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Pacenotes
60-second interviews Mervyn Wedlock in the November 2010 issue
Birth
Date: 01 January 1964
Lives: Cootehill, Co.Cavan
Navigator: Damien McCabe
Rally Car: Ford Escort Mark 2
Road Car: Toyota Landcruiser
Occupation: Plant hire and civil engineer
Hobbies: "I enjoy soccer and do a bit of seven-a-side
every winter to keep fit, but rallying is the big thing."
Anything else you want to say: "I have to say a big thank
you to Damien McCabe, Ivan Orr, Mark Smith, Gerry Buckley and
Martin Nicholl, as well as everyone else who has helped and supported
me over the years."
Where
did you first get behind the wheel of a car?
"The first thing I drove was a tractor when I was around
11 years old. I also remember my uncle, who was from Belfast,
leaving his car with us after it had broken down on him. My brother
fixed it so we all took turns driving it around. There wasn't
much teaching involved - I just jumped in!"
How
did you get started in motorsport?
"My brother was doing an autocross and he let me drive his
car - a Mark 1 Escort R2000 - around the field. I also remember
my brother taking me out for a spin in a forest. I didn't know
what to expect but I loved it. That gave me the taste for rallying."
What
was you first event?
"I did a night navigation with Alan Moffett in a Mark 1 Escort.
He told me there was a long straight, straight through a crossroads.
We went straight on alright, but it was a staggered junction,
so we went straight into a field!"
How
did you progress?
"I became involved with my brothers, who took me out and
taught me what to do. Then I started navigating for Norman Armstrong
in 1988, and I sat with him for around five or six years. I won
my first rally with Norman, at the Cavan stages."
"I also sat with Trevor Henry but I decided to retire from
navigating in 1993. Then, in 1995, Philip Smith asked if I would
drive for him at night navigations. I told him to get someone
else but in the end I did it, and that's how I became involved
in the sport again."
Rally
highlights?
"Winning this year's Modified Trophy is probably my biggest
achievement. It took a while to sink in. It is a very good championship
- very well run and the clubman were well looked after. Don Wilmont
did a good job and only for him. I wouldn't have signed up for
the championship."
"I told him at signing on at the start of the year that I
didn't want to get involved in another championship. I thought
I had done enough championships over the years but he encouraged
me to give it a go. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have done
it!"
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