Funds raised for Northern Ireland Children's Hospice and other Armagh Lions Club supported charities is still being calculated after the success of last weekend's Wilsons Auctions Loughgall Festival of Motorsport!
 
Despite inclement weather, spectators flocked to County Armagh's Loughgall Country Park for the Festival, which was jointly organised by North Armagh Motorcycle & Car Club (NAMCC) Ltd and Armagh Lions Club. The festivities included a Historic Rally Car Challenge, Apple Blossom Autotest, static historic and classic car displays, as well as a classic car auction.
 
"We enjoyed a truly successful day," said Clerk of the Course, William Fullerton. "Thanks to all those spectators who attended, as well as everyone who has played their part in bringing the event to fruition for the second year in succession. It's fantastic to have Wilsons Auctions on board as title sponsor, as well as many other associate sponsors. The combination of NAMCC Ltd and Armagh Lions Club proved to be very fruitful once again, but without the huge support of the public, it simply wouldn't have been a success."
 
There were plenty of thrills and spills in the Historic Rally Car Challenge, as competitors guided their rally cars through the beautiful surroundings of Loughgall Country Park at speed. Most competitors had little time to admire the scenery, although some decided to take a closer look at the surroundings, resulting in their event coming to a premature end.
 
Unfortunately, Cathal Curley and Elkin Robinson were among those whose event ended prematurely, after their borrowed Porsche 911 understeered through fence posts and into a field. Meanwhile, Harold McAllister and Alex Ewart also joined the retirement ranks after losing an argument with a tree in their Sunbeam.
 
There were no such troubles for John Keatley and Maurice Beckett, nor Colin McDowell and Julie Allen. Under the points *totting up procedure, they shared outright event victory, courtesy of fastest times in their class through each stage. Keith McIvor and David Burns were next in line, with Gerard McGinley and John Coll finishing just ahead of Alan Jardine and Jim McSherry.
 
In the modified category, Wesley Patterson and Martin McGarrity claimed victory by 11 seconds from Kris Meeke and Pamela Ballantine. Dungannon man Meeke was rueing a costly opening stage engine problem which saw him drop 12 seconds to Patterson from the outset, otherwise the result would have been much closer.
 
Draperstown's Camillus Bradley and Danny O'Neill completed the top three in their Escort, with Mervyn and Laura Wedlock arriving home in fourth ahead of James Kennedy and John Rowan. John Waring and Mo Downey completed the top six in their Escort.
 
It wasn't all about rallying and the Apple Blossom Autotest saw some of the country's leading drivers attend. Organised in conjunction with Autotest Drivers' Club (NI) Ltd, Ken Irwin sealed another outright victory in his Mini Special, with Sam Bowden taking second ahead of Robert Dickson.
 
Meanwhile, spectators were also treated to an array of static historic and classic car displays, as well as numerous trade stands. The classic car auction, a new feature for 2008, also proved to be a huge success, with numerous vehicles sold under the hammer!
 
A truly successful day was enjoyed and plans are already in place for the 2009 Wilsons Auctions Loughgall Festival of Motorsport. A provisional May date has been set aside for next year's Festival, and once details have been confirmed, announcements will be made on www.namcc.com and www.armaghlionsclub.com.
 
 
*Overall Historic Rally Car Challenge winners were decided on a points totting up procedure. Six points were awarded for being fastest in class over each stage, with five points for second fastest, four for third fastest etc. Both John Keatley and Colin McDowell set fastest class times on each stage, so they shared the overall victory.
 
Historic Rally Car Challenge overall positions
 
1= John Keatley/Maurice Beckett (Porsche 911) - 48pts
1= Colin McDowell/Julie Allen (Mini Cooper) - 48pts
3 Keith McIvor/David Burns (Porsche 911) - 46pts
4 Gerard McGinley/John Coll (Talbot Sunbeam) - 43pts
5 Alan Jardine/Jim McSherry (Ford Escort) - 42pts
6 Mervyn Johnston/Wendy Blackledge (Austin Mini) - 37pts
 
Modified Rally top three
 
1 Wesley Patterson/Martin McGarrity (Escort) 32m 50.0s
2 Kris Meeke/Pamela Ballantine (Escort) 33m 00.6s
3 Camillus Bradley/Danny O'Neill (Escort) 33m 07.8s