Michael Bolger sweeps the modified classes at the DMCC Winter Championship

 

The DMCC entered the 2012/2013 winter season at a new indoor venue, located just 20km North of Dublin airport. The club members put in a lot of effort to get the venue ready for the winter season. The club was able to secure the venue on a permanent basis for the winter season. This allowed the race track and pit area to be left set-up and race ready. Regular racers at the club have their own pit space, pre-wired with mains electricity. Pit space, with access to electricity is always available for visiting racers.

  

The club always provides a track that is accessible for new comers as well as providing a challenge for experienced racers. The track surface is medium traction astroturf, with various wooden jumps (ski jump, table top, corner jump etc.) to complete the off-road feel. The current main classes in the club are 2wd and 4wd, with each divided into clubman (10.5t brushless limit) and open modified.

 

2wd Clubman
2wd clubman is one of the most popular classes in the club catering for the new comer to the experienced racer. This class is always competitive and this winter season was no different. From the first round it looked like the championship would be between Alan Thompson and Kevin White. Alan took the win at the opening round, with Kevin second. The next three rounds went to Kevin, with Alan taking second in each. So at the mid-way point, 4 rounds in, Kevin had a lead of 3 points over Alan. Behind these two, things were also tight between Adam Kegan, Dave Bolger and Jack Cunningham. At this stage in the championship, some drivers (Lucy Thompson, Graham Parkes and Ken Gordon) had only completed three rounds, so if these drivers could have a successfully second half of the championship, things would be very close. The second half of the championship was just as exciting as the first. New comer to the championship Dylan McBurney made his presence felt, wining two rounds, the other two rounds went to Alan, picking up his pace from the first half. The championship went down to the final race. It would be between Alan and Kevin, a good result from either was required to secure the top spot. After the dust had settled, the result from the final round was Dylan, Alan and Kevin. This gave Alan the top spot in the championship, just one point ahead of Kevin. Things were equally close further down the results. Consistent results from Lucy (Alans sister) a good result (4th) in the last round gave Lucy third overall, just 4 points clear of Adam in 4th, with Graham a further 5 points back in 5th.

  

DMCC Clubman (10.5) 2wd Winter 2012 / 2013
1st Alan Thompson Durango DEX210
2nd Kevin White Schumacher SV2
3rd Lucy Thompson Durango DEX210
4th Adam Keegan AE/CML C4.1
5th Graham Parkes Durango DEX210

 

The Clubman summer championship will be an interesting series to watch. Alan has moved over to the modified class, where he is holding his own against the established drivers in the class. Dylan who missed the first half of the winter championship, has already taken the firsttwo rounds of the summer, followed closely by Kevin. Currently third overall is a tie between Adam, Tony Marshall and Lucy. 

 

4wd Modified
At the midway point in 4wd modified it looked at be a straight race between Ivan Thompson and Lee McGuire. Michael Bolger who missed the first two round of 4wd, (having no scores to drop), needed good results in the remaining 4 rounds. Michael did just that, managing to win 3 of the 4 rounds in the second half of the championship. The race between Ivan and Lee carried over to the second half of the championship, in the end only 2 points in the difference, consistency keeping Ivan ahead of Lee. 

  

DMCC Modified 4wd Winter 2012 / 2013
1st Michael Bolger AE B44.2
2nd Ivan Thompson Durango DEX410
3rd Lee McGuire Durango DEX410

  

4wd Clubman
This years 4wd clubman had small turnout. A number of drivers had changed over to modified after the summer. Still the turn-out was small but the racing was anything but. At the midway point Graham Parkes had a clear lead. But Alan Thompson, put his head down and put in some good results in the next three rounds. Setting up a head to head race between Graham and Alan in the final round. Whoever finished ahead would win the championship. Alan finished off the season in style, winning the round with Graham second, winning the championship by one point.

  

DMCC Clubman (10.5) 4wd Winter 2012 / 2013
1st Alan Thompson Durango DEX410
2nd Graham Parkes Durango DEX410
3rd Gareth O'Driscoll Durango DEX410

  

2wd Modified
No surprises here it was another closely contested championship. At the halfway point Michael Bolger had carved out a modest lead over Michael O'Leary, Ivan Thompson and Lee McGuire. Michael was able to hold onto his lead in the second half of the championship to win the 2wd modified championship. As if all the championships were running to some 'story line', the last round would decide between Michael O'Leary and Ivan for second place. Michael was able to get it done, finishing in second place and Ivan in fourth. Giving Michael second overall just one point ahead of Ivan.

  

DMCC Modified 2wd Winter 2012 / 2013
1st Michael Bolger AE/CML C4.1
2nd Michael O'Leary AE/CML C4.1
3rd Ivan Thompson Durango DEX210

  

The summer 2wd modified championship will be anyone guess. Alan Thompson has moved up from Clubman, it also sees the welcome return of Denzel McBurney to buggy racing. If Mark Penny can compete in enough rounds, he would also be in contention for the championship. 

 

 

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