Clonoulty Rossmore Vintage Club Rally is on the horizon

All roads lead to Clonoulty Rossmore Vintage Club for their their annual rally which is set to take place this year on Sunday the first of September in Clonoulty Village, Cashel, county Tipperary, E25 F596.

This is a popular event and one not to be missed. The theme of the Rally this year is all makes and models of Volkswagen, a much loved car of Irish motorists for decades now.

There is a special emphasis on the Volkswagen Golf, which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary at the current time.

It is a car that many have owned and there are still plenty of them in use. The first series-production Golf rolled off the production line in Wolfsburg in March 1974 and was available at dealerships from May in the same year.

Immediately it was a hit and offered a new dynamic and energy in cars at the time. A new era definitively began where the Beetle had dominated the scene with its rear-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive for many decades - the era of the front-mounted engine installed across the body and front-wheel drive.

The Scirocco and the Passat, introduced in 1973, had kicked off this trend shortly before. With the Golf, the class produced in the highest volumes had also been converted to the new technology.

As the successor to the legendary Beetle, of which more than 21.5 million were produced, the Golf Mk1 – developed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and Volkswagen – had immensely high expectations to live up to if it was to continue the story that the Beetle started – the most successful car in the world ever, at that point.

As it turned out, the modern and safe drive system concept, great flexibility offered by a tailgate and folding rear seat backrest, and of course its design, were so convincing that by October 1976, it was already time to celebrate the millionth Golf produced.

6.99 million examples of the first generation of the Golf – including all derivatives and the (at the time) structurally identical Jetta – were sold on all of earth’s continents.

The event this year in Clonoulty promises to be an exciting one for car enthusiasts who will look to learn, share and talk about the cars, their parts and their stories. Onsite catering, parking and camping are available for those who are staying over.

A highlight of the day for many people will be the National Sheaf throwing competition with Perpetual Trophies in memory of Rory O’Dwyer, Borrisoleigh being presented.

A fun day is planned for every age with all the usual side attractions adding to the events.

To mention just a few, there will be kids’ tractor pulling, threshing display, stationary engines, vintage cars, vintage tractors, motor bikes, live music, numerous stalls as well as other side shows.

If you are interested in having a stall, please contact TJ on 087 9855745 or Mary on 087 8200208 to book and ensure everything runs smoothly on the day.

Land Rover enthusiasts are invited to take part in a run / drive on Saturday 31st August and camp overnight.

Also it is important to remember that all our funds raised go to the South Tipperary Hospice Movement in what is a very worthwhile cause.

Admission on the day will be €10 for adults while children go free.

All are welcome to the event which promises to be a memorable one in a scenic setting. Again, the club members want to thank the public for the fabulous support shown at the recent bucket collection and over the years. They look forward to support again in the future.