22 June 2018
By Mary Bermimgham
mary@TheCork.ie
The 7th running of the Cobh Classic will take place on Saturday 23rd of June 2018 This event which began as the Titanic Classic in 2012 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the great ship has established it’s place as one of the premier dates in the classic car calendar. Up to 50 cars, some over 100 years old, will traverse the roads of East Cork on a 60 mile route which has been designed to take in some spectacular scenery on smooth roads in deference to the age profile of the participating cars.
Cobh Classic Car Club are once again delighted to welcome Great Island Motors, for a fifth year, as main sponsor. Trophies for Best Car and Furthest Travelled, plus lots of spot prizes from our very generous sponsors.
The event will start from the Commodore Hotel in Cobh at 11.30 and will follow a route via Midleton and Cloyne to a coffee break at Garryvoe Beach. Thereafter the route continues via Shanagarry, Ladysbridge, Castlemartyr and back to Cobh at 4pm, where the cars will be on display in the town centre, while the crews enjoy a post event meal and prizegiving ceremony at the Commodore Hotel
Check-in for the event is from 09.30 and the cost of entry is €25 (three course meal included).
Cobh has always had connections to motor sport in various guises, one of those was in the late 70’s and early 80’s in the form of The Commodore Hotel Rally. In its first three years as a Rallying tour, took place on the roads of Great Island, and stretching out towards Carrigtwohill and surrounding areas.
The event later moved to Fota Island where it became known as Commodore Hotel Rally Sprint. The event was highly successful and funds raised from the events contributed in a big way to the setting up of what is now Fota Wildlife Park. The event continued at Fota for a number of years until insurance costs became excessive and the event had to be cancelled.
It’s quite possible that some of the cars taking part in the June event may have taken part in those rallies, certainly quite a few of the event organisers were also involved in those exciting days of Cobh motorsport.
Cobh Classic Car Club was founded in 2011 with the goal of bringing together those with an interest in vintage and classic cars. Members don’t need to own an old car, just have an interest them.
The club meets in the Commodore hotel at 8pm on the second Wednesday of every month and during summer months organises evening drives to local places of interest.
