THIS week marks a milestone in the history of Ford motor sport in that it is the 30th anniversary of the first Ford Formula One victory, scored by the late Jim Clark driving a Lotus Ford in the 1967 Dutch grand prix.
It was a sensational debut win for the famous Ford Cosworth DFV engine, which in its vanous derivatives went on to become the most successful engine in the history of Formula One Grand Prix motor racing, with an all time record of 174 world championship wins, as compared to Ferrari's 109, Renault's 90 and Honda's 72.
In addition, Ford engines powered 10 teams to constructors' championships; and won 12 drivers' titles. The list of Ford powered world champions reads like a who's who of motor racing - Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, James Hunt, Mario Andretti, Alan Jones, Nelson Piquet, Keke Rosberg and Michael Schumacher.
The current Ford commitment to motor sport includes Ford engines for the new Stewart Ford F1 team cars driven by Rubens Barrichello and Jan Magnussen, and the Ford Escort WRC duet of Carlos Sainz and Juha Kankkunen in the world rally championship.
Ford Ireland supports twice national rally champion Stephen Murphy, who is replacing his Ford Escort Cosworth with the latest spec: Ford world rally car (WRC).
Ford Ireland also sponsors the new Formula Ford Zetec championship to the tune of £15,000. After five rounds of the series, the leaders are Port rush chef and restaurateur George McAlpin and Noel Dunne (Naas) on 46 points each, from Jeff Wright (44). The next championship race is July 20th, at Pembrey in Wales.
Back in 1903 when motoring was in its infancy, the great Gordon Bennett Cup Race was held in Ireland. A special Act of Parliament was passed to permit the closing of public roads for the race, which was staged over a 327 miles course in Kildare, Laois and Carlow.
This weekend the Irish Veteran and Vintage Car Club commemorates the great race, which was watched by a massive crowd estimated to be one million strong, with over 100 cars running in the MercedesBenz International Gordon Bennett Rally in association with Sydney Cooper Distribution Ltd.
The first car is off from the Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge, at 9.0 a.m. this morning and the 95 miles route includes a lunch stop at the Seven Oaks Hotel in Carlow, returning to Newbridge via Stradbally and Kildare. All the cars will assemble at The Moat of Ardscull near Athy at noon tomorrow and the rally will finish at the Stand Hotel, behind the Curragh racecourse.
Galway Motor Club's two rounds of the Dunlop Hillclimb Championship are listed for Ballyalban today and Corkscrew tomorrow, both in Co Clare. Co Antrim hillclimber Ronnie Maybin has four out of four wins to lead the championship, 40 points to Donal Griffin on 29, in front of Jenny Kennedy (27.5), Padraig Forde (26.5), Karl Cleary (21), Dick Bailey and Cyril Lynch (18 each).
