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Posted
Jan 03 2012, 01:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 2 comment(s)
I'm certain that any of you familiar with the World Rally Championship will recognise the name 'Kris Meeke'. Asides from being the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Champion, Meeke made his WRC debut last year behind the wheel of the new Mini JCW WRC and scored his first WRC points at Catalunya. Before his rally career went into overdrive, Meeke tried his hand at drifting at the opening round of the 2008 Prodrift Series. Behind the wheel of the WKD Imports RPS13, Meeke, who had never drifted...
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Posted
Dec 08 2011, 11:00 AM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 6 comment(s)
On this day 25 years ago, the FIA banned Group B, a championship which was completely out of control. It was inevitable then, that the only outcome would be a permanent ban of the group. It's easy for us to look back at the untamed monsters that decimated the stages with awe but it's also easy to forget the lives that were lost. One of the only surviving Group B cars that still competes today is the MG Metro 6R4. It's certainly not pretty but it was and still remains very effective. It's rare to experience a complete stage on-board a Group B car so allow Messrs McRae and Grist to show you the Donegal countryside from aboard their three litre, six cylinder and circa-400BHP 6R4. Turn up your speakers and remember Group B ...
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Paddy McGrath
Group B on Speedhunters
Colin McRae Speedhunters
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Posted
Nov 24 2011, 08:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 18 comment(s)
All of these recent Ford stories have me searching YouTube for videos that really show just how incredible and capable the MKII Escort is. Moll's Gap is one of the most famous Irish rallying stages and is part of the Killarney Rally of the Lakes each year. The MKII Escort is still the car that brings people out to the stages in my opinion. This is what happens when you combine one of the built MKII Escorts of all time, put it in the hands of Colin McRae and let him loose on The Gap. Pure Magic.
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Paddy McGrath
Colin McRae Stories on Speedhunters
More Videos on Speedhunters
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Posted
Nov 24 2011, 12:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 21 comment(s)
It's almost hard to believe that the humble MKII Escort has been around for thirty six years already. I don't think anyone could have had quite imagined the impact the car would have on the motoring world when it launched. Its simplicity has lended itself to help the Escort become one of the greatest rally cars of all time. It was successful on track too but its fame and popularity had a lot to do with the success and style of Messrs Vatanen, Mikkola, Waldegard, Clark & Co. It comes as...
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Posted
Nov 23 2011, 07:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 18 comment(s)
Once a year, my local Ford main dealer empties its showroom and forecourt of all its wares. The reason? To allow the Irish RSOC branch to takeover the premises with a host of quality Ford metal, both new and old. The show is free and open to public. It's more of a big friendly meet than a show as such, with a laid back atmosphere and plenty of cars present for everyone to drool over. The only issue I have with attending something like this is the hours I'm sure to waste afterwards searching...
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Posted
Nov 21 2011, 03:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 21 comment(s)
I love the EK9 Civic Type R. It's one of my absolute and all-time favourite hatchbacks. There was a time here in Ireland not so long ago when the country was filled with the sound of B16B. Unfortunately, with the recession and rising insurance premiums, the first generation Civic Type R appears to be slowly vanishing from our roads. Imagine my delight when arriving at a drift practice day earlier this year to find Neil Thompson and his CTR in attendance as a spectator. Here's a quick breakdown...
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Posted
Sep 20 2011, 06:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 76 comment(s)
One of the biggest divides within the automotive community in recent times has been the constant and continuing argument regarding form and function, stance and performance. So many believe you can either have one or the other but never both. It still amazes me how riled up some can get over this difference in opinions and the amount of hate that can be generated. On one side of the argument, you have those who are primarily interested in aesthethics and creating something which can be seen as an...
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Posted
Sep 19 2011, 06:55 AM
by
Rod Chong
with 10 comment(s)
Darren: There’s no smoke without fire...
Fredric: Right on the money! The Prodrift Mondello finals were definitely one for the books. I'll start where we left off in part 1 – at the very moment we lined up for the Top 16 driver introductions. The crowd was crazy loud! The Irish certainly knows how to put on a warm welcome! I stood right next to my top 16 battle opponent Mike Deane, and just like the rest of the Deanes (there's a lot of them!) he brings a great vibe. With all the anticipation in the air and Mike looking like a young Robert Redford it kind of felt like we were at the grid for a 60's Le Mans race!...
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Posted
Sep 17 2011, 05:26 AM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 11 comment(s)
Fredric: Hello Speedhunters! Here's part one of our writeup from the Prodrift Finals at Mondello Park in Ireland. It was an absolutely incredible weekend and in all seriousness it was one of the absolutely best drifting events I have ever attended. Every time I have met my Irish friends around the world they have always put a smile on my face, but visiting them at their home turf took it to a whole new level. It was about to get crazy. Fredric: The Prodrift Finals at Mondello Park was the second...
