Irish Formula Atlantic Series Race

Mondello Park, 17 Mar 1974

All cars are 1.6-litre F/Atl unless noted.

Notes on the cars:

1. Crosslé 22F [22F-72-01] (Jay Pollock): New to Desmond Mack Racing and fitted with a 1970cc Hart BDA engine for Brian Nelson (Hillsborough, Northern Ireland) to use in 2-litre Formula Ireland racing and libre racing at Ingliston. After Nelson retired, the Crosslé was retained by Mack for the 1973 season, and driven by Nelson Todd (Lisburn, Northern Ireland). It was converted to Formula Atlantic for the new Irish series, and was raced for Mack by Jay Pollock. Once the purpose-built Crosslé 26F was ready, Pollock moved to that car and the 22F was sold to Bill Gowdy, who drove it for the rest of 1974 and in 1975. It later moved to England and was raced by Willie Pascoe (Truro, Cornwall) in the Castle Combe Formule Libre series during the 1980s, fitted with a Triumph Dolomite F3 engine. It was acquired from Pascoe by Tommy Reid in Northern Ireland, still with the Triumph engine, rebuilt at the Crosslé factory in 2001, and fitted an alloy 'BDG' engine for historic racing. In March 2014, it was acquired from Reid by Ledwidge, and recommissioned by Gerry Wainwright Motorsport.
2. Chevron B25 [25-73-08] (Patsy McGarrity): New to George Silverwood and entered by his Central Garage (Mirfield) Ltd for John Lepp in British Formula Atlantic in 1973. Also used by Lepp in the first European F2 round at Mallory Park, with the 1.6 BDA still in it. Lepp's sports car racing took priority from July and the B25 was sold to Patsy McGarrity (Belfast, Northern Ireland) for Formula Ireland racing. Loaned by him to Chevron cars for John Watson to use in the F2 race at Albi. Converted back to Formula Atlantic for McGarrity to race in the 1974 Irish season, winning eight races and the All-Ireland championship. Sold on to Pat Woods (Newcastle, County Wicklow, Ireland) for 1975, and retained for two further seasons. Last seen when Woods crashed heavily in practice at Phoenix Park in September 1977, when the car was described as wrecked. Woods' daughter later told researcher James Murray that he sold the wreckage of the B25 to Bobby Howlings. Subsequent history unknown.
3. March 73B [712M-5] (Arthur Collier): New to Mike Beuttler, and raced in F2 in 1971 entered by Clarke Mordaunt Racing with Alistair Guthrie. This must be the ex-Beuttler 712M acquired by Hesketh Racing, and raced by James Hunt at the Rothmans 50,000, and then in the remainder of the F2 season. Sold by Hesketh to Ray Mallock, and updated by March to 73B specification for Mallock to race in British Formula Atlantic in 1973. The car was later rebuilt on the 73B tub that had been used as a bodywork buck. Via A.W. Brown Racing to Arthur Collier 1974 for Irish Formula Atlantic, then to Patrick Woods mid-season. Borrowed by Patsy McGarrity for the Boxing Day race at Mondello Park at the end of 1974. The car was later said to have returned to the UK via AW "Monkey" Brown, then moved through the trade to Roger Andreason, who sold it to his friend Charles Richards to be used in Monoposto in 1978. From there, it moved towards historic racing, but leading to some confusion as the car by now had a 73B tub and 73B bodywork. Its life in historic racing requires further confirmation.

Sources

The identification of individual cars in these results is based on the material presented elsewhere in this site and may in some cases contradict the organisers' original results.

The Irish race results for 1974 were originally compiled by Chris Townsend based on material in Autosport and Motoring News reports plus the information supplied by a wide range of contributors.

All comments, clarifications, corrections and additions are most welcome. Please email Allen (allen@oldracingcars.com) if you can help in any way with our research.