Sep 25, 2014 | Run Reports
The Cork v Kerry rivalry is well know in football terms but that rivalry doesn’t really follow through when it comes to vintage cars, more especially when that car is the Ford Escort MK1 & Mk2. Each year a group of us like minded Escort men meet up and support each others vintage runs and shows. This year that started with the Cork boys making their annual trip to Killarney on May 17th for the start of the 35thRing of Kerry Run. A total of 92 cars set off scenic route which encompasses the Iveragh peninsula with a length of 170 km. As we made our way through Killorglin we headed for our first stop for some quick refreshments in Glenbeigh and onward to Caherciveen for lunch. It is very important to have your car in spotless condition when parked up in Caherciveen as judging for the Best Presented Car on the Run takes placed here, Brendan’s 1600 sport Escort was lucky enough to scoop the prize for him in 2013.
After Caherciveen we took the optional route and headed for the quick crossing to Valentia Island departing by ferry from the ideally located Point Bar. Once on the island we headed for the Slate quarry and Lighthouse, followed by panoramic views of the island and beyond from the top Guekon Mountain. After departing the island at Portmagee we drive up over the mountain along a twisty maze of tarmac road that would bring the rally driver out in any Ford Escort MK1 or Mk2 owner as we headed for the overnight stop in Sneem. On Sunday we depart Sneem for the first stop of the day for tea/coffee in Kenmare, followed by a fantastic spin down the infamous Molls Gap and complete our event on our return to Killarney. A total of €3500 was raised during the event which will provide much needed funds for local Kerry charities.
On August 31st it was time for the Kerry contingent to return the favour to the Cork boys and support their vintage run and static show in aid of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. Our journey starts quiet early from Tralee where we travel to the start of the run at the ViaDuct Inn on the Bandon road out of Cork City. The pub is a popular place for many of the Ford owners to meet up for various events throughout the year and it doesn’t disappoint again with over 30 cars including Escorts, Anglia’s, Cortina’s and Capri turning up to support this worthy charity. After a good hearty breakfast is onboard we depart the Viaduct for 30km route along the back roads around Cork City and finish at the industrial village of Ringaskiddy for the static show on the grounds of Cork Port. There was already a large amount of fellow vintage owners parked up to greet us when we arrived at the Port with cars ranging from two beautifully restored Ford Model T’s to the modern Ford Focus RS. After a few hours of admiring the cars on show and having the banter with the Cork lads it was time to head for the county bounds and the long journey home, an impressive €3000 was raised for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. If anyone fancies joining us on our travels next year they are more than welcome.
Sep 9, 2014 | Buy and Sell
If you are interested in selling or buying please contact us through our Contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
1983 GTI Golf for sale €4,250
Factory s/r,
.On english plates,€200 VRT.
May swap for a camper of same value.
Tel 087 9715680
Sep 6, 2014 | News
Vintage cars, its an interesting hobby, it brings people of all ages and from all walks of life together. For some people the idea of having an old car and going to a run or show at the weekend is a way of meeting people and passing the time. For others, they may have lusted after a certain make of car when they were new but could never get one and now they can fulfill their dream of having such a car and then there is people like me who never knew any thing different.
From an early age I was being taken to vintage events by my parents, in 1976 my parents John and Joan Mitchell took me, aged 4 and my brother alan aged 6 weeks in their newly restored Armstrong siddeley to our first vintage rally. And so it all started there, in the first few years we went to rallies all over the country as there was only a few clubs around and nothing in kerry until 1979 when the kingdom vintage and veteran car club was formed.
I do remember those early days of the club when we would take part in the Rose of Tralee Festival Parade and then we would go to Banna beach and camp out for the night.
When the Ring of Kerry Run started we would meet up at the airport in Farranfore before heading off on the day long trip around the Ring.
Through the years we stayed at different hotels on the Ring such as the Butler Arms Hotel in Waterville where Charlie Chaplin stayed. Then there was the newly built Waterville Beach Hotel complete with a swimming pool, something an 8 year old like me had never seen before except on tv. I saw the same hotel some years ago and was very dissapointed to see it derelict and ready to be demolished, later on we then stayed in the Derrynane Hotel which was a regular stopping point for many years.
