The RIAC Newsletter for September 2020 is now available online. 

Click on the button below to read all the latest RIAC Club news, developments and updates.

This week’s RIAC - Motorsport Ireland classic video upload is coverage of the 1980 Galway International Rally which originally aired on RTÉ.
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Following a strong European Rally Championship campaign in 1979, Billy Coleman was among the favourites as the 1980 season got underway in Galway. With a specially developed lightweight, wider Ford Escort RS1800 now at his disposal, Coleman headed a strong field which included Roger Clark, Jimmy McRae, Bertie Fisher and Ger Buckley. However, it was the husband and wife team of Mick and Anne O’Connell who made the early running, taking the lead before succumbing to transmission difficulties. Coleman fell away with mechanical woes, and as Bertie Fisher battered the banks and dry-stone walls, it was Jimmy McRae who hit the front in his 2.3 litre Vauxhall Chevette HS. McRae held on to take his first international win, setting up an incredible season which was to also see him win three more Irish international events on his way to winning the 1980 Irish Tarmac Championship.

This programme is available to stream below from 7pm on Thursday, September 10th. 

Next week’s upload will be feature length coverage of the 1988 Circuit of Ireland. Truncated down to a three-day event by the end of the decade, the 1988 Circuit provided an interesting array of early Group A machinery as the field tried to stop Jimmy McRae from winning the event for a sixth time.
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Remember to subscribe to the Motorsport Ireland–RIAC YouTube Channel to be notified of our latest video uploads. 

For the month of September, we are offering RIAC members a choice of premium Portugese and Spanish wine to take home. These wines can be ordered online and will be available for you to collect directly from the Club.

Our staff in the RIAC will even collect your wine and carefully place it in the boot of your car for you on request, while adhering to COVID-19 safety guidelines.  

Douro Reserve, Alice Vieira de Souza, 14%vol. Portugal, 2018 €14.50 (€87 per case of 6) 
Produced with grapes from vines along the Douro Valley, Alice Vieira de Souza is a young, elegant, and fresh red wine, made with Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Barroca all native grape varieties. 

The nose is dominated with rich aromas of fresh fruit, the wine demonstrates freshness and vivacity. This Douro is dry and full-bodied, well balanced, smooth and with a harmonious finish.

Puerta Vieja, Rioja Crianza Selección, 13%vol. Spain, 2018 €14.00 (€84 per case of 6) 
100% Tempranillo. Bright cherry red colour with fresh fruit and liquorice aromas along with pronounced notes of spice and toasty flavours stemming from the new oak. Soft with pleasant and velvety tannins on a nice long finish.  

Further Information
To learn more about these wines, or if you have any queries around placing and collecting an order, please phone us on (01) 677 5141 or email info@riac.ie.

​This week’s RIAC - Motorsport Ireland classic video upload is an RPM motorsport report from the second round of the 1992 Saloon Championship with commentary from Alan Tyndall and Brian Tuite. 

This event took place on a very slippery Mondello Park track which allowed the normally aspirated Peugeot 205s to mix it with the turbocharged Sierra Cosworths.

This programme is available to stream below from 7pm on Thursday, 3rd September.

Next week’s programme is the 1980 Galway International Rally where Jimmy McRae achieved his first International win driving a Chevette.
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Remember to subscribe to the Motorsport Ireland–RIAC YouTube Channel to be notified of our latest video uploads. 

This week’s RIAC - Motorsport Ireland classic video upload is coverage of the 1984 Circuit of Ireland with commentary from Alan Tyndall and direction by Derek J. Simpson of Videoactive.

The 1984 Circuit of Ireland attracted a starstudded entry including Finnish prospects Henri Toivonen and Juha Kankkunen but the Easter marathon lived up to its fearsome reputation as one by one, the top 10 began to falter. Starting at number 9 and using his every ounce of his experience and fabled mechanical sympathy, it was Billy Coleman who triumphed at the end of the five-day event in his Opel Manta 400 with co-driver, Ronan Morgan. He was followed home by Ernest Kidney and the sensational Davy Evans who took third overall on his first ever rally.

