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Busy festive season for motoring fans

Motoring enthusiasts in Kerry will have plenty of events to keep them occupied over the festive period.

Tomorrow Friday (December 27) the annual Reindeer Run classic car run will set off from Ashe’s Bar in Camp and will follow a route along the Dingle Peninsula before returning to

[caption id="attachment_29417" align="alignleft" width="300"] COUNTY CHAMPION: Paul Nagle, with his sponsor Michael O'Mahoney and driver Craig Breen at the finish ramp of the Rally of the Lakes in May. Nagle will collect his County Championship medal on Saturday night next (December 28). Picture: Eamonn Keogh[/caption]

the popular venue later that evening. The run gets underway at 11am and all vehicles are welcome.

“The more unusual the vehicle, the better,” said organiser Martin Quirke.

Motorsport enthusiasts in the county will be out in force on Saturday night (December 28) as the annual awards do for the Moriarty’s Centra ‘Kingdom of Kerry Rally Championship’ takes place in The Anvil Bar in Keel. Tralee driver Darren Young and Killarney co-driver Paul Nagle will be main award winners on the night.

Championship organisers will also present the Paudie Casey Trophy Cup to the person or persons who have gone beyond the call of duty during the 2019 season in the county.

“The winner of this award is a closely guarded secret but I can assure that this year’s recipient is more than deserving,” said championship sponsor Mike Moriarty. “If you want to find out who the winner is you need to be in The Anvil on Saturday night.”

There are two very different events taking place, at opposite ends of the county, on Sunday (December 29).

Tralee Racecourse will host a fun rally sprint event for rally cars and racing buggies in memory of Denis O’Brien, one of the best-known Kerry rally competitors who died suddenly after an illness earlier this year.

International rally driver, the late Russel Brookes who died in October, will be remembered with a classic car run in his name on the same day. This run will follow famous Circuit of Ireland and Rally of the Lakes stages, roads the British champion rated as the best in the world.

“This event is for anyone in the South Kerry and West Cork areas over Christmas, a very special car run has been organised from Helen’s Bar in Kilmackillogue, which was one of Russell's favourite pitstops right in the middle of one of Ireland’s best rally stages where he used to relax with friends old and new,” said organiser Sean Hurley, who is one of those friends. “We put this event together to bring your rally, classic, vintage or road car through the classic Healy Pass, Cods Head, Ardgroom and Kilmackillogue stages which Russell knew and loved so well. It is a non-competitive run on open roads, for any make or model, all in Russell's honour.”