Killarney Forestry Rally 4th September 2005.

Limerick driver Matt Shinnors and his West Cork co-driver Denis O'Donovan enjoyed one of their best results finishing 1st in Class and 12th place overall on last Sunday's Killarney Forestry Rally. This makes 3 wins from 3 starts on rounds of the year Irish Forestry Championship for Shinnors. Although suffering the effect of the Flu, Shinnors set off in determined fashion taking 20 seconds out of his nearest class rival James Flynn on the opening stage. This was followed up with another 20 seconds on the 2nd stage, as Matt and Denis found the long fast stages suited them. However by the end of the 2nd stage Matt found the brake balance on his Toyota Engined Escort Mk 11 was not to his liking - "I had changed and bedded in a new set of back brake pads the day before the rally, however I was having to adjust the brake balance on the stages as the brakes heated."

Sure enough on the third stage car locked up braking for 5R and slipped of the road. "We must have been doing not more than 15 mph when we slipped off the road, luckily there were a group of Spectators at the turn and they were able to get car back on the road. There was not a mark on the car but we dropped a lot of time."

At service Denis checked out the times with the other crews, and despite the problems the Escort crew still had a 12 second lead.

The 3 morning stages were repeated after service where the crew set about regaining their confidence and preserving their lead. While the msmotorsport car dropped a second the chasing pack on SS4, 2 quick times on the final 2 stages saw the crew take their 2nd class win in a row by 23 seconds.

Having now satisfied the criteria for the Billy Coleman award, Matt hopes to compete on a tarmac event or 2 before the end of the year.

Report Cork Forestry Rally, 23/24th July '05

Matt Shinnors made his first return to Tarmac since last year's Junior Rally of the Lakes, aiming to bring his forestry style to the classic Kerry Stages.
 
After finishing 4th on last years event Matt and new co-driver Sean Duggan set out with the aim of enjoying themselves and hoping for a good overall finish among the 40 entries.
On the opening 2 stages, Molls Gap and Ballaghbeama Matt found it hard to judge the level of grip from the tarmac competition tyres in the damp conditions, but arrived into service 8th overall after a trouble free run in his self-prepared car.
 Caragh Lake was the next stage to be tackled. Any chance of a top 10 finish were dashed only a mile into the stage the red Mk II clipped a rock pulled out by another competitor. Being so early in the stage, Matt and Sean had no choice but to stop and change the wheel. After that it was a case of having a cut and enjoying the remaining stages.
 
The Junior Rally was won by Raymond Conlon from Monaghan in a Toyota Corolla from Wexford’s James Stafford in a Ford Puma Super 1600.

Sean Conlon Memorial Mitchelstown Forestry Rally 27th March 2005

The rally consisted of 6 stages in the form of 3 done twice offering a testing 50 stage miles forestry event. The event attrached a capacity entry with 97 cars starting including all the top class 3 cars, Paul Mulcahy (Starlet), Moss Fitzgerald & Ivan Bryan (Corrolla’s) to name a few.

The first stage based in Kilworth complex was a 10-mile stage, the team completed the stage 2nd fastest two wheel drive car and had an 8 second advantage over their class rival Paul Mulcahy’s in his Orange Starlet. After the following two stages Goatenbridge and Cambaun Wood, Paul Mulcahy pulled out a lead of 32 seconds from Matt with Ivan Bryan 3^rd 20 seconds further back.

After service Kilworth stage was repeated, Matt competing stage 6 seconds slower than previous run but time was good enough for 5^th fastest two wheel drive car. On the start of stage 5 the 8 mile Goatenbridge test, Matt picked up a slow rear puncher rear and completed the stage 25 seconds slower than on first run through stage. With one stage remaining Matt kept pushing for a result and came back to Mitchelstown to win the class due to Paul Mulcahy incurring a time plenty.  Ivan Bryan finished second with Mulcahy slotting to third.

It was great comeback to forestry series and now team look forward to switching to Tarmac for the Junior Rally of Lakes on May Bank Holiday weekend.