WELCOME

On behalf of myself and Magherafelt and District Motor Club Ltd. it gives me great pleasure to welcome competitors, spectators and volunteers alike to the 2010 TNR Alu Systems, Tour of The Sperrins Rally.

It is once again back to the tar for the Tour of The Sperrins Rally and I am delighted to be Clerk of The Course for this prestigious event.  Once again we will be based in Walshs Hotel, Maghera and we would encourage everyone to avail of all the wonderful facilities offered by Kieran Bradley and his staff. 

A special thanks goes to all the residents on the special stages, without their agreement and support we would not have such a wonderful event.  I would ask all visitors and competitors alike to respect private property and bring home all your litter.  A large thanks also to Magherafelt & District Council and to the local PSNI who have been a great help in the run-up to the event.

Safety is a major part of this event and we would ask everyone to listen to and obey the marshals and also to leave the rallying in its place .  ON THE STAGES.  The PSNI will have a large presence during the event and the motor club will look very dimly on any team found to be driving badly between stages.

Many Months of hard work have gone into preparing for this event and I can not thank or praise enough the army of volunteers who have assisted on the run up to and during this event, from rally officials to marshals and timekeepers.  It is important at all times to remember that everyone involved in running this event is a volunteer giving up their own free time for you.  A special thanks goes out to the neighbouring clubs who have offered assistance and we promise to repay the favour in the near future.

Once again may I take this opportunity to welcome you all to the 2010 Tour of The Sperrins Rally and wish you all an enjoyable, memorable and successful event.

James McKeefry

Clerk of the Course

No Leisurely Launch.

Maghera Leisure Centre will be a hive of activity on Sunday 18^th April when the Magherafelt and District Motorclub hold the launch of their Tour of the Sperrins Rally 2010. 

Clerk of the Course James Mc Keefry announced that the event will take place from 2pm-5pm with the formal part of the afternoon beginning at 4pm sharp.  Guests for the day include Robert Mc Daid of Maiden City Motor club who will compere the event.  Also expected on the day are a number of famous faces from the world of rallying.  James hoped for a large turnout to celebrate the Tour of the Sperrins returning to tarmac as the fourth round of the Northern Ireland Rally Championship.

A number of high quality rally cars will be on display inside the leisure centre it is hoped that the ex-Colin Mc Rae Subaru World Rally Car (courtesy of John Mulholland Motors Randalstown) and the local cars of Seamus Mc Cusker (Escort G5), Camillus Bradley (MK2 Escort) and Gregory Shaw (GpN Subaru). The public are very welcome to get up close to these ultimate machines and the talented drivers and navigators who plan to steer them around the Sperrins on the 8^th May!  The launch of the Tour of the Sperrins is designed to appeal to motorsport enthusiasts and families.  There will be a number of display stands including Go Motorsport!, Magherafelt and District Road Safety Committee, Charis and Mid-Ulster Truckers.

For all the young petrol heads, you can try your hand at speed - either Formula One style or on the Sega Rally Machines.  You can test whether you are more of a Jenson Button than a Sebastien Loeb!  These simulated driving experiences are free for all who attend on the day.  For teenagers, there will be a number of competitions with a day’s go-karting and Magherafelt Motorclub merchandise as first prize.

Primary school children are also welcome and the winner of the colouring competition will be announced with lots of prizes on offer.  Prizes include remote control rally cars and Magherafelt Motorclub clothing.  You could even impress your school Head teacher and get some time off homework with a £25 prize for the school with the winning entry.  Face painters will be on hand with lots of competitions, games and spot prizes. 

Whilst this is not just a day for dads and lads to drool over the boys’ toys rather this is a day designed to facilitate all the family and Magherafelt Motorclub are endeavouring to ensure that the launch of their Tour of the Sperrins rally is a fun filled and exciting day for all the family! This sentiment is echoed by the club chairperson Brigid Donnelly who said “This is not just a boy’s day out but rather a chance for families to be together and to have fun on a Sunday afternoon.  In these tough economic times, it gives the people of Magherafelt District area to have a cheap, cheerful and challenge filled day.”

As round 4 of the Hankook N.I Rally Championship, the Tour of the Sperrins promises to be the most exciting round so far with three new challenging tarmac stages.  C.O.C James Mc Keefry stated “I am delighted that a road closing order has been secured for the Tour of the Sperrins on the 8^th May.  We have had a number of entries already from local crews and are delighted to announce Allan Mackay of Scotland and Ray Brammer of Norfolk, England are travelling over for the event.  The Tour of the Sperrins always brings high quality competitors and a high number of spectators to the area and local businesses profit from the event.  In the past the launch of a rally has always been a low key event but this year I hope that the local community will come out in force and enjoy all the activities and festivities in Maghera Leisure Centre on Sunday 18^th April.”  This view was shared by Aidan Toner of TNR Alu Systems who is this year’s new Tour of the Sperrins sponsor.  Aidan wished James and the organising committee of the Tour of the Sperrins every success with the event and he would encourage the public to attend the launch which he believes will be a day of fun for all. 

Magherafelt and District Motorclub have their own Cadet branch for Junior members and anyone wishing to join the Motorclub can sign up on the day.