Last Saturday night saw the start of the Night Navigational Trials for this winter. Monaghan Motor Club hosted the first event of the year out of The Kingscourt Community Centre in Cavan.
There was a strong entry of 36 cars & with 9 Donegal Motor Club Crews in attendance all in Subarus (other cars are available..!!) with all crews finishing.
This was one of the biggest Donegal Motor Club entries in a long time and it shows the positive impact getting the Night navigational classes & events back running in the Donegal Motor Club.
The Donegal results were as follows, Letterkenny’s Paddy 90 O’Donnell with Ryan Farrell were second in the Semi Expert Class.
Donegal Town’s David Kelly & Gerry Hughes finished 2nd in the Novice Class. Kilmacrennan Brothers Keith & Damian Sheridan yet again lost their back bumper..!! Niall Mc Daid made the trip back from the UK to compete alongside veteran navi Ciaran Coyle. Cousins Ian Gallagher & Conor Gallagher were delighted to get finished their first event.
It was a great event with all crews happy heading home. Plans are now under way to start the Night Navigational Classes again with the hope of having 2 Night Navigational trial dates in Donegal in 2024.
Aidan Mc Devitt and Aidan Sweeney
Shane Laverty and Pauric Mc Ginley
Teac Bhillie Hosts Harvest Rally Club Meeting
Harvest Rally 2024 sponsor Damian Whorikey hosted this month’s Donegal Motor Club members meeting in this year’s Rally HQ Teac Bhillie, Gortahork.
With the event being cancelled last year in the aftermath of the Creeslough Tragedy, the rally returns this year to the Gortahork area on Saturday the 11th of November in a Mini Stage format of 3 stages completed twice format restricted to Donegal Club Members only. While this year’s restrictions have been annoying for all involved, they have been imposed by the governing body due to the objections from Skibbereen Motor Club for the event to run at all due to the 2 year Calendar currently in place for Rallying in Ireland.
It took a lot of diplomatic work by the club to get this year’s event back for 2024. With entries only opening this week there have already been 60 entries received with a packed club meeting of club members to help the event.
The official Harvest Launch is Sunday, 22nd of November at 4pm at Teac Bhillie, Gortahork where there will be a display of cars and a Q & A Session. More details to follow.
Donegal International Rally COC for 2024
At the Club meeting on Monday night it was also confirmed that there are 2 nominations received for this year’s Donegal International Rally COC.
Eamon Mc Gee is seeking to get reelected again for a 12th year in a row while veteran COC Matt Doherty is also seeking a return to the COC job for 2024 focusing on building & guiding a new younger team to bring some fresh ideas to the Donegal International Rally for 2024 such as a return of the factory drivers & teams back to Donegal again while protecting the traditions of the Donegal International rally for the clubmen.
There was and will be more good healthy debate about the future of the Donegal International Rally as the COC’s canvass for votes ahead of the election. We had the rally going through the Gap last year so we wait to see what will 2024 bring.
Eamon Mc Gee and Oisin Kelly
Colin Mc Crae, Matt Doherty, Eugene Donnelly
