Each year the team at Mondello Park raise the bar a little further for their highly popular Historic Festival event, this year being no exception. A sun-kissed Mondello set the scene for an excellent weekend with the visiting Pre-’66 Touring Cars topping the bill and Saturday’s opener provided the strong crowds at the Kildare venue with plenty of action.
The order at the front was changing on every lap before a mid-race safety car neutralised the field. Star performers included Lotus Cortina pilot Rod McGovern, who initially won before a post-race penalty for a yellow-flag infringement handed the spoils to team-mate Michael Cullen in his Mini Cooper S. Finishing a close second to Cullen was Brendan Rooney as the leading Hillman Imp.
Sunday’s sequel was the shootout for the Alec Poole Trophy. With starting positions determined from a complete reversal of Saturday’s finishing order, Rory Power’s Mini led the field away for the 20-minute encounter. But it wasn’t long before the Cortinas of David Dickenson and now Victor Cullen – who had swapped into the #96 machine that McGovern used to good effect on Saturday – charged to the head of the field, starting a race-long battle for overall honours.
They didn’t have it all their own way, however, as veteran racer and Victor’s father, Michael Cullen, was mounting a giant challenge aboard his Mini despite the notable difference in performance. In the end, it was Dickenson who took the spoils just ahead of the Cullens, with Victor topping the family duel.
Classic Combination: A Rooney in an Imp
Rooney finished second in the opening Pre-’66 Touring Car contest
Photo by: Michael Chester
The Rooneys and Imps have become as synonymous as ham and cheese in a sandwich over the years, so it was very fitting that last weekend’s bill featured Brendan Rooney very effectively racing a Hillman Imp sporting family number 14 on the door. Running very much at the sharp end of the field in the first Pre-’66 contest, Rooney went on to finish as the highest-placed Imp and therefore lifted the Dan Rooney Trophy, named after his grandfather.
Star Car: Stephen Kelly’s U2 Mallock
Former A1GP technician Kelly’s Mallock was beautifully presented
Photo by: Michael Chester
Stephen Kelly is a regular visitor to Mondello Park in his 1981 U2 Mallock Mk23. Sporting a striking new orange and white livery, this self-prepared and run unique racer is as fast as it looks on track in the hands of the Sligo native. Kelly is no stranger to car preparation, the former A1 Grand Prix Team Ireland technician has worked on a number of high-profile historic racing cars in previous years in addition to his own very well-presented example, which finished third in the Historic Racing Car Association St Brigids Trophy bout.
Unexpected Cameo: Morgan Quinn’s Wolseley Hornet outing
Quinn was only called up to drive the famous Wolseley on Sunday morning
Photo by: Michael Chester
Leading Formula Ford 1600 competitor Morgan Quinn was drafted in very last minute on Sunday morning to drive the famous SZJ1, ex-Alec Poole Wolseley Hornet. With just a couple of practice laps in the morning, Quinn started the Alec Poole Trophy race in the afternoon from the rear of field. Despite his unfamiliar surroundings, this beautiful example was well handled by the Kildare racer to finish a creditable fifth overall.
Star Performer: David Dickenson
Dickenson netted the Alec Poole Trophy honours
Photo by: Michael Chester
Wicklow’s David Dickenson was the star performer on this event. The ex-Renault UK Clio Cup racer has recently turned his hand to historic competition in the UK with leading outfit Jordan Racing Team. Although competing in one of the squad’s highly competitive Lotus Cortinas, Dickenson hadn’t raced at the Kildare venue in several years. Throughout the weekend he was pushed hard by Rod McGovern and Victor Cullen, who shared a similar Cortina, but typically always had the upper hand to cap off a strong weekend by lifting the Alec Poole Trophy.
Ian Balmforth’s Frazer Nash was victorious in both Pre-’55 HRCA races
Photo by: Michael Chester
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– The Autosport.com Team
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