Northern Ireland’s road racing calendar has been boosted with a brand new
race, the first in over 50 years, which acts as the finale to the 2009
Ulster Championship season. The inaugural Armoy Road Race will take place on
Saturday 8th August and commemorates the skills and talents of four
legendary riders who hailed from Armoy - Jim Dunlop, Frank Kennedy, Joey
Dunlop and Mervyn Robinson known affectionately as the ‘Armoy Armada.’ The
four inspirational riders regularly tested their Yamahas, Yamsels and
Spartans around the Armoy roads. Billed as the ‘Race of Legends’ with a
circuit located on the edge of the stunning Glens of Antrim, the Armoy event
aims to recapture some of the fervour and nostalgia of those heady road
racing days during the 1970’s, yet deliver a safe, exciting and modern Race
Day programme complementing Ireland’s world famous national and
international road races. Launched today at the Hedges Restaurant near
Stranocum, the Armoy Road Race welcomed the only surviving member of the
‘Armada’ Jim Dunlop, brother of Joey and Robert together with key riders and
competitors including Ryan Farquhar, John Burrows and Sam Dunlop. Event
organisers Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club also announced the event’s main
2009 sponsor Coleraine Skip Hire & Recycling headed up by local man Packie
Laverty. The managing director of the successful waste management company
grew up at Loughguile close to Armoy and was delighted to back a race event
which pays tribute to the four racers who made the region so famous. “I’ve
followed road racing for many years and personally knew three members of the
group – Joey, Frank and Mervyn. It’s wonderful that this new event
celebrates their fantastic accomplishments and is a fitting tribute to the
three racers who are no longer with us. I’d like to congratulate the Club on
their achievements to date and wish them the very best for 8th August.”
Clerk of Course Bill Kennedy, a former racer and younger brother of Frank
outlined details of race programme plans and also thanked main sponsor
Coleraine Skip Hire & Recycling, event partner Moyle District Council, the
Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and all race sponsors, “It’s been a
long hard road since we founded the Armoy Club, followed by our limited
company AMRRC Ltd to help develop the race and I’m thrilled that the race is
now up and running and that we’ve had such wonderful support from
government, Moyle District Council, local businesses and of course the
competitors themselves. I’d particularly like to thank Packie Laverty of our
main sponsor Coleraine Skip Hire & Recycling for having the confidence to
back the event and of course all our individual sponsors without whose
support the race would not be possible.” The organisers have drawn up a 10
race schedule with roads closing at 10am on Saturday 8th August and
re-opening 7.30pm at the latest. (see Editors’ Notes for race details). With
entries set to close on 4th July organisers have already signed up Michael
and William Dunlop, Adrian Archibald, John Burrows, Sam Dunlop and Ryan
Farquhar. Riders travelling from outside the province to take part include
Czech rider Michael Dopukil, Scotsman Keith Amor and Carl Rennie and Gary
Johnston from England. Clerk of Course Bill Kennedy also paid tribute to
road racing hero Robert Dunlop who joined the Armoy Club when it was set up
in 2007, “Although not part of the famed Armoy Armada, Robert was a
wonderful Club member up until his tragic death last year. He gave the Club
a huge amount of help and support and indeed it was Robert’s idea to select
our current 3 mile circuit. Robert will be very much missed at our inaugural
meeting on 8th August.” The Armoy circuit is almost 3 miles and each race
will number 8 laps with a 10 lap Grand Final. The Man of the Meeting will
also be presented with an additional £500 prize. Organisers have worked
alongside Roads Services making improvements to the road surfaces and
preparing the pits and paddock area which will be located on Hillside Road
behind the start/finish area, with access from Ballykenver Road. Organisers
are also in the process of preparing an A4 glossy programme and the team
will also be marketing a range of race merchandise. Moyle District Council
is proud to be associated with the first ever Armoy Road Race and Chairman
of the Council Cllr William Graham said, “We are pleased to contribute to
the event and to work closely with Club members. We appreciate all their
hard work and commitment to the Race and believe the event will help
contribute to the region’s local economy as well as attracting more tourists
from outside Northern Ireland. We wish organisers a safe day’s racing and
look forward to welcoming spectators and competitors to our beautiful Moyle
region.” The Armoy Road Race takes place on Saturday 8th August with roads
closing at 10am. Practice takes place on Friday 7th August with roads closed
from 2.30pm to 9pm. For more information visit http://www.amrrc.com
Northern Ireland’s road racing calendar has been boosted with a brand new