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Posted
Sep 11 2011, 10:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 22 comment(s)
After what must have been the toughest and closest fought drift event I've ever witnessed on these shores, James Deane eventually emerged victorious in the Low Brain Drifter's PS13. The event which saw some serious upsets during qualifying came down to a final between James and our own D-Mac. However, upon initiation Darren cut the first turn slightly, damaging the sump of the Need for Speed '86. Shortly after the escaping engine oil erupted in a lick of flame before extinguishing itself...
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Posted
Sep 10 2011, 04:00 PM
by
Rod Chong
with 5 comment(s)
It's not long now before the Irish leg of our little Team NFS drift tour kicks off in full effect. I really have no idea what is going to happen tomorrow! There is so much talent converging on Mondello Park that the name of the victor could be anyone's guess. In the meantime, I've packaged up a few images from today's practice session to wet your appetite. Speaking to Fredric Aasbo this evening, he seems very happy the competitiveness of the Supra. In this shot, he's following...
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Posted
Sep 10 2011, 11:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 11 comment(s)
It really is amazing. A couple of years back - maybe 2007/8 - I watched and photographed Darren unloading his SR86 onto Irish soil for the first time since he made his name in the US. It was also here back in 2005 I believe that Darren unveiled his SR86 for the very first time. I don't think either of us could have imagined just how far things have some in the space of these short few years. This weekend at Mondello Park, we will be wrapping up the Team Need for Speed UK & Ireland tour. After...
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Posted
Jun 16 2011, 10:10 AM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 11 comment(s)
We really are in the midst of what is increasingly looking like another incredible season of motorsport. When there are amazing events on each weekend, it’s often all so easy to become overwhelmed by events and not truly appreciate what we are very fortunate to be part of. I love motorsport. Regardless of the package or presentation, I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do on a weekend than photograph some cars from the side of a track. There are types of people involved in...
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Posted
May 27 2011, 07:00 AM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 35 comment(s)
I’ve been reading through the other ‘Things to do before you die’ articles and I’ve got to say, I’ve been really inspired to get out their and start ticking these things off my own list. I’ve always wanted to build my own track car and that’ll hopefully go a long way towards some of the other items I need to check off but I want to talk about something that is so often overlooked. We talk so much about horsepower figures, suspension setups and a thousand...
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Posted
May 24 2011, 09:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 2 comment(s)
I thought I'd pair up our event coverage of the MKII Escort Challenge with a post containing some desktops from the event. Pictured above is the MKII Escort Challenge winner Daniel McKenna in his Class 14 modified Ford Escort. Second in the MKII Escort Challenge was the hugely entertaining Gary McPhillips in his modified Ford Escort on the last corner of SS8. Pictured a little bit earlier in the day is David Condell in the McEvoy Motorsport prepared Ford Escort. I also snuck in this shot of Robert...
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Posted
May 24 2011, 02:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 19 comment(s)
It's strange. No matter how much drifting I experience and regardless of how much tyre smoke I inhale from third and fourth gear slides, I still rather the sight and sound of a MKII Escort on a tight rally stage. A couple of weeks back, I was standing on the roadside of a narrow back road, some twenty minutes from Carlow town. It was pretty early on a Sunday morning and already the sound of Millington Diamond engines could be heard echoing feintly around the hills of the surrounding countryside...
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Posted
May 17 2011, 01:00 AM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 29 comment(s)
Picking up where we left off in part one, I'm going to quickly run through the rest of the MDP coverage before putting together our stories from Japfest in Castle Combe at the weekend. This '86 had a heavy side impact on the passenger side but was a good looker. I'm particularly fond of the spoilerless look. This F20C powered hachiroku reminded me of Eric O'Sullivan's Rockstar Energy '86 from back the day. Work CR Kais up front on this two-tone S15. It's great seeing this...
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Posted
May 16 2011, 09:00 AM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 13 comment(s)
Since their inception, the Mondello Park drift practice days have become a regular visit for this speedhunter. Not only do the events provide a safe place to develop your drifting skills but they've also become a meet of sorts where you can meet up with friends and other drivers with similar interests. Basically what I'm trying (bady) to get at is that there is quite a lot more going on off the track than what we show. For a change we'll focus on the paddock and pits and what lies within...
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Posted
Apr 23 2011, 07:30 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 18 comment(s)
Neil Shen from Irish car culture site JuiceBox for You just dropped his interpretation of the first 2011 Prodrift round. The event took place in Ennis, Ireland last weekend where SR86 pilot Alan Sinnott took the overall win. We'll be keeping an eye on Prodrift where we can and have planned coverage of the series later in the year. This video is worth purely for the sound of John Paul McCarthy's E39 M5 powered E36 saloon at the end.
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Paddy McGrath
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Posted
Apr 16 2011, 03:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 18 comment(s)
I finally got around to uploading a desktop of Darren's DA Integra from the California Dreamin' story. Head over to the desktops section to grab this image in both regular and widescreen formats. - Paddy McGrath
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