Rally Preparation Shop Drive Sat. 26th Nov 2011.
This was my last drive as Regional Organizer as my term in office expires on 18th Dec. I decided to go to the home of Irish Rallying, Millstreet, North Cork and visit John Moynihan’s workshop . 9 cars and 15 people turned out for the drive. John is recognised as the best Rally Car Builder in Ireland. I had occasion to visit John a few weeks ago to discuss rebuilding the diff of my Mallock MK21 Track day car in preparation for next year . When I saw the Aladins cave of Rally Preparation. I boldly asked John if he would facilitate us with a visit. After a assuring him that we were all over 18 and had clean licences he agreed to our visit. His record is 2nd to none.
Look at www.johnmoynihanrallying.com to see the full range of cars that John has built and the fantastic picture gallery.
John started business in 1988 and is fulltime engaged in rally preparation. He still drives himself and his son Sean is taking after his father. He has an Early Ex Billy Coleman Escort BDA with 220BHP and 900kg that is better prepared than when it left the factory. He aquires rust free shells from Australia as the basis of his projects. He was just finishing a Vauxhall 2 Lt 16v Engined Mk 2 with sequential gearbox for Eamon Lyons, Limerick that produces 260BHP for next weekends Kerry Historic Rally.
We then travelled on to Rathmore to meet another Millstreet man Todd Falvey who was kidnapped by a Kerry woman and taken over the county line to Kerry. Todd kindly invited me to visit his garage to see his EX Jimmy Mc Crea, Belga Porsche 3Lt RSR with 305 BHP that he is campaigning in the Historic Championship. His brother Conor also has an Ex Jimmy Mc Crea Martini Porsche 2.7RS in the same garage. Conor drives in the Slightly Sideways demonstrations clearing roads before the rally, but he is also racing next weekend. Both Cars were built by Pretfab in Lincolnshire for Jimmy Mc Crea and will have FIM approval next year. Todd’s garage/workshop is a place to belold in a beautiful concreted courtyard surrounded by barn storage that is on par with a works outfit . The garage is fully fitted out with Lifts, Tools, fully insulated/central heated and dehumidified, next to his home in the woods of Rathmore. Best of luck next weekend.
It was a rare opportunity to see these fantastic cars and facilities. A big thanks to John, Ann Marie and Sean Moynihan and Todd for having us. We presented both John and Todd with a Glass Vase from Porsche Club Ireland to mark the occasion.
Afterwards a number of us had dinner at Rochestown Park Hotel to finish off the day .
Due to very heavy traffic and poor driving conditions we lost a lot of time on the way from Cork and were unable to meet up with Paul Young and his friends in Killarney. My sincere apologies. Hopefully we will meet up next year.
Big Thanks to Bill Cashman for his fantastic photographic record of our drives and track days over the last few years and all the dedicated Porsche owners who attended. It was been a pleasure. I have made many new friends through my association with Porsche Club. I Look forward to joining you all again next year as a regular club member with a new organiser.
Regars
Denis Collins
