Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Donnelly takes victory for the Irish in Adirondack Park
By Neil McDaid
October 7th, Harrisville, NY. Perched behind the wheel of one of the top Mitsubishi Evolution Rally cars in the USA, Charlie [Celsus] Donnell, formally from Fintona Co Tyrone, would claim victory in the final round of the 2006 NASA/ESRC. On a day in which many of the top drivers in the event were caught out on the early stages, Donnelly was able to steer his very powerful open class Mitsubishi between the many rocks, jumps, off-camber bumps and some very large pine trees to take the victory at The Black River Stages Rally.
The Rally was run in the northeast corner of the vast Adirondack Forest Park in upstate New York, only some 30 miles from the Canadian border. The first frost of the fall would greet the rally crews early Saturday as they headed for the start of SS1 “Power Line 1”. At little over seven and a half miles this would be the longest stage of the rally. Danny O’Brien would set the early mark with a fastest time of 6:25 with Donnelly some 4 seconds of the pace.
Retirements would strike early for the Irish. Donal McGivney and Noel Gallagher, in their Subaru, dropped a front control arm over a crest. Donal managed to bring the Impreza to a safe stop, despite every effort by Donal and Noel Gallaher they were unable to get the Impreza up and running ending their rally.
SS2 “Fishing Hole 1”. Running first on the road, Charlie Donnelly was on a tear as he pushed the Mitsubishi at full tilt almost sideways through the entire stage. With no recce allowed on the stages driver and co-driver would have to rely on the stage notes provided by the organizers. Although these notes are generally very detailed they do not always highlight every hazard, like hidden rocks.
Hardly a mile into this short three and a half mile stage a series of left-right-left bends would claim a few victims. Danny O’Brien, running second on the road, would attack SS2 with the same commitment as the opening test. The notes called a “left four short” into a “right five short” into a “left six”.
Danny would enter the ‘left four’ a little too hot forcing him to slide into the right five. The rear of the car would clip a large rock hidden between the bends launching the car into a series of spins. I was perched about a hundred yards down the road and watched the Subaru head into the bushes. Within few seconds O’Brien had the car fired up and somehow got her back up onto the road. Unfortunately, the damage was done. The impact had broken a rear wheel and Danny had to pull over and change it, losing some 5 minutes.
By Neil McDaid
October 7th, Harrisville, NY. Perched behind the wheel of one of the top Mitsubishi Evolution Rally cars in the USA, Charlie [Celsus] Donnell, formally from Fintona Co Tyrone, would claim victory in the final round of the 2006 NASA/ESRC. On a day in which many of the top drivers in the event were caught out on the early stages, Donnelly was able to steer his very powerful open class Mitsubishi between the many rocks, jumps, off-camber bumps and some very large pine trees to take the victory at The Black River Stages Rally.
The Rally was run in the northeast corner of the vast Adirondack Forest Park in upstate New York, only some 30 miles from the Canadian border. The first frost of the fall would greet the rally crews early Saturday as they headed for the start of SS1 “Power Line 1”. At little over seven and a half miles this would be the longest stage of the rally. Danny O’Brien would set the early mark with a fastest time of 6:25 with Donnelly some 4 seconds of the pace.
Retirements would strike early for the Irish. Donal McGivney and Noel Gallagher, in their Subaru, dropped a front control arm over a crest. Donal managed to bring the Impreza to a safe stop, despite every effort by Donal and Noel Gallaher they were unable to get the Impreza up and running ending their rally.
SS2 “Fishing Hole 1”. Running first on the road, Charlie Donnelly was on a tear as he pushed the Mitsubishi at full tilt almost sideways through the entire stage. With no recce allowed on the stages driver and co-driver would have to rely on the stage notes provided by the organizers. Although these notes are generally very detailed they do not always highlight every hazard, like hidden rocks.
Hardly a mile into this short three and a half mile stage a series of left-right-left bends would claim a few victims. Danny O’Brien, running second on the road, would attack SS2 with the same commitment as the opening test. The notes called a “left four short” into a “right five short” into a “left six”.
Danny would enter the ‘left four’ a little too hot forcing him to slide into the right five. The rear of the car would clip a large rock hidden between the bends launching the car into a series of spins. I was perched about a hundred yards down the road and watched the Subaru head into the bushes. Within few seconds O’Brien had the car fired up and somehow got her back up onto the road. Unfortunately, the damage was done. The impact had broken a rear wheel and Danny had to pull over and change it, losing some 5 minutes.
Early trouble for O'Brien on SS2 as he makes junk of a rear wheelFellow Irish driver Enda McCormack, in a Mitsubishi, would also struggle through the same tricky section that caught out O’Brien. He would also spin but was lucky to get going again with no damage. Running ninth on the road Massachusetts driver Emilio Arce and co-driver Sarah Gardescu would have the biggest moment on the stage when they also came into the tight section with way to much speed. They would, unfortunately, roll the Impreza twice before coming to a rest against a stump of a large pine tree. Both Emilio and Sarah walked away uninjured. The same could not be said for their Impreza.
