Club History

HISTORY OF SKIBBEREEN AND DISTRICT CAR CLUB

Mr. Michael O'Driscoll, who lived at Hill Crest, Chapel street, Skibbereen was keenly interested in car Rallies and motoring in general and early in 1961 he organized a Car Road Safety Rally in Skibbereen. A large Committee was formed to run this rally and it was a major success.

On August 10th, 1961, the following letter from Mr. Michael O'Driscoll, UDC was published in the 'Southern Star' Dear Sir,

"With the help of your widely read paper I know we would be able to start a Car Rally in Skibbereen, while we have such a large number of visitors in the locality. A meeting of motoring enthusiasts will be held in the Town Hall, Skibbereen on Tuesday, 13th of August 1961 at 9pm., to discuss the possibility of such an event."

As a result of that meeting, a very successful Road Safety Rally, which attracted an entry of 82 drivers, was held in Skibbereen on September 24th 1961. With the £11 profit from this rally it was decided, in December 1961, to form the West Cork Motorcycle and Car Club.

The Munster Motorcycle and Car Club at Vernon Mount in Cork gave every encouragement and support to the new club. The names of Mr. Archie Canty and Mr. Toby Roche from the Cork Club come to mind as being available to assist the new Club.

The Officers of the West Cork motorcycle and Car Club were: President: Mr. Michael O'Driscoll; Chairman: Mr. Florence Lynch, Townsend St.; Hon Secretary.: Michael O'Sullivan; Hon Treas.: Mr. Victor Collins.

In its heyday there were over 200 Club members and major Scramblers and Grasstrack races were organized in Skibbereen and Dunmanway. Some of these events attracted crowds of several thousand people, and were the main Sporting events in West Cork at the time.

Several Veteran Car runs which attracted up to 100 entries from all over Ireland and Britain were also organized and the Club also assisted in running of the Circuit of Ireland Rally.

The club ceased to be active in the early 1970's. On November 1977 a meeting was held in O'Brien's Lounge to reform the Motor Club. In the Lapsed years, Car competitions became more popular than bikes and the new club was called Skibbereen Motor Club. The Club was affiliated o the R.I.A.C. in 1981 under its present name, Skibbereen and District Car Club and had its first dates on the calendar in 1982.

The first event run by the newly formed club was a Test-Trial in the public car park behind Gerald O'Brien's Lounge and J.J. Fields of Main Street Skibbereen. The winner on that day was a man by the name of Frank Fennell from Dublin. He was on holiday with his family in Baltimore and competed in the family car, a Renault 18 estate. Frank went on to win the Historic Monte Carlo Rally on two occasions with many other successes in motorsport.

In March 1982 the first rally was run by the Club. The Rally headquarters was Bernard O'Brien's, Main Street and the Rally was called 'The Motovox Single Stage Rally'. It was run over the Classic Tragumna Stage and was won by Demi Fitzgerald driving his famous black Chevette HSR. October 1982 also saw the running of the first 'Fastnet Inn Hotel Schull Single Stage Rally' which was won by Frank O'Mahony in his pristine Ford Escort RS 1800. This rally continues to this day and is now called 'The Marine Hotel Fastnet Stages Rally' and takes place on the Bank Holiday weekend in October. The West Cork Hotel and Lissard House Skibbereen were also associated with the rally from 1983 to 1986. 1984 saw the start of a very successful relationship with the Marine Hotel Glandore, Sponsors of the March Single Stage Rally and subsequently the Fastnet Stages Rally in 1988, a relationship which continues to this day. 1989 saw the Marine Hotel Fastnet Rally as the final round of the Anglo Irish Bank Corp. National Stages Rally Championship. The Club also ran Mountain Crosses, Rally Sprints, Grass Autocrosses, Loose surface Autocrosses, Test-Trials and Economy Runs. February 1985 saw the introduction of Night Navigation Rallies with the 100 Isles Navigation Rally and the event was also a counting round of the R.I.A.C./Shell Sport Rally Championship. The Club also lends a helping hand to its neighboring Clubs, Killarney and District Motor Club, Kerry Motor Club, Limerick Motor Club, Clare Motor Club, Munster Motorcycle and Car Club, Carrick on Suir Motor Club and Tipperary light car and Motorcycle club.

The year 2001 was precious to all of us as we celebrated our 40th birthday.

The Present officers of the Club are: President: Jerry O'Mahony; Chairman: Victor Beamish; Secretary: Alan Clarke Registrar: Jerimiah Deasy..

Our thanks to Michael O'Sullivan, Skibbereen (past secretary West Cork Motorcycle and Car Club) and Norma O'Donovan, Cork (past PRO Skibbereen and District Car Club) for their assistance in compiling this brief history of the club.