As im writing this there are lots more memories being awakened in my mind of those early years of vintage rallying so it’s no surprise that vintage cars are such a major part of my life now.
I still enjoy going to vintage runs and shows even though a lot has changed since those early days of the club. It still can be a family day or even a weekend out. I’m glad to say my new family are enjoying our old cars as much as I did all those years ago, hopefully there are many more years to come.
Sep 3, 2014 | Events
Hill ClIMB
Club Social & 1980 s night – Saturday 22 February
Ballyroe Heights Hotel Tralee
( TICKETS ONLY € 25 PER PERSON )
Great Value for Dinner, Live music and Spot Prizes.
Get tickets at AGM or by contacting
Dave o Mahoney (087) 2598110
Joe Sullivan (087) 9804638
1 st CARS N COFFEE – Sunday 26 April Garrett Foley
1 st FRIDAY EVENING RUN – 8 May Tony Hehir
RING OF KERRY – 16/17 May
Michael Costello Run – 14 June David Curran
FRIDAY EVENING RUN – 19 June Johnny Cahillane
KVVCCC/BALYMAC CHARITY 17 July
FRIDAY EVENING RUN George Glover
CARS N COFFEE – Sunday 12 July Mike Moloney
CARS N COFFEE – Sunday 9 Aug Joe o Sullivan
CARS N COFFEE – Sunday 13 Sept David o Mahoney
AUTUMN RUN – Friday 9 – Sat 10 October
LAST CARS N COFFEE OF 2020 – Sunday 18 October Tony Darmody
ALL DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE (Text will be sent
Aug 29, 2014 | Run Reports
On Saturday 17th May the Kingdom Veteran Vintage and Classic Car Club set out on its 35th Annual Ring of Kerry Run.
The two day event started in Killarney 70 cars registered before the run by post and on line and another 22 on the day giving us a total of 92 cars on the day.
The 92 entrants were made up of 50 of our own club members of 140, 20 Cork and the remainder Carlow, Dublin, Tipperary, Offaly, Galway, Kildare, Waterford, Limerick and more.
The Ring of Kerry is a road route in the south of Kerry which encompasses the Iveragh peninsula with a length of 170 km.
Our journey started in Killarney the tourist capital of Kerry and makes its way to Killorglin (the home of puck fair).
Our first stop was in Glenbeigh for tea/coffee leaving Glenbeigh and going to Caherciveen for our lunch stop.
We had a optional route to explore Valentia Island which on previous Ring of Kerry Runs had been part of the route but had been changed due to us upgrading our hotel to the Sneem Hotel in Sneem village instead of our Waterville overnight stop.
On arrival in Sneem drivers could indulge in some refreshments and rest before our dinner dance at 8 pm on the Saturday night.
At the dinner dance we have a raffle with the money raised along with other club funds makes up our charity funds.
This years funds of 3500 euro are to be divided between:
- Parents of the Mentally Handycapped
- Donal Walsh Foundation
- Alzheimers Society
- Kerry/Cork Cancer Bus
Our oldest car was a 1911 Ford Model T from Limerick, followed by a 1924 Humber from Cork.
The remander were made up of Riley, Rollsroyce, Bentley, Rover, Mg, Austin, Lancia, Mercedes, Datsun, BMW, Ford (Escord/Capri), Vauxhall, Fiat, Dalmler, Volvo, Porsche and Mini to name a few.
Our Sunday route consisted of departing our hotel in Sneem at 11 am and rejoining the Ring of Kerry for a 22 mile trip to Kenmare town were participants could enjoy a stroll around for shopping before climbing to the top of Molls Gap and then making your descent to Killarney town and the finish of the 35th Ring of Kerry.
But if you have never been on this vintage trip in Kerry don’t despair as there is always next year.
And if you can not wait until then why not come to our Autumn Run in Kenmare in October (18/19 October).
Looking forward to seeing you in the Kingdom soon.
Garrett Foley
KVVCCC Secretary
garrettfoley01@eircom.net