Brennan finds his mark after Turbo problems on the morning stsgesStages three and four would be a repeat of SS1 & SS2. Cavan man Paddy Brennan, a sure contender for the overall victory going into the rally, would do his best to stay on the pace while suffering mechanical problems early in the day because of a turbo pipe that would not stay connected on his open class Subaru.
Heading into the first service of the day back in the small town of Harrisville Charlie Donnelly, with his cousin Barry McCann as navigator, had built a commanding lead of 1 minute and 48 seconds over the second place crew of Brennan and Brady. Enda McCormack and Kieran McElhinney, also out of New York, would round out the top three for the Irish. With O’Brien’s off on SS2 he was now sitting in 14th some 4:24 back from Donnelly.
Heading into the first service of the day back in the small town of Harrisville Charlie Donnelly, with his cousin Barry McCann as navigator, had built a commanding lead of 1 minute and 48 seconds over the second place crew of Brennan and Brady. Enda McCormack and Kieran McElhinney, also out of New York, would round out the top three for the Irish. With O’Brien’s off on SS2 he was now sitting in 14th some 4:24 back from Donnelly.
Meep! Meep! a photgraphers nightmare, O'leary & O'leary
Much like Donnelly and Brennan, O’Brien, who had just clinched his third consecutive Eastern States Rally Championship title for 2006, had been one of the favorites for the overall victory coming into this year’s return of the Black River stages.
Further down the running order in the hotly contested M2 class a bit of a battle was taking place between the Boston Irish crews of Larry Duane and Eamon Sweeny in the Toyota Twin Cam Corolla and “Big Dan” Broslan and Martin Skelton in the Nissan Sentra. Sitting in second behind Dan Cook in the Datsun, Duane had pulled out a forty second lead over Broslan in third at the first service stop.
The afternoon stages would be made up of four stages all run twice. Danny O’Brien would go on the attack early to try and work down the time lost with the damaged wheel on SS1. The first time over SS5, “Jayville In,” O’Brien would set the second fastest time, just seven second off the blistering pace set by Donnelly. Again, on SS6 “Jayville out,” O’Brien would push Donnelly coming within four seconds of Charlie’s stage time.
Danny O’Brien would eventually set the fastest time over SS7 “Goose Pond in,” some six seconds faster than leader Donnelly, and also the stage win on SS12.
In the end, when the time cards were verified after a long day of 12 special stages over some very deceiving forest roads with hidden hazards, Charlie Donnelly would bring home the victory. After struggling for many years, pushing hard and trying to be competitive in lesser equipment Charlie finally proves his worth in the same Mitsubishi Evo that brought Tom Lawless to the overall victory in the United States Rally Championship in 2005. Charlie finished with a comfortable 2:21 cushion over Paddy Brennan who, despite numerous issues, was able to hang on to second.
Enda McCormack encored a 20 second penalty for a late arrival to time control 7, pushing him down to forth behind Randy Zimmer and Travis Sleight. Despite all the hard work from O’Brien, in the end it was a bridge too far to make up the difference lost on SS2, and he had to settle for 5th overall.
Showing some great driving form, Liam Mulvey, with Stephen Duffy on the notes, kept the tail out wherever possible on their Mazda RX3 as they took the class victory in M1 and 6th overall.
In M2 Class, Duane and Sweeney in the Corolla, in only their second full season in rallying, claimed the M2 class victory and 7th overall. Dan Broslan, who chased Duane all day, had no answer for the every increasing pace of his fellow Boston crew.
Looking forward to BRS 2007!
Kevin McBride devastated by Mollo,
where to go from here?
October 8th, 2006 - by Tomás Rohan
Kevin McBride's hopes of shot at the world heavyweight title evaporated in Chicago last night following a devastating second round stoppage at the hands of the unheralded Mike Mollo.
Mike Tyson's conqueror had hoped that a win over Mollo (with the lightly regarded WBA fedelatin title on the line) would hand him a top 15 ranking with the WBA and put him line for a shot at WBA champ Nicolay Valuev. The "Beast from the East" topped the bill at the Allstate Arena last night successfully defending his belt with an eleventh round stoppage of Monte Barrett.
McBride's prospects of being next in line for Valuev's title nose dived right from the first bell with Mollo showing little or no respect for the much bigger Irishman. The 26-year-old Illinois native entered the ring with a record of 16 wins and 1 loss which although statistically impressive had been compiled against club fighters and journeymen. (However it should be noted that aside from his shock win over Tyson the same accusation could be levelled at McBride.)
The only common opponent between both men was fringe contender DaVarryl Williamson who had recorded stoppage victories over both Mollo and McBride. Despite this McBride and his camp were confident that Mollo would not get in the way of their long awaited world title fight although it should be noted that Dan Horgan, a contributor to this site had predicted that Mollo would make short work of the "Clones Colussus."
Mollo had spent the early part of the opening round softening up the 278 pound McBride landing frequently to the mid section before a series of clubbing right hands floored the Boston based Monaghan man along the ropes.
