26th Jan 2014: TDC Mondello Park Autotest

This excellent event will take place on Sunday 26th Jan 2013 at the Mondello Park Circuit, Kildare.

Avail of the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent Mondello International & Rallycross circuits. The emphasis will be on fun flowing simple tests that will suit all levels.

The surfaces used are, for the most part, smooth and transmission friendly so you can bring out your pride and joy confident that any suffering it might sustain will be entirely down to you.

Please arrive as early as possible for sign-on. Your compliance would be greatly appreciated. No sign-on after drivers briefing at 09:15. Sign-on opens at 08:00

Please don't arrive to sign-on without knowing your assigned number as this will slow the process.

Important note: Running order is not a seeded entry list. Experience and double drivers will be dispersed throughout the field to speed things along.

We would like to thank the Management & Staff at Mondello Park for their help & support in hosting this TDC event

Regulations

Entry Form

Please note that that as per autotest regulations a roll hoop needs to be fitted if you intend to drive a convertible without a hardtop.

Group 1
car no Driver car class
1 John Whelan Micra 1
2 Robert Whelan Micra 1
3 James Mansfield Mini 1
4 Jack Quinn Peugeot 309 2
5 Mick Kehoe Peugeot 309 2
6 Brian Kingston Starlet 2
7 Conor McCormack Starlet 2
8 Damien Phillips Starlet 2
9 David McAulay Starlet 2
10 Garry Keogh Starlet 2
11 Scott McGarry Starlet 2
12 Shane Burns Starlet 2

Group 2
Car no Driver Car Class
13 Christopher Evans Escort 4
14 Danny O'Donohue Escort 4
15 Dermot Carnegie Escort 4
16 Mark Walsh Escort 4
17 Matthew Walsh Fiesta 1
18 Francis Rhatigan MG Midget 3
19 John Kelly MG Midget 3
20 Malcolm Clarke MG Midget 3
21 Jack Brien MG Midget 3
22 Simon Brien MG Midget 3
23 Peter Lynch Mx 5 3
24 Piers Mac Fheorais Mx 5 3

Group 3
Car no Driver Car Class
25 JJ Farrell Corsa 2
26 Martin Nugent Escort 4
27 Alan Auerbach Starlet 2
28 Daniel Byrne Starlet 2
29 David Meeke Starlet 2
30 Declan Hendrick Starlet 2
31 Eamonn Byrne Starlet 2
32 Eddie Peterson Starlet 2
33 Frank Lenehan Starlet 2
34 Liam Cashman Starlet 1
35 Mark Nugent Starlet 2
36 Richard Meeke Starlet 2

Group 4
Car no Driver Car Class
37 Darren Quille Altezza 4
38 Keith Quille Civic 2
39 Austin Quille Colt 2
40 Alan Shinnors Starlet 2
41 Brian Duggan Starlet 2
42 Ian Downey Starlet 2
43 Joe Downey Starlet 2
44 Karl Grehan Starlet 2
45 Paschal Dunne Starlet 2
46 Patricia Denning Starlet 2
47 Shane Dunne Starlet 2

Group 5
Car no Driver Car Class
48 Les Coogan BMW 316 4
49 Kevin FitzGerald Escort 4
50 David Keane Starlet 2
51 Ian McLoughlin Starlet 2
52 James Fisher Starlet 2
53 Kevin O'Rourke Starlet 2
54 Mick Fisher Starlet 2
55 Owen Murray Starlet 2
56 Patrick O'Leary Starlet 1
57 Paul Nolan Starlet 2
58 Rob Lewis Starlet 1

Group 1 start at test 5
Group 2 start at test 4
Group 3 start at test 3
Group 4 start at test 2
Group 5 start at test 1

Last edited by Piers14 on Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:07 pm; edited 5 times in total

yes..... That's the reason to fix the 309... Smile

Test design is underway. 5 Tests, maybe 6 depending on entry levels. For those of you who competed at this years event, the tests will be of similar design, although not exact copies (not fair on new comers), apart from 'The Vins' test, I think everyone enjoys that one (the one with turn 3 and the hole in the hedge).

Regulations & Entry Form now posted. Get your entries in as early as possible...

Done..

brilliant, can't wait for this! Will get the entry in shortly, must get my licence in order though.

Are TDC taking 2014 membership now?

Yes kingers we are indeed taking 2014 Memberships now!

Either post the form with membership fee and MI license application to myself with a stamped addressed envelope for returning your license application (details on membership form) or I will also be at the TDC AGM next Saturday the 11th of January where I will be accepting memberships.

TDC Membership Form (PDF)

Philip

Great, thanks Phillip.

Entries are filling up nicely, thank you to those who have already sent them to me.

Last years tests were a great success with competitors so Mark and Joe Doran have more of your favourites in store for you. There will be 5 or 6 open and fun tests which will be of a similar nature to last years tests. Competitors will get to show off their driving on the loose skills with a shalom on the loose followed by a long test on tarmac on the international circuit. We'll have more information on the tests and entries posted by the weekend!

While the rest of us were loosening our belts, watching TV and groaning with indigestion during the Christmas break, Mark and Joe Doran were facing up to the cold and driving rain of Mondello Park. The tests have been set out to really excite and should suit all types of cars. If you have never experienced the international circuit or the rallycross track here is your chance to get a good taste of it all. The surfaces are generally very smooth with the rallycross track being still relatively smooth. The tests are predominately forward direction with just a few exceptions to keep it all legitimate.

