Rally School Ireland - Monaghan

[kdevitt]

Haven’t seen a whole lot of mentions of this place, so thought I’d pop this up a a quick recommendation. Went along yesterday for a parents and kids session. Essentially it’s two stages each - I was in the Escort and the nipper went out in the Ka.

When I say nipper - I mean it. He’s only 11 - anyone over 10 can go out. The instructor was immense - just the right type of personality for this sort of thing. My son loved it, had never driven a car in his life - was well able to steer it around the track by the end of the day. The Ka is duel controlled - so he didn’t have to work the clutch at all.

I really enjoyed my laps in the Escort - very different experience to what I’m used to, and again the instructors were really helpful. Ended up with a lunch there which was lovely, had completely missed it on the booking that we’d be fed.

Anyway - if you have a car mad son or daughter it’s a fantastic day out.

[Gav46]

Great place for some fun I’ve been a good few times and took my cub there last year he was 14 and loved it
going by your description I’d say it was Beanie sitting on great character

[Bazg2]

I went twice before, once back when it was a gravel track which was immense fun in the Escorts and a blast in the 2.0l Impreza, went back about three years ago with the tarmac down, it was a greasy morning, no grip in the Escorts, but it started to dry out, had a go in the E30 which was great and then the 2.5 mpreza, I didn’t have the skills to get the best out of that, it’s too quick a car for the tight twist nature of that track imo.

the kids thing is not new either, back at my first outing I recall them saying the a 12 year old was the youngest to life the handbrake on that track, but records are made to be broken.

[kdevitt]

It was dry for almost all our laps yesterday and I still had trouble keeping the escort straight! Actually mentioned it to someone else there that I’d have little interest in driving the more powerful stuff around there - the escort is great craic.

[Tristan]

It's gas they still have the Ka! That's there since it was new iirc. David and the lads love it

[mikerd4]

What's the pricing like for it? That's something I think my 15 year old would love to do (and me of course)

[Bazg2]

It was dry for almost all our laps yesterday and I still had trouble keeping the escort straight! Actually mentioned it to someone else there that I’d have little interest in driving the more powerful stuff around there - the escort is great craic.

yeah the Escorts are great and they have a couple of differently powered ones, there’s also a lhd GT86 which a buddy drove and said was great crack, but I opted for the E30.

the only downside is their “trip switch” on the back little straight, your getting up the speed and they’ll cut the power, obviously a safety aspect but it’s annoying.

[Bazg2]

What's the pricing like for it? That's something I think my 15 year old would love to do (and me of course)

there’s different packages depending on what you want to drive, the more exotic, the expensive....

https://rallyschoolireland.ie/experi...r-enthusiasts/

[kdevitt]

Was talking to the instructor in the E30 in between sessions - its running an M52B28 with some enhancements, so its probably the right side of 220BHP or so, which is a lot of poke for an E30.

MIke - package I went for was €315. Two 'stages' of 6 laps each, and a lunch. I reckon I did well in excess of the 6 laps both times I was out though, and my son was out in the car for a good ten minutes before he even did one lap. Instructor had him practising steering control on one section of the track for a good bit. They were far from stingey when it came to time in the car.

[-MICK-]

I was there many many years ago... like the mid 90's.... I didnt realiee kids could go.... im booking this for sure.....

[Bazg2]

A brief vid of my run in the E30, I was well impressed with my “flick” at the end, even the instructor was impressed and my buddy (giggles)
IMG_3944 by Baz G, on Flickr

[carbs_and_woodchips]

Great place for some fun I’ve been a good few times and took my cub there last year he was 14 and loved it
going by your description I’d say it was Beanie sitting on great character

Beanie is a proper character and a great instructor . Can't recommend this enough, I've been twice. Once in the dry and I though I was getting the hang of the MK2. The next time I went it rained, I wasn't long being humbled.

[Gav46]

Beanie is a proper character and a great instructor . Can't recommend this enough, I've been twice. Once in the dry and I though I was getting the hang of the MK2. The next time I went it rained, I wasn't long being humbled.

Yeah Beanie is a legend he spent ages working with my cub and he improved loads during the day
hi technical instructions are class (Now give her the beans) (Break use them use them use them)

[TuneR]

Was there years ago in late 2000's iirc, back when it was gravel by the looks of things but it was good crack. An ex got me the Escort/Impreza package as a present. I was told i was the fastest on the day with the Escort but i wondered if they said that to everyone as my friend was told the same thing when they went. Anyway it'd be great for younger folk it seems, will keep it in mind when my girls are older.

[kdevitt]

They give you fastest laps times now for everyone who participated - I was third fastest in the Escort, which was a pleasant surprise given I thought I was like something from Dirving Miss Daisy.