On Saturday the 30 September 2017, The Ulster Vintage Car Club Ltd held their Autumn Rally, heading off from The Poachers Pocket, Lisbane.
It was a glorious sun-drenched day and the Ards Peninsula served as a beautiful backdrop. Gordon Buckley, Clerk of the Course said: “The day consisted of five tests where the vehicle and driver negotiate various turns with reverses, whilst being timed, mostly at local farms along the way; there were two regularity sections as well”
Test three, was held at Noel Cochrane’s Farm. Noel is a well-known and very experienced motorsports competitor himself, and took time off from calving to watch some of the cars navigating his yard.
The cars then made a magnificent sight, travelling across the Strangford Ferry with their more recent counterparts. Many of the fellow travellers went over to look at the cars and speak to their crews. The lunchtime halt was at The Cuan, Strangford, before heading off to complete further tests, ultimately the event finished again at the start location, The Poachers Pocket.
The regularities are challenging, with the vehicle crews expected to maintain a specified miles per hour, over a given distance given, in excess of ten miles. The crews were given, tulip diagrams, which show left and right turns, roads that approach and leave various junctions along the way.
Test four was held at Richard Elliott’s Farm near Killough, Downpatrick. Richard said: “They have been very luck this is the best day in the last three weeks, it’s good to have them here.”
A wide variety of period cars took part, with many beautiful examples, often driven whilst on the tests with some gusto. The overall winners for the event are Simon Corry and Patrick McNarry driving a Riley 12.
At the finish Gordon Buckley, Clerk of the Course, said: “The club would like to thank all the competitors, officials and Marshall’s for their help today and a special thanks to all the land owners who allowed us to use their properties.”
