Mr Tin Top or Mr Single Seater?

Richard with his newly lived car ahead of the opening round of the 2021 Formula Sheane championship. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Many race drivers are often pigeon holed for being a 'Single Seater' or 'Tin Top' drivers. They are usually judged on their performances in the category they have had most success, even if they have had tried both forms. Therefore they usually are not regarded as an all rounder. 

This is far from the case. Going back in time from the 1950's to the 1970's many Grand Prix drivers raced in F1, sportscars, touring cars or even the odd rally when time allowed it. Of course those times are very different than today and F1 and other top level motorsports are a world away from club racing that most of us only truly know the ins and outs of. That said the principal is the same. If a driver is an all rounder it means that they could be quick in any type of car. 

Here in Ireland in recent years Barry Rabbitt switched from years of Uno, Punto and ITCC racing to single seater and winning the Leinster Trophy twice in doing so. Kevin O'Hara is as quick in a Formula Ford as he is in a sportscar. 

Richard with his newly lived car ahead of the opening round of the 2021 Formula Sheane championship. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Another to follow in these similar steps in Carlow man Richard Kearney. The Leighlinbridge native has put in a long stint on the tracks of Ireland and even across the water at times. Originally known for being a 'Tin Top' man he has now earned the same reputation as a 'Single Seater' man after taking the Formula Sheane championship in 2019 ( No Championship in 2020 due to Covid-19). 

As many youngsters first taste of racing comes by start out in karting it wasn't the case for Richard. " I first got into motorsport really through following my dad Dick around as a toddler when he raced hotrods, I never really did any karting and it wasn't until I came of age I began racing saloon cars in Mondello Park." 

Fast forward twenty years and Richard is still as keen on the sport today as he was when as young seventeen year old, who set out in his Fiat Uno to see if he could get good at this racing lark. Good he did get as the move into the MKI Fiat Punto class brought him his first championship glory. He came close to matching that in the new Abarth class in 2005 but the highest he got in the championship was third. No mean feat as competition was high in that class. Richard also got several Phoenix Park wins to his name where some would swap a title for the prestige of a park win.

Richard with his newly lived car ahead of the opening round of the 2021 Formula Sheane championship. Photo: Barry Cregg.

" I went from Uno's then to Punto's and Abarth's but took a break for a four or five years before coming back to racing in the Formula Sheane class. I wanted a new challenge and that is why I really went for the single seater class." The transition from closed wheel to open might sound appealing but not as easy as going from open to closed wheel as Richard found out. " I found it difficult at the beginning but I just stuck at it and practiced and tested, but there were many points where I thought did I do the right thing? It worked out in the end but I got there quicker than I thought and what others thought too." 

Richard leads the field into turn one during the Punto race at the 2012 Phoenix Park Motor Races. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Richard on his way to winning the Punto race at the 2012 Phoenix Park Motor Races. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Richard on his way to winning the Punto race at the 2012 Phoenix Park Motor Races. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Why the go for the Sheane class? " I tried a wide range of cars but for me the best bang for your buck was the Formula Sheane class and they are not too expensive to run and I enjoy them." Retired for now class stalwart Brian Hearty also helped Richard in his thinking of staying with the Formula Sheane class as many a battle on track converted into help and advice off it. " Brian Hearty couldn't have been more supportive to me from the moment I went into the class until he finished up in it. A serious competitor on track and take your life in your hands when battling with him but off track you couldn't find anyone that could help you more." 

Richard leading Brian Hearty in one of their many battles on track. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Now that Richard is the current champion and the one who they all want to beat, that in itself sure is motivation to go for the title again but who does he think will the opposition come from? " Oh there are plenty of lads out there still and as quick. Young Philip Sheane is very quick and will be a thorn. Paul McLoughlin, Derek Roddy are also there, any of the top five really, its very close out there." 

Richard on his way to taking pole position for the opening round of the 2021 Formula Sheane championship. Photo: Barry Cregg.

The Covid pandemic has hit racing hard again this year with a later start than the normal month of March when racing usually begins with. The launch of the new ICCR series has it added to the race day for the competitor? "You don't realise how much you miss it when you can't do it. Just to be able to go and do a practice session is great to settle you down. The new ICCR seems to have given racing the shot it needed and the changes made are heading in the right way and hopefully when spectators come back they come in large numbers." Richard also plans to do a few races in his Legend this year so the ties to 'Tin Tops' hasn't completely gone. 

Richard in action while in the lead which he was to loose due a faulty rose joint during the opening race of the 2021 season. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Like all competitors the racing is only part of the weekend and never fully tells the whole story of how things went overall on each event. While down in the program to compete in Mondello one weekend, there was no sign of Richard or any of his crew at the track. While the rest of his competition were busy testing, qualifying and fettling theirs chariots before race time approached poor Richard and his band of merry men were stuck in their truck at the infamous narrow bridge that crosses the River Liffey coming into Carragh village. When freed and at the track they found that qualifying had gone by but they had a chance still of salvaging something from the weekend by at least starting from the back of the grid. Their efforts didn't go in vain as Richard bagged a couple of podiums that weekend which at least softened the blow to repairing the damage to the truck. 

So will 2020 bring more of the same as 2019 did? " I hope so it will be hard but I will be trying and I'll see after the opening weekend goes as I'll know where I am then." The opening round brought a mixed bag for the Carlow man who was quickest in qualifying but bad luck and a bad front rose joint dropped him from the lead to third in race one and a bad start in race two lost him the chance to get a win but a second place to add to his third in the opening race have gave him a good haul of points from the first two rounds of the Formula Sheane championship.