HISTORY OF CASTLE AUTOMOBILE CLUB
The Castle AC was formed in 1985 by five people Tommy Curran, John Wood R.I.P, Breen McNamee, Maureen Curran and John Smith. There aim to provide the rally enthusiast of Oldcastle and it locality with there very own rally events and that they did.
All had been actively involved in the sport either through administration, competition or both. Many mettings took place to discuss the proposed formation and how best it would function. Rallying was always popular in oldcastle having played host initially to the Baileboro and then the Co. Cavan Motor Club for more than a decade. Most disciplines from multi-stage tarmac rallies, forestry stages events, grass surface autocross, night navigation, sprints and hillclimbs had been promoted successfully over this period.
Regionally the club would concentrate on promotions in the counties of Meath and Westmeath.Affiliation to the royal Irish automobile club and the FIA followed with the club directed to focus its attention off road events. The club would run forestry stages in mullameen with Sean Curran and alan Johnson the ones to watch. Tarmac was most peoples first choice and eventually through much persuasion, the club was granted a permit to co-promote its first Tarmac stage event. This hailed a turning point for the club and from which has never looked back. I992 saw the first Castle Single Stage. John Carter took on the task of C.O.C and ran a very successful rally out of mullingar.Ken Colbert and Gerry McViegh took victory in there Stanley cookers backed Metro 6R4.
The Castle single stage rabidly became the a regular event on some of the countrys best rally drivers calendar with former ITC champion Ian Greer winning in 93 and current ITC champion Eugene Donnelly and brother Charlie regulars on the event. The Castle Automobile Club has been the home of many heroic figures in Irish Rallying with Connie Smith and Scan Murtagh Flying the Castle flag in 482 WRI (black Magic) to many wins in the early ninety’s and to his home win on the Castle ss in 1995.
The magic of 482 WRI would live on in the capable hands of Joe McGurk. Joe how bought the 2.4 escort of Connie in 98.Joe also a Castle AC man became the talking point of every event in which he competed with his sideways style of driving and fierce pace. Sadly Joe passed away in 2002 due to his short battle with cancer at the age of 33.Joes name will long live on with the best 2.4 men in the country coming to oldcastle to battle it out for the highly coveted joe McGurk perpetual trophy which is awarded to the winner of class 14.
In 1995 the rallyraternity in ireland and the castle AC mourned the death of Robert Masterson.Who died while competing in his rwd 205.As a mark of repect to Robert and his Family the winner of the castle single stage receives the Robert Masterson Memorial award.
The greatest name to come out of the Castle AC stable has to be Rory Galligan.Who has regonition in rallying throughout the world for his great ability to drive.Rory has achieved great feats in rallying having been a works driver for Peugeot sport and mitsibishi.
2002 would see the reintroduction of the name hellfire into Irish Rallying.With the Castle Hellfire Rally.Tim McNulty was victorious in his ex Birtie Fisher Subaru.
The Castle Hellfire Rally has been ran ever since and is a favourite with the competitors.Last years hellfire celebrated 21 years of the Castle Automobile Club.
So that’s the story so far heres to the futher.
Single stage roll of honour
1992 - Ken Colbert/Gerry McViegh..............Metro 6R4
1993 - Ian Greer/Dave Beckitt.................Manta 400
1994 - James Leckey/George Millar.........Subaru Legacy
1995 - Connie Smith/Scan Murtagh............Ford Escort
1996 - Charlie Donnelly/Podge Newe............Manta 400
1997 - Niall Maguire/Sean Walsh...........Subaru Legacy
1998 - Charlie Donnelly/Gerry McViegh.....Toyota Celica
1999 - David and Norman Armstrong...Escort Cosworth
2000 - Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell.......Toyota Celica
2001 - NO RALLY due to footh and mouth.....
2002 - Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor........Subaru Impreza
2003 - Pat Donegan/D.L Garvey...............Ford Escort
2004 - Sean and Claire Gallagher........Escort Cosworth
2005 - Andrew Browne/Keefe Kilcoyne.......Toyota Celica
2006 - Dessie Keenan/Paraic McCara........Ford Escort