The entry was restricted just to Minis, but of any age. So on the 20th May forty minis gathered at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery in County Cork for the start of the event. The crews from the Mainland had gathered at Pembroke Dock to catch the 03.15 sailing to Rosslare, the ferry docked some 4 hours later. It was then to drive in convoy the some 120 miles to Rosscarbery, to join the crews from Northern Ireland, the Irish Republic and those from the mainland who had opted to come over earlier (us included!)

Apart from the appearance of GRX5D there were several Coopers with a rallying history, including ORX707F owned by Elgin Greer and took part in the 1968 Monte Carlo Rally driven by Tony Fall and the Tulip Rally the same year. Alasitair Vine’s CRX89B, this car won during 1965 the Circuit of Ireland, Polish Rally, the Three Cities Rally and finished 15th on the RAC Rally. 24PK again owned by Tom Turkington, this time driven by David and Jean McFerran. this is the ex Sir Peter Moon Brian Culceth car. Apart from these there were several ex works replicas, Coopers and Cooper S’s of varying ages up to the latest specification Rover Coopers even two John Cooper five speed gearbox conversions, standard minis of differing models.

Several well known names from the Mini Cooper Register where there including Basil Wales, Robert Young, Roger Wall, Martin Garrard, Stephen Smith and Paul Wilson in a support come marshalling role.

From the start on Tuesday we would drive west along the southern coast and then north, covering a number of the Circuit of Ireland stages to arrive at the Eccles Hotel in Glengarriff over looking Bantry Bay, where the event would be based for the next two days. On Wednesday saw us heading part of the way round the Ring of Bhera taking in the Healy Pass amongst other stages and the sensational Priests Leap. For Thursday we headed North to Kilarney to take in part of the Ring of Kerry including run over Molls Gap. The finish was back at the Eccles, where dinner in the evening was completed by the prize giving by Paddy Hopkirk.

The format of the event.

A comprehensive road book was issued, containing tulip diagrams for the whole event and a number of route check questions. For each "stage" of the event a target time was given. Marks were awarded according to how close or not we were to that target time, in addition to this there would be secret marshal points to make sure crews adhered to the average speed. Suffice to say we were either to quick or to slow! but we managed to get every route check question right.

The route in detail.

Day 1 Rosscarbery - Castletownshend - Baltimore - Caheragh - Glengariff

This took in the following stages Glandore, Tragumna and Lower Mount Kid. All of them carefully detailed in the road book, with many anecdotes as to incidents on the stages who had hit which wall who had left the road here! and items of interest about locations along the route.

Day 2 Glengariff - Kenmare - Shebeen- Castletownbere - Ardgroom - Kenmare - Glengariff

We went over the Borlin stage used many times in the 1960's, Kilmacallogue, Healy Pass, Cod's Head, Ardgroom with 109 jumps on it!, Kilmacallogue in the reverse direction, Priests Leap. This final stage was the most spectacular, even at the speeds we were travelling, with even most spectacular views dared we look! We encountered blind brows which dropped below the bonnet line giving no indication as to where the road went. The road had only recently been surfaced dressed so the surface was loose and so were cattle and sheep! Meeting Paddy Hopkirk on the final day he couldn't recall how quick he and Terry Harryman were over this stage but they were the fastest and this was run at night!

Day 3 Glengariff - Tahilla - Climber's Inn - Gleneagle - Highest Pub - Glengariff

Onto the final day, it was a short drive out to Tahilla for the start of the Ballaghbeama stage again in regular use in the 1960's, Caragh Lake used on both the Circuit of Ireland and the Rally of the Lakes, Molls Gap, Roughty River/Fuhiry Stage took us to the Highest Pub in Ireland at the Top of Coom. Here Paddy Hopkirk had unexpectedly turned up and was signing autographs and having his picture taken. (Note the name above the entrance to the Pub!)

In the evening of the day three was the prize giving and dinner where Paddy was the Guest of Honour. Here he presented the prizes for the winners Paul and Patricia Robinson and also in a number of other catergories.

An excellent well run event - the location, the weather, the cars, the people were all superb! Let's hope it's the first of many.

More Pictures

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