JULY 2004

30th Moville Vintage Car Rally

The organisers of the Moville Vintage Car Rally, want to thank everyone for making this year's event the biggest and best ever. "This was the 30t Rally and we wanted to make it especially memorable,and it couldn't have gone better" Sean Rawdon said. The event has gone from just 9 cars 30 years ago, to 138 registered vintage cars this year, from all over Ireland and Britain. There was also the added bonus of 50 vintage Citroens this year passing through as part of their own rally.

There certainly was something for everyone in the enormous crowd that turned out - from gangster type cars such as a Morris 8 and an Austin dating from early 1930's through to James Bond's favourite drive, a 1960's Series E Jaguar and to a frighteningly big bronze cadillac that Burt Reynolds cold have driven in any of his 1070's action films. Being able to travel on the Foyle Ferry helped make the day that bit extra special for many people, and probably added to the number of people coming to Moville to see the cars.

The rally was led off at around 1.30pm by a 1946 Bentley, with local T.D. Cecelia Keaveney and Acting Mayor of Moville, Jim Bredin as the lucky distinguished passengers. All the cars made their way along the traditional route - out to Shrove and back via Greencastle, while the Sheila McLaughlin school of dancers entertained the crowd at the Square in Moville.

After the cars arrived back they were parked in Square, so everyone got a chance to inspect them close up. More entertainment was provided throughout the afternoon by a marching band from Bellaghy and by popular singing group "Off the Cuff". The Roger Rawdon Memorial Perpetual Trophy was presented to Harry Mullan, of Limavady, who drove a 1947 Hillman. Last year's winner Bill McCurdy of Strabane, who owns an Austin Riley, received a Moville Pottery keepsake as welcome consolation for having to hand the trophy over. Bill has attended everyone of the 30 Vintage Car Rallies!

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