FRANK MEAGHER goes a record eighth win in his home event, the Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally, run out of Clonmel on Sunday and covering three by three stages at Ballybeg, Tubrid and Newcastle in South Tipperary.
This is the 10th round of the RIAC/Coras Vard National Rally Championship, which has already been won for the second successive year by Carlow's Stephen Murphy, co driven by Mickey Joe Morrissey of Waterford.
Meagher is thus out of contention for championship honours. He has won the Stonethrowers Rally three times in a row, but having won last year's Tarmac Rally Championship, he has been virtually out of rallying this year due to budgetary constraints. A home win would be a major morale booster for him. The event is sponsored by Moylan and Murray Motors, Clonmel.
Murphy now has a record seven National Championship rounds to his credit - his most recent victory being the Clare Stages Rally just two weeks ago. The battle is now on for second place, currently led by Norman Armstrong who has a 24 point ad vantage over Eamonn Boland and John Gilleece, but who won't be competing on Sunday. Frank O'Mahony in his Subaru Legacy will challenge Boland and Gilleece.
The entry includes Gabriel Snow, Ray Breen in a Metro 6R4, Charlie Donnelly and Niall Maguire in Opel Manta 400s and former cycling star Stephen Roche in a Group N Toyota Celica.
In addition to Meagher, local interest will be provided by David Percy and James Lambert in Escorts, Richie Curran (Sierra), Ian Gilmore (Mania) and Tom Sheehan (Peugeot 205).
Three members of the Garda Siochana, Philip Kavanagh, John McGee and Robert McQuaid represent Ireland in the World Police Motorcycling Championships at Donington Park in Britain this weekend.
Kavanagh works in the transport section of the Garda Depot at Phoenix Park and has been involved in racing since 1988. He represented the Garda in racing in Canada in 1992 and at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France in 1994.
Garda McQuaid, of Harcourt Terrace, also competed in Canada and France. Garda McGee (Headquarters) is new to short circuit racing but is an experienced motocross competitor.
The Mid Antrim Motor Cycle Club have a whole programme of events in their Festival Week, including the `King of The Corner' Short Circuit races at Nutts Corner tomorrow, events for classic machines and an arena trial event (next Wednesday).
The festival culminates in the Mid Antrim 150 road races over the 3.6 miles Clough Circuit, near Rathkenny, tomorrow week.
The entry for tomorrow's races includes last year's `king', Woolsey Coulter.
Kart racing is the first rung of the ladder to success for aspiring young racing drivers, as evidenced by World Champion Michael Schumacher, who started his career in karting.
The weekend's `Karting Race of Champions' at Mondello Park is the biggest karting meeting in the country. The Irish Karting Club has received a record entry of over 160 drivers, competing in seven classes. Heats will be run tomorrow with the finals on Sunday.
Niall Breen, winner of the recent Bangor road race, Northern Ireland's Brian King and Aidan Scully of Cork are very evenly matched in the Cadets' class, for eight to 12 year olds. Ivan Thompson (Dublin) and John Elliffe (Kildare) are the ones to watch in Pro Karts (160 cc).
The very quick Superkarts are faster around Mondello than the majority of the premier league Formula Opel racing cars, especially in the capable hands of James Deery, Peter Baxter and Raymond Johnston.
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