The annual Phoenix Park motor races will be low key this weekend, certainly by comparison with the past three years, because of the lack of a major sponsor. For all that, the Irish Motor Racing Club and Leinster Motor Club has put together an interesting programme of non-championship races, featuring the regular national classes, with the leading exception of Formula Opel, plus at least two races for visiting Frazer Nash drivers from Britain.
The Frazer Nash entourage of 50 British visitors has completed an Irish tour which included a civic reception in Cork city to commemorate victory in the 1938 Cork Grand Prix by Dudley Colley, driving a Frazer Nash. The reception was attended by Colley's widow Patricia and son Tony.
The Frazer Nash, a 1934 model that was also raced by Anysley Verscoyle of Athy and Manliffe Barrington of Dublin, (an Isle of Man TT winner, will be raced in Phoenix Park by well-known cartoonist Tony Colley.
Some 20 examples of the car that inspired pre-war BMW sports cars will be raced in Phoenix Park, with drivers including Martin Stretton in a BMW 328 and James Parker in the amazing 1920-vintage BHD Special with 1495cc VTwin engine.
There might be few Formula Ford Zetecs but Phillip Kehoe, Derek M. Daly, Peter Walsh and John Gunning will race hard for a prestigious victory. By contrast, there will be a big turnout of Formula Vees and a healthy entry of Fiat Unos Strykers, Italian Saloons and Classics.
Roads close early tomorrow and Sunday, with practice from 9 a.m. Tomorrow's racing starts at 2 p.m. and racing on Sunday starts at 10.30 a.m.
In addition to the racing, there will be demonstrations of Porsche and Mazda MX5 sports cars, Harley Davidson motorbikes, the new Mondello Racetech-built "silhouette" saloon racer, side shows and paddock attractions. And there will be no admission charge.
With one win and a second place, Damien Faulkner of Donegal is within eight points of the leader of the Formula Palmer Audi Championship in the UK. He races at Pembrey in Wales this weekend.
Irish Formula Ford Zetec Championship leader Neil Shan ahan will be at Pembrey to check out the Formula Palmer Audi series.
Sunday's third Monaghan motorcycle road races at the Glaslough circuit have attracted a star-studded entry headed by Joey and Robert Dunlop, Jason Griffiths, Gary Dynes, Owen McNal ly, Adrian Archibald, Alex Donaldson, the in-form John Donnan, top 600cc rider Richard Britton and this year's star of road racing James Courtney, on the awesome 750cc Honda.
The circuit lap record of 98.131 mph was set last year by Simon Beck of Prestone on a 750cc Kawasaki and he will be back this year. Galway MC will hold two rounds of the National Autocross Championship at Kilreekil, Loughrea this weekend.
