it's the one just literally just outside of Dunsop Bridge I believe, on the way to/from the Inn at Whitewell. Trophy territory
A trip down memory lane...
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it's the one just literally just outside of Dunsop Bridge I believe, on the way to/from the Inn at Whitewell. Trophy territory
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Well spotted Dave, it’s indeed very near Dunsop Bridge, on the stretch inbetween there and the Inn at Whitewell.
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Sorry for replicating what you'd already posted Craig, I'd got all excited by Dave's post that I replied without scrolling down to read the other subsequent replies!it's the one just literally just outside of Dunsop Bridge I believe, on the way to/from the Inn at Whitewell. Trophy territory
I’ve driven the ‘Gap of Dunloe’ years ago Ed, when Spectating at the Killarney International Rally. It’s a pass up to the Famous ’Molls Gap‘ Rally Stage. It was more or less a dirt track in places with Mountain Sheep roaming over it. It is over 20yrs since I was last on it and it was rough then, I’d hate to think what condition the ‘road‘ is in now!
Some nice retro motors pictured above too
To my shame,I have never been.
Here is Molls Gap as shown by two unbelievable drivers,both taken far far too soon.
Craig Breen
Colin McRae
Both driving it as intended,in a Mk2 Escort.
I can only imagine what it would be like to tackle a road like that in a Trophy,certainly get the blood pumping I bet!!
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It was a heady 33 years ago now since I went over 'The Gap' in the 205 GTi, and I've got cracking old tale to recount about it too... which when I find the relevant pics I'm going to hopefully post up on here. The day earlier we'd done Moll's Gap (at a fair old rate of knots too if my memory serves..I’ve driven the ‘Gap of Dunloe’ years ago Ed, when Spectating at the Killarney International Rally. It’s a pass up to the Famous ’Molls Gap‘ Rally Stage. It was more or less a dirt track in places with Mountain Sheep roaming over it. It is over 20yrs since I was last on it and it was rough then, I’d hate to think what condition the ‘road‘ is in now!
Some nice retro motors pictured above too
) , and it was an evening conversation in a bar which lead to the Dunloe adventure the following day! Great times!My favourite road / experience down in that local area though was the road over from Kenmare to Glengarrif, not only a spectacular sinuous ribbon of tricky tarmac but; THAT VIEW of Bantry Bay as you crest the top and head through those tunnels, it still raises goosebumps to this day. I really want to revisit it, either in the Trophy or our old Mini, one day..
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Great vids Francis! To keep with the theme there, here's that lovely fella Breen tackling it in a Metro 6R4 (you've probably seen it, but I'll post it here for those who haven't, it's a favourite of mine!).To my shame,I have never been.
Here is Molls Gap as shown by two unbelievable drivers,both taken far far too soon.
Craig Breen
Colin McRae
Both driving it as intended,in a Mk2 Escort.
I can only imagine what it would be like to tackle a road like that in a Trophy,certainly get the blood pumping I bet!!
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That's some commitment there isn't it, in those damp/wet conditions too... An absolute masterclass.I've never seen him in that car before Ed,just unreal
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All this chit-chat and vids of great Irish roads & scenery have me fantasising about some sort of Trophy's to Ireland Tour... How bloody brilliant would that be?
Ajracer
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Could be an alternative to Wales in the Hope it’s not bloody raining!
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Given the attitudes now in the UK, including Wales, to any sort of brisk driving allied to the new extensive 20mph zones rolled out there this last year, I can't help but start to look further afield for some old-school excitement..
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Dug out a couple more delights from the back catalogue this evening.
First up it's Trophy #069 again on another holiday in Ireland, I'm guessing Spring 2006 for this one judging by the sunlight on the drive and cleanliness of the wheel nuts, the car must have still been fairly new.
Then, jumping onwards a year or two to 2007/8ish, here's a snap of my Dad's Megane 230 R26 which he must have taken as I don't recall taking it, and what's that behind? It's Trophy #069 again, peeking round the corner.
And finally, just for a chuckle, and rewinding back a good few years - here's a young me (v.early 20's) fettling away under the bonnet of my Porsche 924 with Dad looking on, I still have that breaker bar and interesting to see I was already addicted to using full rolls of kitchen roll under the bonnet. Lurking bottom left is my old Mini Cooper S 1310 ...quick car with a lovely fuel filler cap.
First up it's Trophy #069 again on another holiday in Ireland, I'm guessing Spring 2006 for this one judging by the sunlight on the drive and cleanliness of the wheel nuts, the car must have still been fairly new.
