The serious motorsport season is over for 1997, except for the Dublin and District MCC's St Stephen's Day Fancy Dress Trial which is a good fundraiser for the Wireless for the Blind and Audio Visual Technology Fund.
First held in 1951, this fun event has raised over £60,000 for this worthy charity, with last year's total amounting to £4,000. Jim Bartley, alias Bella Doyle of the TV Soap Fair City will be the adjudicator at The Slade, Crooksling, Co Dublin, and at the conclusion of the outdoor fun and games (which starts from 11.15 am), a charity auction will be held in the nearby Blue Gardenia, also for the Wireless for the Blind.
As well as the fancy dress and accompanying festive fun and games, there will be the penultimate round of the D and D Club Championship, currently led by Warren Hendy on 140 points, from Stuart Martin 126, David Lawless 119, John Finlay 116, Emmet Stokes 115 and Michael Burton 114.
Also on St Stephen's Day the Munster Motor Cycle and Car Club run a charity motocross at Vernon Mount, Kinsale Road, Cork; and Trials Drivers' Club (TDC) have an autotest at Charlesland, Delgany, Co Wicklow.
There is quite a variety of events on the 27th - sporting trial or mud plug at Kilruddery, Bray; rallysprint at Mondello Park; loose-surface autocross events run by the Cork and Cavan Motor Clubs, at Coachford and Latton, Co Monaghan, respectively.
Sunday, December 28th sees the Irish Schoolboy Motor Cycle Club (ISMCC) Christmas Motocross at Johnstown Motopark, off the dual-carriageway near Naas, in aid of St John Ambulance.
Placings in the Youth Motocross Championship, held over three rounds (August 30th; September 27th; October 26th) are: 60cc 1 - Darren Leonard 232 points; 2 - Stuart Edmonds 195; 3 - Aaron Fetherston 195. 80-100cc Small Wheel 1 - William Tutty 282; 2 - Ross Brown 278; 3 - Sean Coade 277. 80/100cc Big Wheel 1 - Ross Dunleavy 363; 2 - John McDonald 346; 3 - Stephen Rubotham 333. Open 125cc 1 - Brendan Nolan 324; 2 - Russell Byrne 319; 3 - Ronan Short 317.
The RIAC Motorsport Fixtures for 1998 are now being issued to members and members of clubs affiliated to the governing body of Irish motorsport (cars). Events listed for January are:
1st - TDC Production Car Trial; IVVCC Veteran and Vintage Car Run. 3rd - MEC Freeman Cup Sporting Trial, Red Bog, Blessington; Co Monaghan MC. Navigation Rally, starts Abbey Bar, Clones, 8.30 p.m. 10th - Clare Night Navigation Rally; Kildare `Heartbreak' Night Navigation Rally. 11th - Kildare 4x4 Production Trial; Skibbereen Autocross; Midland MC Hewison Trophy Autotest. 17th - Garda MC, Kehoe Cup Sporting Trial; Carrick-on-Suire Hewison Autotest. 17th/18th - Connacht Navigation Rally. 18th - Tipperary Hewison Autotest. 24th/25th - Cork `1000 Shakes' Night Navigation Rally. 25th - Cavan Autocross. 31st - MEC Jenkins Cup Sporting Trial.
The RIAC "Night of Champions" is listed for January 24th at Fitzpatricks Killiney Castle Hotel, at which the awards for the Dunlop Sexton Trophy, Dunlop Touring Car and Dunlop Fiat Uno Championships will be presented. The Dunlop Sexton Trophy is the most coveted award in Irish motor racing.
It was first won in 1948 by Dudley Colley, who campaigned a `Chain Gang' Frazer-Nash in speed events. Current winner is Neill Shanahan (18) who had a very successful season in Formula Ford 1600. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the Sexton Trophy competition and the 21st year of Dunlop sponsorship.
Festive Fixtures
St Stephen's Day - D an D MCC, Fancy Dress Trial, The Slade, Crooksling, Co Dublin, 11.15 am; TDC Autotest, Charlesland, Delgany, Co Wicklow, 11.13 am; Munster MC and CC, Brinny, Coachford, Co. Cork, 12.00 pm.
