Cork Motor Club came into existence in 1976. That was the year a group of enthusiasts got together in Blarney, Co Cork to give birth to what was then, Irelands newest motor club. Unlike most newly formed motor clubs of the time, Cork Motor Club was founded, not by a group of enthusiastic beginners, but by a band of highly experienced people who saw the need for a club with a fresh outlook on motorsport in the Cork area. Within a short space of just six months, Cork Motor Club boasted a membership of some 140 eager members.

The majority of these have been and in some cases still are, members of other motor clubs in the country. During the this first year of 1976 Cork Motor Club did not run any major events but club members were nonetheless kept busy through organising social functions and marshalling on other club's events throughout the country. Indeed it was through marshalling that Cork Motor Club first made its existence known to the rallying public. On the 1976 Circuit of Ireland Rally, Cork Motor Club members set up and marshalled two of that events Special Stages, one at Borlin and the other at Gortnagane. Banners and Cork Motor Club stickers proclaimed the presence of the "Cork Mob" and a trophy was presented by the club to the competitor who set the fastest time on the Borlin stage.

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It was indeed fitting that it was a Cork Motor Club member, one Billy Coleman, who was presented with the trophy before the Monday start from Killarney. It was proud moment for all concerned - Cork Motor Club had arrived. The first Annual General Meeting of Cork Motor Club took place in 1976. A board of directors was elected and included Dick O'Brien (RIP), Chairman, Declan Mullally, Brian Mattsson, Michael 'Bones' O'Connor, Chris O'Mahony, Dick O'Rourke, Dave Bogan (RIP) and Billy Ryan. Almost immediately plans were set in train for the running of Cork Motor Club's first major event, the West Cork Rally. An organising committee was set up under the direction of Clerk of the Course, Declan Mullally, to whom the job presented nothing new, Declan having run the "Cork 20" for the previous few years. Declan was ably assisted by 'Bones' O'Connor (Assistant COC), who had clerked the Moonraker Rally since 1975; Dick O'Brien, another former "Cork 20" Clerk of the Course; Dick O'Rourke, Clerk of the Course of the 1976 Circuit of Munster Rally and Dermot Locke, who was described at the time as the next best thing to a computer as far as results were concerned.

The 1977 West Cork Rally was the competition beginning of what we feel is Ireland's best motor club. Club Meetings are held every month at the Eire Og GAA Complex, Cork. More info can be found at www.corkmotorclub.com