Top five Irish Car Shows to visit this summer
Crikey, 2017`s almost half over already and there are only one hundred fifty shopping days to Christmas, or something like that. Don`t worry tho’ – the year may be flying past as they always do, but there are still slew of superb motoring events coming up through the summer and early autumn that should get you out and about and meeting slew of other like-minded petrol-heads.
1. Mondello Park Auto Heroes Track Day. Monday June 5th
Mondello is, of course, Ireland`s only decent race track, so it`s just as well that it`s a good one with a slick pit and paddock area, a fascinating museum to visit inbetween laps and slew of tricky-to-master corners. June 5th, a Monday, sees the latest of Mondello`s Auto Heroes track days, a run-what-you-brung day out in Kildare for drivers of all skill levels, and cars of all types. It`s not expensive (€130 buys you a total day on track), but just reminisce that it can drive up your tyre and fuel bills, and it`s well worth investing in one of Mondello`s driver training days to sharpen up your skillset beforehand. More details on mondellopark.ie.
Two. Donegal International Rally. June 16th to 18th
If you`re going to visit one round of the Irish Tarmac Championship, then the Donegal event should be it. While it did develop a reputation for a time for attracting an unpleasant hooligan element, the wild roads and deep ditches of Donegal represent a challenge all but unique in modern rallying, and the speeds that the WRC-era cars can attain are truly breath-taking. Plus there`s the usual phalanx of ungodly-fast Ford Escorts still plying their sideways-to-victory trade, and a smattering of oddball clubman machinery to keep up the interest. Sam Moffett presently goes the drivers` standings in the championship, with the likes of Alastair Fisher, Joseph McGonigle and Robbie Barrable snapping at his high-heeled slippers. It`s always an epic event, with superb spectating opportunities, but just reminisce to bring waterproofs… More details on irishtarmac.com.
Trio. Irish Classic & Vintage Motor Display, Terenure. Sunday 2nd July
Without question this is the largest classic car event of the year in Ireland, taking over the grounds of Terenure College in west Dublin for a day of admiring the best of Irish classic, vintage and veteran cars. There`s still time to inject your own car or club for display if you fancy, or you could just wander along and soak up the glare from all that chrome and all those wire wheels. Entry is €15 for adults, or just €Five for children under 12, and it`s open to the public from 11am to 6pm. All proceedings this year go to the Help Emma Hit It Fund, helping Emma Naughten-Heavey hit Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma, an enormously infrequent cancer that affects less than two hundred people per year worldwide. There`ll be an autojumble, prizes for the best cars, entertainment for the kids and slew of food and drink. Have a look at irishjagclub.ie for more details.
Four. Irish Veteran & Vintage Car Club Picnic, Powerscourt, Sunday 20th August
A little less crowded and a little more sedate than the Terenure showcase, the Irish Veteran & Vintage Car Club`s annual picnic is a lovely event, doing exactly what one should do with a classic car – drive it somewhere pretty and have an alfresco lunch. The event takes place from 12pm to 5pm on Sunday the 20th of August at Powerscourt House, near Enniskerry in Co. Wicklow, and you don`t have to be a classic car holder to wander along and take in the look of all those gorgeous cars against an identically gorgeous backdrop. You can always head over to the Powerscourt Hotel for a celebratory juices tea too… More details from ivvcc.ie.
Five. Cannonball Ireland, 8th to 10th September
Top five Irish Car Shows to visit this summer, Carzone Advice
Top five Irish Car Shows to visit this summer
Crikey, 2017`s almost half over already and there are only one hundred fifty shopping days to Christmas, or something like that. Don`t worry however – the year may be flying past as they always do, but there are still slew of good motoring events coming up through the summer and early autumn that should get you out and about and meeting slew of other like-minded petrol-heads.
1. Mondello Park Auto Heroes Track Day. Monday June 5th
Mondello is, of course, Ireland`s only decent race track, so it`s just as well that it`s a good one with a slick pit and paddock area, a fascinating museum to visit inbetween laps and slew of tricky-to-master corners. June 5th, a Monday, sees the latest of Mondello`s Auto Heroes track days, a run-what-you-brung day out in Kildare for drivers of all skill levels, and cars of all types. It`s not expensive (€130 buys you a total day on track), but just recall that it can drive up your tyre and fuel bills, and it`s well worth investing in one of Mondello`s driver training days to sharpen up your skillset beforehand. More details on mondellopark.ie.
Two. Donegal International Rally. June 16th to 18th
If you`re going to visit one round of the Irish Tarmac Championship, then the Donegal event should be it. While it did develop a reputation for a time for attracting an unpleasant hooligan element, the wild roads and deep ditches of Donegal represent a challenge all but unique in modern rallying, and the speeds that the WRC-era cars can attain are truly breath-taking. Plus there`s the usual phalanx of ungodly-fast Ford Escorts still plying their sideways-to-victory trade, and a smattering of oddball clubman machinery to keep up the interest. Sam Moffett presently goes the drivers` standings in the championship, with the likes of Alastair Fisher, Joseph McGonigle and Robbie Barrable snapping at his high-heeled shoes. It`s always an epic event, with excellent spectating opportunities, but just recall to bring waterproofs… More details on irishtarmac.com.
Three. Irish Classic & Vintage Motor Display, Terenure. Sunday 2nd July
Without question this is the thickest classic car event of the year in Ireland, taking over the grounds of Terenure College in west Dublin for a day of admiring the best of Irish classic, vintage and veteran cars. There`s still time to come in your own car or club for display if you fancy, or you could just wander along and soak up the glare from all that chrome and all those wire wheels. Entry is €15 for adults, or just €Five for children under 12, and it`s open to the public from 11am to 6pm. All proceedings this year go to the Help Emma Hammer It Fund, helping Emma Naughten-Heavey hammer Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma, an enormously uncommon cancer that affects less than two hundred people per year worldwide. There`ll be an autojumble, prizes for the best cars, entertainment for the kids and slew of food and drink. Have a look at irishjagclub.ie for more details.
Four. Irish Veteran & Vintage Car Club Picnic, Powerscourt, Sunday 20th August
A little less crowded and a little more sedate than the Terenure display, the Irish Veteran & Vintage Car Club`s annual picnic is a lovely event, doing exactly what one should do with a classic car – drive it somewhere pretty and have an alfresco lunch. The event takes place from 12pm to 5pm on Sunday the 20th of August at Powerscourt House, near Enniskerry in Co. Wicklow, and you don`t have to be a classic car possessor to wander along and take in the look of all those gorgeous cars against an identically gorgeous backdrop. You can always head over to the Powerscourt Hotel for a celebratory juice tea too… More details from ivvcc.ie.
Five. Cannonball Ireland, 8th to 10th September