Ferguson first on Ken’s special day

STEWARTSTOWN’S Steven Ferguson was the overall winner on Ken Irwin’s special day in Omagh on Saturday.
Omagh Motor Club put together another successful event when they hosted the seventh round of the McMillan Specialist Cars Northern Ireland Autotest Championship, with an invitational event running alongside to celebrate Irwin’s 40 year sponsorship of the event.

With mixed weather conditions, the event had a format of 12 demanding tests at the Agricultural Mart Centre with a good entry of thirty one competitors. After the first series of tests, the top of the leader board was closely contested by David Thompson from Manorhamilton, Mark King from Newmills and English visitor, prevision driving legend Paul Swift separated by nine seconds.

Although conditions were ever changing throughout the day, current championship leader and reigning NI champion Ferguson recovered from a slow start and reeled in the leaders with fastest times on six of the remaining eight tests to win the event by a margin of over ten seconds and enhance his lead on the Championship standings.

The event also marked the 40th anniversary of sponsorship by Castlederg autotest legend Ken Irwin, who competed on the day at the age of 82, and as a mark of appreciation, the club organised a barbeque at the end of proceedings which was well supported by invited competitors and friends who competed during Ken’s autotest era and presentations were made to mark the special occasion.

Clerk of the Course Dessie McAleer thanked the competitors for their participation and the marshalls and timekeepers who assisted in ensuring the event ran smoothly. Special thanks were also given to Dessie McAleer and Godfrey Crawford for organising the tribute event.

Overall results

1. Steven Ferguson, Mini Special, 822.7 secs ; 2. David Thompson, Vauxhall Nova, 833.3 secs; 3. Mark King, Vauxhall Nova, 842.8 secs. ; 4. Paul Swift, Mini Special, 846.5 secs; 5. James Wilson, Mini Special, 850.0 secs. ; 6. Chris Grimes, Mini Special, 877.4 secs.

Clubmans Class: 1, Ben McKee, Nissan Micra, 357.3 secs. ; 2. Adam McMullan, Toyota Special, 362.6 secs.

Advanced Results: 1, Noel Cochrane, Ford Special, 356.7 secs.; 2. Robert Robinson, Mazda MX5, 361.7 secs.

Production Results: 1, Adam Ferguson, 404.4 secs. ; Ryan McAleer , 525.7 secs.

Class results

Class A: 1, S Ferguson; 2, P Swift. 3, J Wilson.

Class B: 1, Andrew Blair; 2, Paul Lowther; 3, Trevor Ferguson.

Class C: 1, Jonni McDaid; 2, Andrew Earney; 3, Richard Earney.

Class D: 1, David Thompson; 2, Mark King; 3, Gary Campbell.

Ken Irwin Invitational Awards: 1, Ashley Lamont, 233.2 secs; Gordon Glendinning, 236.0 secs. ; Harold Hassard, 239.4 secs.