The brief history of Rathfriland Motor Club
Rathfriland Motor Club was formed in 1990 by local enthusiasts with the aim of furthering interest in Motorsport in the South & East Down area.
Rallying, we started by organising 2
Navigation events which quickly proved
popular with the Clubman competitors.
Within the first few years the 'Tour of the
Mournes' was invited to join the ranks of
the ANICC Northern Ireland Navigation Rally
Championship and the RMC Club
championship was born which helped
rejuvenate the popularity of Navigation
Rallying.
in Rostrevor provided the venue for the event and in 2000 the relevant permissions were
granted for its use. Again, after 2 years, the Kilbroney Stages was invited to join the
Championship and has been one of the
more popular scoring rounds. The event
was one of the very first Clubman Rally's in
NI to be broadcast on Satellite TV.
The next logical step for Rathfriland Motor
Club was to organise a larger and higher
profile event. Since 2003, members of the
club had been investigating and negotiating
with the different local authorities to be
the first Club to use the local forests since
the mid 1970's.
governing body of Motor Sport in NI) in 2006 for inclusion in the Northern Ireland Stage
Rally Championship in 2007. Much behind the scenes work took place to bring the
schedule forward 1 year and the Club committee was highly confident that we could
successfully promote an event that would meet the required standards. The event was
run to the satisfaction of the ANICC Stage Rallies Committee (despite heavy snowfall on
the day before the event) and subsequently the event was invited to join the NI
championship in 2006.
Looking back now, 2006 was a busy year for Rathfriland Motor Club, with the clubs first
venture into speed events with Spelga Pass Clubman Hillclimb and the first joint
Rallyschool with Newry & District and North Armagh MCC.
Spelga Pass had fallen into disrepair after the sinking of the road surface left the venue
unsuitable for Motorsport use. Local Road Service soon closed the section of road after
a landslide and after nearly a year of work, the venue was reopened, and thankfully for
us, the surface was better than ever before.
An approach to the ANICC Speed Committee confirmed an interest in having Spelga Pass
back on the calendar after nearly 10 years, and with the help of Paddy Haveron from
Larne MC we had a suitable Clerk of the Course, and John Symes from MSA provided
some good advice, and a Track License.
blasted up the hill to win the inaugural
Rathfriland Motor Club Spelga Pass
Hillclimb. The 2006 event was observed by
the Speed Committee and was
subsequently included in the 2007 ANICC
NI Hillclimb Championship.
District and North Armagh MC's to coincide with the MSA Motorsport Week. The course
attracted more than 50 pupils who learned all the tricks and secrets needed to compete
on a Navigation Rally. The itinerary also covered all the topics required to progress from
Navigation events to Special Stages.
Of course the highlight of the 5 week course was the Tabletop Rally on the fourth night,
and those who survived the stampede were able to enter the 20 mile 12 Car Event on
the final night.
arranged suitable Rallyschool Classes to be
included in a few of the following Clubman
Navigation events in 2006/2007 to ease
the pupils in slowly.
One of the youngest pupils, Rebecca
Fletcher, is now a regular class winner on
rounds of the Energia ANICC NI Navigation
Rally Championship with past NI Champion
dad Neil doing the driving.
The
Course has now become a bi annual
event and the 2008 term has just begun
again on 15th September.
members who each contribute in whatever way they can during the year. Many can be
seen officiating on local events, from Clubman through to International and the Club is
well represented on the ANICC Specialist Committees for Navigation and Stage Rallies.
Club meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month in the Old George Hotel in
Rathfriland. The meetings start at 8 pm and everyone is welcome to come long.
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