The Triton Showers National Rally Championship swings into action on Sunday next with the Claremorris based Mayo Rally, the first of the eight round series. Letterkenny woman Laura McMenamin is the registrar for the series. Very often, it’s a role that many people don’t realise it actually exists, yet its highly important.
Laura’s parents Ivan and Cynthia Fuery are steeped in motorsport and need no introduction, so it was really no surprise that Laura became involved. She explains. “Rallying was part of normal day to day life in our house. Before an event, the house would have been like a rally office, it would be full of people coming and going all day. Then the rest of the time people would always be calling to get their membership (Donegal Motor Club) and licences sorted.” Laura had an early induction to the sport, understandable it’s not a vivid memory. “I can’t say I remember the first one I saw, but apparently I was taken to my first rally (the Circuit of Ireland) when I was six weeks old.”
She is far more definitive as to when her involvement in the National Rally Championship, began. “I first got involved in the championship back in 2005, Joan Gallagher (another Donegal woman) was registrar at the time and had asked me if I was interested in getting involved so I went to a couple of events with her that year to see what was involved and I took on the role as registrar from 2006.”
Laura explains the role. “It is everything from helping the championship chairman (currently Declan Tumilty) with plans to organise the championship, dealing with social media and preparing the championship booklet, promoting and speaking to competitors to see if they are interested in contesting the championship, dealing with the clubs and preparation for each event.”
Obviously, rally weekends are busy. “Registration is completed the evening before and I deal with all the competitors, answer any queries in relation to the championship, then make sure they have their championship decals on their car prior to leaving parc ferme.”
She added, “We also try to keep social media very active on the day of the rally and try and speak to as many of our registered competitors. We attend the finish ramp celebrations and return home where I complete the social media round up for the day.”
Of course, there is still the most important part of the task to be completed. “Normally on Monday nights after an event, I work out the points for each competitor, it can be time consuming and in some cases it takes a few more nights.”
Even before the final round, Laura and the championship chairman and committee are organising the awards night where another season comes to an end and before she knows, Laura will be back on the roads around Ireland to begin yet another championship journey.
