Rally Specialist Medical Assistance Fund
Rally of 1000 Entries
Current fund balance:
£75,000 (as of 15/12/06)
  
 

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 rally photograph  
 

Biggest EVER rally entry set to enter the record books
and jump-start new Rally Specialist Medical Assistance (RSMA) Fund!

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ROAD RACER TO RALLY ROUND

Legendary motorcycling road racer Robert Dunlop, with UTV / RPM presenter Pamela Ballantine navigating, is to drive the course opening Escort on the 30th December ‘Rallly of the 1000 Entries’ at Kirkistown. The entry is being backed by Circuit of Ireland sponsor John Conway of Meteor Electrical. The Mk2 Escort that Dunlop will drive is being supplied by Barry McKenna of DEN Motorsport.

 Robert Dunlop has won five Isle of Man TT’s, is 15 times a race winner at the North-West, has won the Macau Grand Prix , and is a record 8 times winner of the Cookstown ‘100’.  Robert and his late brother Joey used to watch the Circuit of Ireland stages from near their home at Dunloy, and Robert commented, “This will be my first rally, and I’m really looking forward to it!” Pamela Ballantine said, “Can’t wait. I know how quick he is on a bike, and he can certainly ride a horse, so the rally car should be a doddle!”

 In many ways Robert is a road racing legend and is still competing with a Kennedy Equipment 125 Honda, but is spending as much time as he can looking after his two sons Michael and William in their race careers. His support for the rally is further testimony to the interest that the event is creating in the hearts of the community. 

 A further interesting development for the Rally of the 1000 Entries is that Bertie Fisher’s widow Gladys is donating some of Bertie’s special trophies to be used for the good of the rally.  Gladys’ generous action was prompted when she watched a UTV report about Christopher Rogers in relation to the rally. Christopher was paralysed from the waist down following a rally accident in Monaghan, where his co-driver Shane O’Neill tragically lost his life. The rally’s aim is to raise funds to help Christopher travel to China for new treatment and also go towards the new Rally Specialist Medical Assistance Fund.

Top drivers scheduled to compete on the rally include former British Rally  Champion and Ulster Rally winner Gwyndaf Evans, driving a Derrick Jobb Mitsubishi Lancer. Tarmac Champion co-driver Paul Kiely will co-drive. Interestingly Gwyndaf has just clinched the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge on the Wales Rally GB. Paul Kiely’s usual driver, Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnelly,  will also be competing, and he will have a ‘guest’ co-driver, as his seat is up for auction. To bid for that, or indeed for more information about the rally, just log on to www.magherafeltmotorclub.co.uk. Kenny McKinstry, Sean Devine, Denis Biggerstaff, Niall Maguire, Camillus Bradley are just a small cross-section of the drivers who will be competing. Support in general ranges right across the community for this special occasion.

Issued by Brian & Liz Patterson: Tel: 0044 (2890) 844111.



For Immediate Release: 28th November 2006

TYRONE GAA STAR IN THE HOT SEAT

Omagh’s Derrick Jobb has entered his ex-works Toyota Celica ‘205’ for the 30th November Rally of the 1000 Entries at Kirkistown, and the sensational news is that he is to be co-driven by former Captain of the Tyrone County GAA team, Peter Canavan.

Canavan and Jobb met  at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia, where Jobb, a former International badminton player, was managing the NI Badminton team. They hatched the idea then for Canavan to co-drive on the Lark in the Park Rally.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte decreed the scheme too dangerous though, just one week before a major match, so the idea was put on the long finger.

Lark in the Park’s loss was Rally of the 1000 Entries gain, and it is all stations go now for the 30th December event. The original concept of the Rally of the 1000 Entries was to raise funds to help Christopher Rogers, paralysed from the waist down following a rally accident in Monaghan four years ago, go to China for revolutionary new treatment.

In addition the Rally Specialist Medical Assistance Fund has been set up to help with any other contingencies which may arise in the future.

As well as competing himself, Derrick Jobb is supplying a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 for former British Champion Gwyndaf Evans to drive. Tarmac Champion co-driver Paul Kiely is co-driving for Gwyndaf. Many of the top drivers, such as Eugene Donnelly, Kenny McKinstry and Camillus Bradley are willing to take ‘guest’ co-drivers, as long as they bid for their seats through the Magherafelt Motor Club website!

Ulster Television presenter Pamela Ballantine has offered her services as a co-driver, with the sponsorship going to the fund, and Cool FM presenter Sonia Mac, very much an up and coming rally driver herself in her Ford Ka, is also entering and hoping to do her bit for the new fund.

For more information on the free draw, which includes a co-driving seat with Eugene Donnelly, a trip to the Monaco Grand Prix and a £500 voucher to a World Rally Champioinship round, and  also details of how to bid for a co-drivers seat, simply go to www.magherafeltmotorclub.co.uk and submit your email address.