Then, jumping onwards a year or two to 2007/8ish, here's a snap of my Dad's Megane 230 R26 which he must have taken as I don't recall taking it, and what's that behind? It's Trophy #069 again, peeking round the corner.
And finally, just for a chuckle, and rewinding back a good few years - here's a young me (v.early 20's) fettling away under the bonnet of my Porsche 924 with Dad looking on, I still have that breaker bar and interesting to see I was already addicted to using full rolls of kitchen roll under the bonnet. Lurking bottom left is my old Mini Cooper S 1310 ...quick car with a lovely fuel filler cap.
Great photos there Ed.
I have a feeling the coolness of the Irish car fleet went up quite significantly,
whenever you and your family made your trips across the sea.
Having both your Dad's R26 and your Trophy, would have been quite the cross
country convoy I'd imagine.
I think that silver colour just adds a nice bit of extra coolness to the R26 as well.
Love to see more of your Mini, sounds like a proper little flyer.
I have a feeling the coolness of the Irish car fleet went up quite significantly,
whenever you and your family made your trips across the sea.
Having both your Dad's R26 and your Trophy, would have been quite the cross
country convoy I'd imagine.
I think that silver colour just adds a nice bit of extra coolness to the R26 as well.
Love to see more of your Mini, sounds like a proper little flyer.
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Ah, cheers Francis.
Haha!
We'd got a bit more sensible by the time we were in the Clio's and the Megane. The loopy drives across Ireland had been a few years earlier in the Civic Type R's, and before that the Peugeot 306 Rallye with my daft blue Mini trying to keep up (found a pic of that in Donegal tonight, so I'll post that up sometime). The Mini in the pic above I sadly don't have many pics of, they were all stored on an iMac which sadly got stolen from one of my business premises in the mid 2000's, I was gutted at the time as I lost loads of old pics which I'd neglected to back up!Ah, cheers Francis.
Haha!
Whenever you get your finger out and get that book of your car life written, I'll definitely be buying a copy
Rallye's, Type-R's, more MIni's.....and that's probably only scratching the surface.
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Amazing times Ed - looking back at the scraps / near misses we all must have had I think we are all really lucky to be able to talk about them today - Sign me up for a copy too
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Mum had some old photo's out earlier, she was doing that thing Mothers do, when they try and find pictures of you from 30 years ago to show to your partner...
It was a couple of red cars that got my memories going...
1st up, Mk1 Clio 16v, in Etruscan red. Looking back, it was a lovely car this, bonnet bulge/scoop, flared plastic front wings, those lovely polished 'turbine' alloys. It felt more 'grown up' that the 205GTi's which had preceded it. Judging by the salt & slurry down the sides of the car I'd say this pic was possibly Feb 1993. I've got some lovely tales of silly antics indulged in behind the wheel of this car, but I'll save those for another time.
Fast forward to '99, and it's a different red French car. Back to Peugeot with the 306 Rallye. I've seen a lot of high praise being heaped on these cars recently, but in period, it was a disappointment to me. It had all the potential, with all the best bits from the GTi6 in a lighter more weirdly package. But I never really gelled with it, the power delivery was untrustworthy, sometimes it could really pick up it's heals and others it would just feel really flat. Handling was too understeery for me too, I was running around in tweaked 205's and Mini's I'd set up to go sideways, so the 306 just felt a bit lumbering for my taste. It blotted it's copybook just out of warranty, snapped cam belt with all the valves dropped into the engine... not good. Fixed up and part-ex'd for a black EP3 Civic Type R.
It was a couple of red cars that got my memories going...
1st up, Mk1 Clio 16v, in Etruscan red. Looking back, it was a lovely car this, bonnet bulge/scoop, flared plastic front wings, those lovely polished 'turbine' alloys. It felt more 'grown up' that the 205GTi's which had preceded it. Judging by the salt & slurry down the sides of the car I'd say this pic was possibly Feb 1993. I've got some lovely tales of silly antics indulged in behind the wheel of this car, but I'll save those for another time.
Fast forward to '99, and it's a different red French car. Back to Peugeot with the 306 Rallye. I've seen a lot of high praise being heaped on these cars recently, but in period, it was a disappointment to me. It had all the potential, with all the best bits from the GTi6 in a lighter more weirdly package. But I never really gelled with it, the power delivery was untrustworthy, sometimes it could really pick up it's heals and others it would just feel really flat. Handling was too understeery for me too, I was running around in tweaked 205's and Mini's I'd set up to go sideways, so the 306 just felt a bit lumbering for my taste. It blotted it's copybook just out of warranty, snapped cam belt with all the valves dropped into the engine... not good. Fixed up and part-ex'd for a black EP3 Civic Type R.
