Spectacular classic cars converge on Murrisk

Spectacular classic cars converge on Murrisk


80-year-old cars wow crowds in Murrisk

Murrisk
Edwin McGreal

Three of the most expensive vintage cars in the world stopped in Murrisk last week as part of a tour of Ireland.
Three Bentleys, each over 80 years old, stopped at Campbell’s pub in Murrisk on their way along the west of Ireland and attracted hundreds of interested people.
The most expensive of the trio was a striking 1929 Bentley Speed Six, the model of car which won the 1930 Le Mans 24 Hour race. Similar models have sold for close to $3 million (€2.3 million) and the model which visited Murrisk was in near perfect condition.
With a 6.5 litre engine, the car has 250 break horsepower and can reach considerable speeds despite its years and the heavy weight of the car.
“Today’s cars get in the way,” joked owner Joel Laub, from Las Vegas.
Joel and his wife Kim took the tour to Westport and Murrisk to visit his lifelong friend Kevin Devitte.
Kevin, a native of Vegas, is based in Westport, where he’s married to local woman Carmel Carroll and the couple run a hair salon on Mill Street in the town.
With the Laubs were two English couples, Chris and Val Kingsbury and Terry and Wendy Taylor. The Kingsburys had a 1929 Le Mans 4.5 litre while the Taylors had a 1930 Blower.  
There were a couple of other local vintage cars on the tour as well but the three Bentleys were the stars of the show at Murrisk, where they were based for a couple of hours while people called to look at them and take pictures.
The Bentley owners are members of the exclusive Benjafilds Racing Club, which has less than 100 members and membership is dependent on having one of these rare Bentleys.
Kevin and Carmel were treated to a spin in the Speed Six and Joel was willing to give others a spin if they wanted but as Kevin says, ‘amazingly no one asked’, Mayo people showing a rare penchant for shyness.
“Joel and Kim say the nicest response they got anywhere was in Westport and Murrisk,” Kevin told The Mayo News. “To take a spin in it is unique, it is hard to believe the power that is in a car that is nearly 85 years old. It was a real joy to travel in it.
“Joel’s car is one of the finest examples of Bentleys in the world and people wonder why he would spend so much on a car but his reply is ‘you would pay that much and more for a piece of art and have it on the wall. I’d rather drive my piece of art’,” recalled Kevin.
After Murrisk, the tour went to Galway and they stayed at Glenlo Abbey, outside Galway city. They left Ireland for England yesterday (Monday) from Rosslare.
The Laubs’ Bentley which was in Murrisk is based in the UK while they have over 20 other vintage cars, including more Bentleys, in the US.