For Immediate Release: 22nd November

 Tarmac Champion co-driver Paul Kiely will now accompany Welshman Gwyndaf Evans on the 30th December Rally of the 1000 Entries at Kirkistown. Original nominee for the co-driver’s seat, Chris Patterson, has been called on for Dakar Rally duties.

 Otherwise the event, which has been formulated to raise funds to enable Christopher Rogers, badly hurt in a rally accident, where his co-driver Shane O’Neill was killed, make a trip to China for further medical treatmeant, is on course. As an extension of the fund-raising, a new Rally Specialist Medical Assistance Fund (RSMA) is being set up to provide future cover for other competitors.

 Top drivers who will be making an appearance include Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnely. His co-driving seat is now the 1st prize in the free draw that’s being run in association with the rally.  Many of the other co-driving seats on the day are available to the highest bidder, with the proceeds going towards the fund.  Kenny McKinstry and Emma McKinstry (Subaru and Lancer respectively), Glenn Allen (Corolla WRC), Kieran O’Neill (Kadett RWD), Niall Maguire(Escort G3) and Camillus Bradley (Escort RWD), are just a cross-section of the drivers who have entered the event.  Go to www.rsmafund.com for your chance to bid and be part of the action.

 Young Alistair Fisher, the new NI Junior Stage Champion has entered in his ex Colin Britton Peugeot SuperCup 206, while  Rally Preparation Specialist David Greer has put in entries for his two sons Jonathan and Barry.

 There are also some interesting ‘fantasy’ entries from drivers wishing to support the overall concept of the event, but without actually competing. Motorsport TV producer Alan ‘Plum’ Tyndall  has entered in the well known RPM Previa with an astonishing five co-drivers, Donegal Oil supremo Roger McMahon has entered in a Dodge Ram and Kieran Bradley from Walsh’s Hotel in Maghera in a VW Beetle!  All contributing to the objective of achieving 1000 entries.

 Many companies and bodies are supporting this initiative, Rogers Fencing through the efforts of MD Cathal Rogers and Van Parts Ireland have agreed to sponsor the event with various organisation all doing their bit to raise a much money as possible for the cause. The Fisher Foundation is also making a subsantial donation.

 The free draw, with the top prizes including a co-driving seat with Eugene Donnelly on the day, a trip to the Monaco Grand Prix and a £500 voucher to a World Rally Event, is simple and free to enter, it just requires submitting your e-mail address at www.magherafeltmotorclub.co.uk  

 The level of support, up and down the chain, has been gratifying, and we hope that the momentum continues up to the rally on the 30th December, and beyond.
 

For immediate release: 14 November 2006

Rally Big Draw!

Interest and support for the Kirkistown based 30th December Rally of the 1000 Entries, in conjunction with the new Rally Specialist Medical Assistance Fund, continues to gather momentum. The trustees of the Fisher Foundation are considering it as a very special project and are lending their support by making a substantial donation.

Lending their support to the event and making “fantasy” entries, emphasising the fun angle of the rally, former saloon car Champion Alan ‘Plum’ Tyndall has submitted an entry in his ‘RPM TV’ Previa, with five co-drivers! Enduro bike racer Davy Patterson has put his brother Chris’s classic Dennis Fire Engine on the list, with Ryan Champion co-driving!

An interesting aspect of the new rally fund is a free draw, with the first prize a co-driving seat with a top driver, and 2nd prize a donated trip to the Monaco Grand Prix. Entry is simple, and free, just requires e-mailing the Magherafelt Motor Club at www.magherafeltmotorclub.co.uk

Just some of the top entries received so far include Gwyndaf Evans (Lancer), Eugene Donnelly (Corolla WRC), Derek McGarrity (Impreza WRC), and Kenny McKinstry (WRC). Adding some sideways action will be Camillus Bradley and Monaghan’s Dessie Keenan both in his Escorts.

The original motivation for the Rally of the 1000 entries was to raise finance to help Christopher Rogers, badly injured in a rally accident which also cost the life of his co-driver Shane O’Neill, to help fund a trip to China to enable Chris to get some special treatment. A progression from that idea was setting up the Rally Specialist Medical Assistance Fund to meet any similar future contingencies.

Issued by Brian & Liz Patterson: Tel: (028) 90844111.

For immediate release: 19 October 2006

RSMA Fund receives boost!

The RSMA fund has received a massive boost from members, friends and supporters of Monaghan Motor Club after they promoted a sprint in September at Latton Quarry.

Almost 20,000 Euro was collected on the day and now the RSMA Fund Committee has learned that they are to be given the proceeds to help both Christopher Rogers and the overall fund.

Event organisers, Ronnie Hawe, Cora Maguire, Dessie Keenan, Niall Maguire Enda Sherry and the rest of their organising team deserve great praise for their exceptional dedication to running a very successful event. A very big thank is also extended to Cavan Motor Club for the use of their venue free of charge on the day.

