THANKS to a wonderful entry of Historic Grand Prix cars from Britain, memories of the past will mingle with modern day motor racing in Dublin's Phoenix Park this weekend at the Rothmans' Motor Races jointly promoted by the Irish Motor Racing Club and Leinster Motor Club.
Eleven races will be run over two days on the 1.75 miles Oldtown Circuit the lap record for which was set by Dublin driver Vivion Daly at 95.73 mph in winning the Bridgestone Trophy Formula Opel feature race in 1994.
Drivers will battle furiously for points in all the Irish championship classes, but the big attraction for the general public will be the `Historic' cars which will make all. the right noises associated with pukka racing engines in the Grand Prix races tomorrow (4, p.m.) and Sunday (3.0).
No doubt the spectators will turn out in their thousands on Sun day to see World Champion elect Damon Hill driving a Rothmans Renault Spider. Hill will not be racing in the Phoenix Park, and will only do some demonstration laps at the wheel of the little French sports car and not his regular 200 m.p.h. plus Williams Renault Formula One projectile.
None the less it is a coup for the Phoenix Park organisers, and a great honour for Irish motor racing, to have the man who is almost certain to win this year's World Championship involved.
The entry of histories, i.e. Grand Prix cars built prior to 1959, appropriately includes a Lotus 16 which was previously raced by the late Graham Hill, Damon's father who won two World Championships.
There are four 1953 Cooper Bristols, similar to the car that made Mike Hawthorn famous and led to the cavalier Englishman getting a Ferrari works drive and winning the World Championship in 1958. Also in the lineup of racing oldies are examples of Bugatti, Connaught Gordini, Alta and Frazer Nash.
Wayne Douglas should win the Formula Opel race the longest race of the weekend, over 18 laps on Sunday (4.30). But he will not have an easy tour around the Par, with Jason Pollock, Mike Edgar, Derek Cunneely, Mark O'Connor and the wily old fox Vivion Daly, all anxious for championship points and a prestigious Phoenix Park race victory.
Pollock leads the Formula Opel Championship on 90 points from Edgar (81) and Cunneely (72), but Pollock is facing disqualification from three races if his engine is deemed to be illegal, which will put him out of contention.
Formula Ford invariably produces most the "thrills and spills" and the saloons or the "tin tops" as they are irreverently called supply the "demolition derby" incidents!
In Formula Ford, Mark McKenna (63) leads Chris Paul (56) and George McAlpin (52) in the Ford of Ireland Premiership. Richie Ryans (70) leads Bjorn Schiller (56) and Mark Cullen (52) in the DHL Star of Tomorrow series; Schiller has a dominant lead in the pre90 class, and likewise Vinny Hayes dominates the pre-85 class.
Formula Vee championship contenders are: - 1, Brian Hearty 136; Pat Donegan 117; Paul Newport/Ray Moore 95 each. Brief Couriers: 1 Hugh Maguire 118; 2, Tim Murray 82; 3, Michael Roche 79. Mondello/ Sheane Cup: 1, Paul Dagg 119; 2, Richard Harrison 110; 3, Edwin Masson 100.
There are full grids for the Fiat Uno and Ritmo races and the Cesco Classic and Bootstrap Challenge races for classic cars. It will be a glamour meeting in the great tradition of the Phoenix Park road races, with lots of paddock attractions in the form of trade displays and amusements. It's now fingers crossed for fine weather.
The Oldtown Circuit is located dose to the Castleknock Gate end of the Phoenix Park. The paddock is close to the old Phoenix Park race course. Viewing is free around the circuit with the best vantage spots at the corner after the start; the Furry Glen and Mountjoy corner.
Ger Brennan of Killarney has powered his mighty 4 litre, Chevrolet V8 Special to three wins out of six rounds of the Elf Oils National Autocross Championship and leads John Carroll by eight points in the series. Two championship winners James Travers (1995) and Maurice Cullen (1994) are joint third, just a point down on Carroll. Two more rounds are listed for the weekend, at Cashla, Athenry, Co Galway.
Roundwood, Co Wicklow is the venue for round seven of the midget car racing championships on Sunday, where local driver John Newsome is expecting to wrap up the 850 cc class.
The Fingal Motor Club's short circuit motorcycle races scheduled for Mondello Park on Sunday have been cancelled.
Motorcycle sports this weekend includes tomorrow's 50th anniversary Mid Antrim 150 road races at Clough near Ballymena. Bob Jackson of Cumbria the 108.94 m.p.h. lap record holder, heads the usual quality entry on the McAdoo Racing 750 cc and 600 cc Kawasaki machines.
