Kris Meeke and his brother Barry will drive two unique rally cars from the workshops of their father Sydney Meeke and will be in the line-up for Déjà vu Tralee on Saturday, May 28, one of the highlights of the Kerry Motor Club’s 50th anniversary year.
The former Citroen and Toyota World Rally star Kris and his younger brother Barry will drive one-off creations of their father Sydney who famously provided cars for Irish rallying legends such as Bertie Fisher, Billy Coleman, and Stephen Finlay.
Sydney had the foresight to realise that the Mk II Escort’s reign was coming to an end thought it might be fun to house Opel Manta 400’s bits in the newer booted version of the Mark III Escort, and so the Meeke Orion came into being.
THE MEEKE ORION
Bertie Fisher debuted it in Lurgan Park, the World Boxing Champion Barry McGuigan drove it on the Lakeland Stages and Stephen Finley later bought the car and fitted a 2.4 litre Hart engine in it.
The Orion has now been reacquired by Barry to add to his growing collection of cars and memorabilia from his family’s distinguished rallying past and will be driving it in Tralee.
THE MEEKE PROJECT X
The Meeke thinking cap was on again in 1996 when Sydney, anticipating the advent of the new World Championship Kit Car regulations, dovetailed a two-litre fuel-injected engine into an Opel Corsa shell and added the four-wheel-drive system from a Vauxhall Cavalier that he had been preparing for a Spanish off-road Championship.
Only twenty examples were needed to satisfy the FIA’s new regulations, but sadly the Opel factory pulled out and Sydney’s lone Project X only saw action in National and Club events.
Kris, accompanied by his father will drive the one-off car, on its first appearance since a complete ground-up rebuild.
DEJA VU TRALEE WILL HELP RECOVERY HAVEN CHARITY
All profits from the 150 car motoring extravaganza will go to the cancer support house, Recovery Haven Kerry. After the 10.00am start in the Mall in Tralee the cavalcade will circulate the Dingle Peninsula in a clockwise direction taking in classic old Circuit of Ireland and Tralee Rally stages before returning to The Rose Hotel at 4pm. in the late afternoon.
Full details with entry forms are available at www.rpm-motorsport.com
For further information contact:
Dr. Beatty Crawford – dbeatty5@hotmail.com or Alan Tyndall – alan@rpm-motorsport.com
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Kerry Motorsport News 