McBride looked more embarrassed than hurt and offered a wry smile as referee Genaro Rodriquez waved him back into action.
Any hope that the nightmare first round would merely serve as a wake up call to stir McBride into action went out the window early in the second when he found himself on the floor for a second time. Once again McBride offered an embarrassed, almost bemused smile but it was becoming clear that his world title aspirations were on their last legs.
Sensing the finish Mollo followed up with another two fisted attack sending McBride reeling backwards before flooring him for the third and final time with a heavy left hook. Referee Rodriquez didn't even bother with the count even though McBride clambered quickly to his feet but offered little in the way of protest at the stoppage.
Instead he trouped back to his corner leaving behind his world title dreams and a substantial payday.
McBride's promoter Don King didn't seem overly concerned at the Irishman's defeat rushing to embrace the victory and waving an American and Italian flag in honour of Mollo's heritage. Judging by the uproarious laughter from the shock haired promoter in the ring it's unlikely he'll lose too much sleep over McBride's demise.
Truly this was an awful, awful performance by McBride. There is no other way of dressing it up. He looked like a man who simply didn't want to be there ironically enough in the same way that Mike Tyson clearly did not want to be in the ring with him on that shocking night in Washington on June 3 months ago. McBride folded from the kind of shots last night that had caused him to simply grit his teeth and fight on against "Iron Mike" but last night they sent him tumbling to the canvas.
Take nothing away from Mollo who did what he had to do and much to Don King's delight looks like a fighter who can shift tickets in the Chicago area. He can move on to a bigger fight but where too now for Kevin McBride?
Time will tell but it seems a long, lonely road back to anything like world title contention from here. Wherever that road takes him we wish Kevin well as despite some of his tongue in cheek statements about taking on both Klitschko's in the same night he is the epitome of the quiet, modest, gentle giant.
October 8th, 2006 - by Tomás Rohan
Kevin McBride's hopes of shot at the world heavyweight title evaporated in Chicago last night following a devastating second round stoppage at the hands of the unheralded Mike Mollo.
Mike Tyson's conqueror had hoped that a win over Mollo (with the lightly regarded WBA fedelatin title on the line) would hand him a top 15 ranking with the WBA and put him line for a shot at WBA champ Nicolay Valuev. The "Beast from the East" topped the bill at the Allstate Arena last night successfully defending his belt with an eleventh round stoppage of Monte Barrett.
McBride's prospects of being next in line for Valuev's title nose dived right from the first bell with Mollo showing little or no respect for the much bigger Irishman. The 26-year-old Illinois native entered the ring with a record of 16 wins and 1 loss which although statistically impressive had been compiled against club fighters and journeymen. (However it should be noted that aside from his shock win over Tyson the same accusation could be levelled at McBride.)
The only common opponent between both men was fringe contender DaVarryl Williamson who had recorded stoppage victories over both Mollo and McBride. Despite this McBride and his camp were confident that Mollo would not get in the way of their long awaited world title fight although it should be noted that Dan Horgan, a contributor to this site had predicted that Mollo would make short work of the "Clones Colussus."
Mollo had spent the early part of the opening round softening up the 278 pound McBride landing frequently to the mid section before a series of clubbing right hands floored the Boston based Monaghan man along the ropes.
McBride looked more embarrassed than hurt and offered a wry smile as referee Genaro Rodriquez waved him back into action.
Any hope that the nightmare first round would merely serve as a wake up call to stir McBride into action went out the window early in the second when he found himself on the floor for a second time. Once again McBride offered an embarrassed, almost bemused smile but it was becoming clear that his world title aspirations were on their last legs.
Sensing the finish Mollo followed up with another two fisted attack sending McBride reeling backwards before flooring him for the third and final time with a heavy left hook. Referee Rodriquez didn't even bother with the count even though McBride clambered quickly to his feet but offered little in the way of protest at the stoppage.
Instead he trouped back to his corner leaving behind his world title dreams and a substantial payday.
McBride's promoter Don King didn't seem overly concerned at the Irishman's defeat rushing to embrace the victory and waving an American and Italian flag in honour of Mollo's heritage. Judging by the uproarious laughter from the shock haired promoter in the ring it's unlikely he'll lose too much sleep over McBride's demise.
Truly this was an awful, awful performance by McBride. There is no other way of dressing it up. He looked like a man who simply didn't want to be there ironically enough in the same way that Mike Tyson clearly did not want to be in the ring with him on that shocking night in Washington on June 3 months ago. McBride folded from the kind of shots last night that had caused him to simply grit his teeth and fight on against "Iron Mike" but last night they sent him tumbling to the canvas.
Take nothing away from Mollo who did what he had to do and much to Don King's delight looks like a fighter who can shift tickets in the Chicago area. He can move on to a bigger fight but where too now for Kevin McBride?
Time will tell but it seems a long, lonely road back to anything like world title contention from here. Wherever that road takes him we wish Kevin well as despite some of his tongue in cheek statements about taking on both Klitschko's in the same night he is the epitome of the quiet, modest, gentle giant.
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