This programme will be available to stream below from 7pm on Thursday, August 27th:

​Next week's upload will be the second round of the Dunlop Saloon Championship from a very slippery Mondello which saw the Group N Peugeot 205’s make great inroads on the Sierra Cosworth pack. The race which started with a pace car was full of incidents and infringements which affected the outcome of a very exciting meeting.

Remember to subscribe to the Motorsport Ireland–RIAC YouTube Channel to be notified of our latest video uploads. 

This week’s RIAC-Motorsport Ireland classic video upload is coverage of the 1990 Ulster Rally with commentary from Alan Tyndall and Gary Gillespie.
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The 1990 Ulster Rally threw up typically challenging conditions initially favouring the 4-wheel drive Toyota Celica of reigning British Rally Champion, David Llewellin. However, a puncture saw Llewellin drop behind Malcolm Wilson and into the clutches of Bertie Fisher and a young Colin McRae. Through skill and little bit of luck, Llewellin reclaimed a lead he was not to lose. The coverage features onboard footage from the BMW M3 of Austin McHale and the Sierra Sapphire Cosworth of Kenny McKinstry.

This programme will be available to stream below from 7pm on Thursday, August 20th:

Next week’s upload will feature coverage from the 1984 Circuit of Ireland where Billy Coleman produced one his most measured drives ever to take victory in the Opel Manta 400.
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Remember to subscribe to the Motorsport Ireland–RIAC YouTube Channel to be notified of our latest video uploads. 

The  RIAC Classic Car and Sports Car Run due to run on Saturday 20th  August has been cancelled due to the new Government Covid-19 regulations limiting events to 15 people.
We thank you for your support of our event and hope that you will return for the 2021 event.  

Once again thank you for your support and stay safe during these difficult times.
 
RIAC Organising Committee

This week’s RIAC - Motorsport Ireland classic video upload is coverage of the 1980 Cork 20 International Rally with commentary from George Hamilton.

Jimmy McRae and his Vauxhall Chevette HSR were a dominant force in 1980 having already claimed victories on the Galway International Rally, the Circuit of Ireland Rally and the Donegal International Rally before the Scottish driver ventured to Cork in early October with co-driver Frank Main. Local opposition was strong but gradually fell away, allowing McRae to cruise to a commending victory over the closing stages including a spectator stage on St. Patrick’s Street in Cork city centre.

​The programme will be available to stream below from 7pm on Thursday, August 13th: 

Next week’s upload will feature coverage from the 1990 Ulster Rally where the British and Irish Championships went head to head for the second time that year.
​
Remember to subscribe to the Motorsport Ireland–RIAC YouTube Channel to be notified of our latest video uploads. 

The RIAC Newsletter for August 2020 is now available online. 

Click on the button below to read all the latest RIAC Club news, developments and updates.

This week’s RIAC - Motorsport Ireland classic video upload is coverage of the 1980 Galway International Rally which originally aired on RTÉ.

Following a strong European Rally Championship campaign in 1979, Billy Coleman was among the favourites as the 1980 season got underway in Galway. With a specially developed lightweight, wider Ford Escort RS1800 now at his disposal, Coleman headed a strong field which included Roger Clark, Jimmy McRae, Bertie Fisher and Ger Buckley. However, it was the husband and wife team of Mick and Anne O’Connell who made the early running, taking the lead before succumbing to transmission difficulties. Coleman fell away with mechanical woes, and as Bertie Fisher battered the banks and dry-stone walls, it was Jimmy McRae who hit the front in his 2.3 litre Vauxhall Chevette HS. McRae held on to take his first international win, setting up an incredible season which was to also see him win three more Irish international events on his way to winning the 1980 Irish Tarmac Championship.

This programme will be available to stream below from 7pm on Thursday, September 10th. 

Next week’s upload will be feature length coverage of the 1988 Circuit of Ireland. Truncated down to a three-day event by the end of the decade, the 1988 Circuit provided an interesting array of early Group A machinery as the field tried to stop Jimmy McRae from winning the event for a sixth time.

Remember to subscribe to the Motorsport Ireland–RIAC YouTube Channel to be notified of our latest video uploads.