Reviews Of 2024 Race Meetings
By  Donal O’Neill
Also, please note: 
Would you like to get close to the racing? The marshals at Kirkistown are highly trained experts at dealing with crashes, fires and flag communications. But they did not start out that way. Every single one began their marshalling journey knowing little or nothing about the vocation. Most of them just wanted to get closer to the racing!
If you are passionate about racing and would like to become one of the valued Kirkistown marshals, ring 028 42771325 and ask for Donal or email [email protected]. You will be invited along and introduced to Fel, our chief marshal, and she will tell you what is involved.

Two Trophies To Be Taken!
This Saturday 28^th September, the final car and superkart meeting of 2024 takes place at Kirkistown Racing Circuit.
As is traditional at this meeting, The Martin Donnelly Trophy is awarded to the winner of the second Formula Ford 1600 race and The Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy is awarded to the winner of the second Formula Vee race.  Both classes have excellent grids. 
The Formula Vee class has twenty one entries and it should be an amazing contest. Many of the big names from past and present have entered. These include Jack Byrne, from Tinahely, Colm Blackburn, from Ballyfermot, Gavin Buckley, from Dublin, and Anthony Cross, from Bohernabreena.  Cross usually shines at this event but he has not been racing much this year and may be slightly rusty.
It was in the Martin Donnelly Trophy race last year that young Jason Smyth was inconsolable after throwing away an almost certain win by making a slight mistake in the closing stages.  In 2024 he has been almost unbeatable, having already sown up the NI FF1600 Championship at the last meeting.  He will see this race as unfinished business. However, Ballymena’s David McCullough has won this trophy on numerous occasions and he will be seeking another win.  Once again, Portadown driver, Noel Robinson, will be parking his BOSS Ireland car and returning in his trusty Van Diemen to challenge the field. He, too, is a past winner. Other potential winners in the fifteen-car field include Jordan Kelly, from Buncrana, and Stephen O’Connor, from Ballymount.
Eleven Superkarts are turning out. Liam Fox, from Moira, won in the 250cc class at the last meeting, as did Alan Crossen, from Comber.  Jonathan Adams, from Ballyclare, will also be in the mix.  In the 125cc class, watch out for Scott Greenaway, from Gilford, Philip Mills, from Dollingstown and the evergreen Noel Lindsay, from Royal Hillsborough.
The H.R.C.A. have an excellent ten-car field.  Jackie Cochrane, from Armagh, will have an immaculate V8 Sunbeam Tiger, as will Edmund Cassidy, from Kilsallaghan. Many eyes will be on Dungarvan driver, Ciaran Geoghegan, in his Lotus Cortina. Also upholding the Ford flag will be Tommy Doherty, from Dublin, in a Capri.
A small combined Roadsports, GTs and Saloon race will feature Mike Ward, from Youghal, in a Radical PR6, Bernard Foley, from Blackrock, in a Crosslé 42S, David Kelly, from Delgany, in a Crosslé 9S, John Cardoo, from Naas, in a Wildcat, Peter Baxter, from Lurgan, in a Seat, and John Newport, from Loughgall, in another Wildcat. Going on lap times alone, Ward may just shade Baxter. The Modi-5-Cup for Mazda MX5s has produced great racing this year.  Craig Ewing is missing, having already claimed the Championship.  However, the pointy end should be tightly contested among Moira’s Francis Allen, Newry’s Damian Moran and Culloville’s Rob Kennedy.
The Kirkistown Fiestas is the class that refuses to die!  People were writing their obituaries when the Kirkistown Minis appeared.  This time there is a nine-car field. Father and son team, Derek and Michael Graham, from Portadown, are entered and must be joint-favourites.  Neville Anderson, from Banbridge, will be trying to win the Championship. He is 33 points ahead of Stephen Walker, from Helensburg, and barring a non-finish, he should succeed. Megan Campbell, from Strangford, is currently third in the championship standings and could possibly get second.  Making a guest appearance for this meeting is Eórann O’Neill, from Nutt’s Corner.  She was a front runner and race winner in the class some years ago.
Qualifying is scheduled to start at 8:45 am, with the first race of the day at 10:30 am.
For all intending to visit, please be aware that the main Newtownards to Portaferry Road is closed for resurfacing and alternative routes will be signposted.