Here are a few of the challenges you can expect!

To keep the tests as exciting as possible we have incorporated all of the well known Rallycross sections into three separate tests.

There is a long open tarmac test on the back loop of the international circuit, including the two-brilliant and tricky corners known as Tarzan 1 and 2. We have added some chicanes and other features to negotiate which will really test your late braking skills, keeping in mind of course the risk of 5 second penalties if you touch!

We have included one of the old favourites, the "Hole in the Hedge" test which is a combination of tarmac and loose, first you will tackle the tricky dog leg corner (known as turn 3 to the circuit racers) there will be 2 laps on the tarmac so if you make a mess of turn 3 on your first lap you can redeem yourself on the second lap, then it's on to the loose of Rallycross 2 where there will be more obstacles for you to negotiate safely without incurring any time faults.

We have a new and exciting test where you will pass by the playground and gate 4 before encountering a slalom (wiggle-woggle) on the loose and very slippy surface of rallycross 3, then back onto the smooth tarmac final downhill hairpin turn of the Mondello international circuit with the added bonus of your tyres being covered in mud/grit!

There will be five tests completed 4 times (20 tests in all). We'll split the entries into 5 groups and each group will start at a different test. The test diagrams and groups will be posted on our website a couple of days before the event. If anyone would like to run in the same group as their friends or with similar cars to their own, please let me know before entries close and we will do our best to facilitate all requests and we'll post an update on the entries at the weekend.

Entry in... Really looking forward to this event. The one opportunity I get to drive the rallycross circuit... Very Happy

Midgets are annoying little creatures that are normally out in force during the warm summer evenings however, there will be many of them buzzing around Mondello Park on January 26th!

Simon Brien and his son Jack, along with John Kelly are heading South in a bid for top Midget honors. Young gun Jack will be keen for a good finish, however he could have his work cut out, as John Kelly won the Midget Class last year at this event. Malcolm Clarke and Francis Rhatigan have declared their Midgets are up to the task, and they will have James Mansfield for company in his equally small Mini. I've no doubt that all these drivers will enjoy the benefits of these nimble little machines whilst negotiating the various chicanes.

The Quille family was very quick getting their entries in, and I expect them to be just as quick on the day. It will be nip and tuck between Austin , Darren and Keith as they are all very experienced and tidy drivers. They have shunned the more common choice of Starlet and will be driving a Colt, an Altezza and a Civic.

Mick Kehoe, who enjoyed a very successful day at the Stephen’s Day Autotest has Jack Quinn for company in another Peugeot 309. Both Mick and Jack are keen Mondello track Day enthusiasts and will have no problems in finding the quickest line through Tarzan 1 & 2.

Alan Auerbach and Declan Hendrick lead the field in their Starlets , both are accomplished autotesters and will be hard to beat on the day. Corkman, Brian Duggan will be hoping for a fruitful journey on his Mondello debut. Brian Kingston, who is more accustomed to circuit racing in a rwd Stryker has tried his hand at autotesting before, and he must have enjoyed it as he is back for more of the same. Ian Downey is another driver who had a good result on Stephens’s day, and his dad Joe is joining him just to make sure he doesn't damage his car (again). Paul Nolan is a keen rallycross competitor and he will have no problems in dealing with the loose surface. The effervescent Frank Lenehan is always one to watch and is never far off the top of the time sheets. David McAulay in his well prepared car boosts the ranks of the Starlet class.

There are strong rumours that a couple of circuit racers are currently sourcing cars for this event. They have heard about the benefits of autotesting and how it greatly improves your car control skills!

Watch this space for all further updates!

Great write ups as always Trish! Looks like I'm bringing a veteran autotester out of retirement for a double drive in the Starlet!

Curious to see the entry list now Kingers...

Thanks Kingers and it's only fair to let the " Veteran Autotester " know that this is no " Normal Autotest " so they can expect to be in all corners of Mondello including a new test which starts off on the International Circuit and ends up in the Paddock ! We also have another brilliant test starting at the bridge that includes Rallycross 1 in the opposite direction to which it is normally run!

Here are the entries received as of 14.1.2014

Driver car class
Patricia Denning Starlet 2
Mick Kehoe Peugeot 309 2
David McAulay Starlet 2
Malcolm Clarke MG Midget 3
James Mansfield Mini 1
Keith Quille Civic 2
Austin Quille Colt 2
Darren Quille Altezza 2
Alan Auerbach Starlet 2
Piers Mac Fheorais Mx 5 3
Jack Quinn Peugeot 309 2
Brian Duggan Starlet 2
Declan Hendrick Starlet 2
Jack Brien MG Midget 3
Simon Brien MG Midget 3
Francis Rhatigan MG Midget 3
John Kelly MG Midget 3
JJ Farrell Corsa 2
Joe Downey Starlet 2
Ian Downey Starlet 2
Brian Kingston Starllet 2
Frank Lenehan Starlet 2
Paul Nolan Startlet 2
Karl Grehan Starlet 2
Patrick O'Leary Starlet 1
Liam Cashman Starlet 1
Mark Walsh Escort 4
Dermot Carnegie Escort 4
Richard Meeke Starlet 2
David Meeke Starlet 2

Thank you to everyone who has already sent in their entry and for anyone wishing to join in the fun, please can you do so by the closing date, which is Tuesday 21st January. We will post the groups, test diagrams and final instructions on close of entries.