IRELAND'S classic car season is now well under way, with a huge variety of events based around vehicles from yesteryear happening pretty much every weekend.
A case in point is the return of the annual Retro Cannonball charity road run, which this year will involve a procession of 100 classic cars convoying down the east coast of Ireland from Co Antrim to Co Wexford.
Drivers will be setting off from Belfast's Titanic Quarter at 10am on Friday June 10, with the public invited to come along to check out the mouth-watering selection of retro metal that will be on display.
Unlike the Burt Reynolds' Cannonball Run movies from the 1980s and the 1970s 'outlaw' US road race which inspired them, there's no cash up for grabs on the Retro Cannonball – and thus no need for these Cannonballers to risk life and limb by breaking the speed limit in order to ensure they are first across the finish line.
Instead, participants will be cruising from place to place while raising funds for The Hope Foundation, an Irish charity working with street children in Kolkata, India.
Set to arrive in Belfast from next Thursday evening, Retro Cannonball 2022 entrants include a Lamborghini Diablo, a Jaguar E-Type, a Ferrari 328 GTS, some beautiful Mercedes-Benz SL classics, a Lancia Beta, a BMW 635CSI, a Porsche 911 Carrera and Porsche 911 Targa, an MG Midget, a Ford Escort Cosworth, a Chevrolet Corvette, a classic VW Beetle, a Ford Thunderbird, a Mini Cooper and more.
"We are welcoming cars from the golden era of the 60s,70s, 80s and early 90s to take in stunning drives and many famous Irish landmarks," says Cannonball founder Alan Bannon of the Galway Bay Brewery sponsored event.
"Classic cars not only appeal to car lovers, but also to lovers of engineering, design, art and history. They retain an incurable romance and that is the reason why people will always love classic cars."
After setting off from Belfast, the Retro Cannonball classic car convoy will be travelling onwards from via the A2, passing through Bangor at around 11am followed by Groomsport and Donaghadee, then onwards to Millisle before leaving the A2 just prior to Ballywalter at approximately 11.20am.
The cars will then drive to Newtownards for approximately 11.30am, passing through Comber and Downpatrick to arrive at Newcastle at 12.30pm for lunch at the Slieve Donard Hotel.
At 2.30pm, the Cannonballers will make their way towards the ferry at Greenore to Carlingford and then take the first overnight pit-stop at Naas in Co Kildare.
On Saturday June 11, the Retro Cannonball convoy continues down the east coast through Glendalough, the Wicklow Mountains and the Blessington Lakes to finish in Wexford town centre at 6.30pm.
Registration is also now open for Retro Cannonball's sister event, Cannonball Ireland, a supercar run which will take place from September 8 to 10. See cannonball.ie for full details.
