Ballyfinnane Hillclimb was deemed a massive succes

from KILLARNEY ADVERTISER WK29 2023

Brave Kerry beat Meath – and the elements –in Stack Park

Kerry Motor Club and the Ballyfinnane Community Hall Association created motorsport history in the mid-Kerry village on Sunday.

The two groups marked the 120th anniversary of the first motorsport event in Kerry by running a hillclimb event in the area.

Modern safety rules prevented the use of the original hill but Kerry Motor Club and Motorsport Ireland officials identified a new section of road in the area that allowed the local club to run its first hillclimb in Kerry since the mid-1980s.

Huge crowds descended on the village where a range of sideshows like a classic car display and a motorcycle exhibition added to the occasion.

The 1.41km course ran from Aubee Bridge to the Ballyfinnane Community Hall, winner John Donnely from Tyrone cleared the course in an incredible 44.29 seconds in his Pilbeam single-seater racing car. He set the time on his first of five passes over the course.

Limerick’s Ben O’Brien was second in his Gould GR 37 racing car. His best time over the distance came 46.79 seconds, coming on the fifth and final run.

Ed Synan from Shanagolden was the best of the rally car drivers, he finished third overall in his Escort.

Firies-based West Cork man Vince McSweeney was the best of the local drivers. The rules stated that a driver must have a Kerry address to qualify for the award. The Mitsubishi Lancer E7 driver finished fourth overall.

Several Kerry drivers took home class awards. Killarney’s David Maes won class 2 for Modified Production Saloons in his BMW Mini. This was his first-ever motorsport award of any description.

Billy Burke, who usually races in Mondello Park, contested his first closed road event and won Class 3A in his Honda Civic. The event also permitted rally cars and local drivers took the opportunity to take their cars for a run.

PJ O’Dowd double-drove Ken McKenna’s Peugeot 205 and beat the car’s owner for the Class 8A win. David Griffin was third in this class, Declan O’Sullivan fourth and London-based Killarney man Mick Smith fifth.

Mark O’Leary won class 8B. Local man Keith O’Connor, a member of the organising team was fourth in the same class. Cyril Wharton, one of the sponsors of the event won class 9B and despite clutch issues motorcycle racer Anthony O’Carroll was fourth.

Killarney and District Motor Club members Brian Hickey was third in class 10, John Hickey fifth and Tom O’Sullivan seventh.

Kerry Motor Club officials praised the support they got from the local community to get the event off the ground and sponsors Brian O’Neill Garden Equipment and Trailers, Cyril Wharton Tool Hire and Moriarty’s Central Cars Sales for their support.