Above and below: Participants on the 1906 Irish Reliability Trial
running of a very popular event for cars built before the end of 1930, which pays tribute to the famous 1903 race.
The following weekend the RIAC hosted its own 125th anniversary celebration, centred on that recreation of the 1906 Irish Reliability Trial. Just as in 1906, the route echoed a shamrock-shaped journey radiating from St Stephen’ s Green in Dublin. Entrants were flagged away from the Club by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Gayle Ralph, herself a keen motoring enthusiast, and the Irish tricolour used to start the event was the very flag used at the Irish Grand Prix at Phoenix Park in 1929.
A number of the participants taking part in this year’ s Veteran Car Run also took part in the anniversary recreation. These include Philip Bewley( 1897 Léon Bollée Tandem two-seater), Christopher Thomas( Alldays & Onions), Vyvyan Valentine Bewley( FN motorcycle) and Liam Keohane( Durkopp).
Other RIAC 125th celebrations that weekend included a gala dinner on the Saturday night and a more leisurely run through country lanes and charming villages on the Sunday afternoon.
125 years since its foundation, the Royal Irish Automobile Club remains at the heart of all things motoring in Ireland. To learn more about this historic institution please visit www. riac. ie.
Our thanks to the RIAC for their help in compiling this feature and for providing the images which illustrate it.-
Below: Philip Bewley’ s 1897 Léon Bollée Tandem two-seater on the RIAC Pioneer Run, bottom: Heading through Ireland on the RIAC Pioneer Run
create its new home. 120 years later, the RIAC is still proudly operating from the same splendid building, and the clubhouse has long been a famous address in the world of Irish motoring and beyond.
Also in 1906, the Club staged its first Irish Reliability Trial, with the objective of proving the range and reliability of the motor car, in the hope of expanding its adoption in Ireland. Run over three days, it followed a shamrock-shaped route of 130 miles and attracted 28 entries, mainly from wealthy landed gentry, but including fledgling local manufacturers such as Chambers. Competitors departed from Dublin each morning and returned to the Club in Dublin city centre at the end of each day.
June’ s Irish Motoring Week saw a host of activities to commemorate these key events in the country’ s motoring history, and the Club’ s pivotal role in them. Celebrations began with the Irish Veteran and Vintage Car Club’ s Gordon Bennett International Rally, the 50th
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