Great entry for Birr & District Motor Club's Turkey Chaser Autotest

BIRR & District Motor Club Members were busy all year marshalling, officiating and competing at events throughout the country across a wide range of motorsport disciplines and at the Motorsport Bonanza.

They had a busy year hosting motorsport events, including Autotests, Autocross – Loose, Autocross - Grass, Endurance Trial and a Treasure Hunt, concluding with their annual Turkey Chaser Autotest on New Year’s Eve. An entry of nearly 40 gathered at Garahy’s Garage, Birr for the Club's eagerly awaited Turkey Chaser Autotest.

Autotesting is one of the oldest and most accessible competitive motorsport disciplines where World Rally Champions, Rallycross Champions and others have cut their teeth. For this discipline, a one-day competition licence is typically available allowing competitors to try their hand at a motorsport competition without making a big commitment.

Clerk of the Course, Kevin Maher was delighted to see 13 beginners taking on the challenge and across the classes there were a wide variety of cars taking part. The most popular car by far was the Toyota Starlet, but Nissan Micras, a Fiat Cinquecento, a Toyota MR2 and the famous Triumph Special nicknamed “The Tractor”. Drivers came from all over the country, amongst which were lady competitors and Junior drivers as young as 14 years old. Added to the list was an overseas entrant from Holland who was convinced the night before to take part and it was his first time to drive a right-hand drive car!

On arrival, Ethna Garahy had tea, coffee and homemade scones to energise the masses! The weather forecast was poor but it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm as competitors headed out to walk and learn their tests, yet the day soon brightened to blue sky. Clerk of the Course (COC), Kevin Maher and his team had set three tests to be repeated three times with their layout to cater both for the experienced and beginners alike. A few drivers had some mechanical problems, but help was on hand with Kieran Garahy and his team along with fellow competitors ensuring they were able to finish the event.

Once the last test was completed and the results were being finalised, Ethna and her team had a hot dinner of beef stew and homemade dessert to warm the competitors and marshals. At the prizegiving Club Chairman, David Forde spoke to the large gathering to thank everyone for coming and noted it was a great turn out adding it was great to see such a large number of newcomers. He thanked the Garahys for their hospitality and Ethna Garahy for the fine dining, it was much appreciated. He also thanked Eoin Noonan as the the MI Steward and Kevin Maher as the COC. He said, the sign of a good COC was the amount of help that turns up and there was great help on the day. He thanked all for coming and wished a Happy New Year to all.

COC for the event, Kevin Maher also addressed the group thanking all the competitors for coming and that they were very lucky that the weather was so good. He thanked the timekeepers, marshals, MI steward Eoin Noonan and the Garahys for their hospitality.

It was then onto the prizegiving where Club Treasurer, Eoin Longworth announced the results and COC, Kevin Maher presented the awards. There were two overall awards. In the Saloon Class, 1st Overall went to John McAssey. In the Specials, 1st Overall went to Liam Croston.

Full results for the classes are available at: https://www.stopastride.live/eventresults.php?eventid=284

Finally, to the Garahy family for their hospitality, COC Kevin Maher, marshals, timekeepers, officials and last but not least the competitors, Birr & District Motor Club thank you for a great day’s sport and best wishes to all for 2024.

For further information on the Turkey Chaser or their other club events, details are available on their Club website; www.birrmotorclub.com and on their social media (Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly Twitter).

The next Birr & District Motor Club event will be the Birr Stages Rally on April 21st, 2024.