The show of commitment and enthusiasm for the above event is very encouraging but now is the time to turn that commitment and enthusiasm into reality. If anyone intends to compete on Saturday 30 December in Kirkistown you need to get your fully completed entries into Bridget Averall ASAP at the address on the entry form. Entries to the rally are on a 1st come 1st served basis.

As things stand at the moment taking into account the auction seats and committed entries there are only about 40 places left, and we already have 2, possibly 3 entries coming from Yorkshire to do the rally and have received “entries” from Australia, America & New Zealand. So keep those "entries" coming

Preparations for the event are coming along with various companies and individuals getting behind the rally to help stage what should be a once in lifetime event.

Rogers Fencing Systems & Van Parts Ireland have kindly agreed to be the overall event sponsors covering any event running costs, Creagh Concrete have agreed to provide their spectacular bridge for the event to add interest both for the competitor and spectators alike (no longer can competitors complain that Kirkistown is flat!), and John Wilson Advertising has very kindly offered the door squares for the rally free of charge.

Already the auction seats have attracted bids of approx £10,000 with the promise of more to come. Highest bids on 4wd cars at the moment are £1500 on both Gareth MacHale and Eugene Donnelly with 2wd cars not far behind with Camillus Bradley currently having a bid of £700 and Frank Kelly close behind on £500. There are plenty of other seats available offering anyone the chance to navigate on the Rally in Kirkistown on the 30th December.

Investigations are being made on how to set up the fund as a charity and we have had the agreement of 4 very prominent people within motorsport circles to act as trustees:

Rory Kennedy, British & Irish Navigator Champion
Robert Harkness, ANICC, 2&4 Chairman and member of the MSA
Kieran McAnallen, prominent business man and involved with the Fisher Foundation
Frank O’Mahony, Chairman of Motorsport Ireland Rallies Committee.
With the guidance of these people you can be sure that the fund will be in safe hands.

As things stand at the moment the fund has grown to £30,000.


For immediate release: 12 September 2006

"We want hundreds of people to enter what we are hoping to be the biggest entry in the world for a rally - EVER!"

Those are the words of Magherafelt and District Motor Club's Crawford Henderson discussing plans for the Rally of 1000 Entries, sponsored by Rogers Fencing and Van Parts Ireland, to be held on Saturday 30 December at Kirkistown Race Circuit.

And it's all in the aid of jump-starting the new Rally Specialist Medical Assistance (RSMA) Fund, a scheme designed to provide monetary assistance to both Irish and British rally competitors who have been injured in competition and need specialist medical care.

"There is very little help out there for rally competitors who have been seriously injured," Henderson continued. "Everyone involved in our sport has the potential to be involved in a serious incident. The Motor Sports Association (MSA) provides £60,000 to competitors who lose a leg or lose their eyesight. But those that lose the ability to walk, for example, receive no assistance whatsoever. To have the reassurance that there is a fund to help in these circumstances can only be of benefit to us all."

The innovative idea sprouted as a result of a meeting between a few rally competitors and organisers, who identified the need for such a fund. Inspired by the plight of Christopher Rogers, who lost the ability to walk four years ago in the same accident (during the Monaghan Stages Rally) which claimed the life of his navigator Shane O'Neill, the idea for the RSMA Fund was formed.

"We're aiming to get 1000 entries," a spokesman for Magherafelt and District Motor Club said. "I know it sounds totally mad but we think it's workable. All we're asking is for people to complete an entry form and send £100. You don't have to turn up at the event if you don't want to. All we want is the biggest number of entries on the entry list."

"You can enter in any vehicle you like. It doesn't need to pass scrutiny if you're not doing the rally, and you don't need a competition licence if you're not doing the rally. All we ask is that if you do want to compete, then get your co-driver to give £50 towards the MSA insurance for the event."

So for £100, anyone can secure their name on the entry list for the biggest rally entry ever, while an additional £50 secures a navigator's name. And if all goes to plan, the event will be entered into the Guinness Book of Records, allowing all those that took part to have their claim to fame!

"Of course, this idea will only work once but the rally will help kick-start the fundraising process. We also have other ideas and we're going to ask all motor clubs to continue to help raise funds over the coming weeks and months."

Appeal to motor clubs

The fund committee would like to appeal to all motor clubs to distribute entry forms to all their club members so that as many potential competitors are offered the opportunity to enter the event.

Seats for auction

The committee are deeply indebted to a host of top line drivers who have offered their co-driving sets for auction. More details later! However you can be sure this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for anyone to bid for a seat in a WRC car or in one of the very best 2 wheel drive cars in Ireland. Drivers who have already committed to the event include, Gareth MacHale, Eugene Donnelly, Derek McGarrity, Kenny McKinstry, Camillus Bradley, Seamus O'Connell to name but a few. The organisers are currently working to obtain more.

ENDS.