Harrington samples life in the fast lane
Author: Liam Kelly
Date: 23 January 2008
Website: http://www.independent.ie/sport/golf/harrington-samples-life-in-the-fast-lane-
1271870.html
Padraig Harrington and former Meath GAA team boss Sean Boylan discovered a cure for the flu
recently -- hurtling around Mondello Park in a €750,000 World Rally Championship car.
And the two quiet men of sport displayed their wild side as they zoomed around the circuit .
Harrington, more accustomed to the sedate pace of the golfing fairways, even indulged himself
in a few handbrake turns.
The two sporting personalities sampled life in the fast lane in the MacHale Rally Team Ford Focus RSO5 courtesy of White Oak Golf & Equestrian Community in North Carolina. White Oak is a luxury development where Harrington has his US home, and they are the MacHale team's main sponsors.
Boylan, for so long the driving force behind Meath's Leinster and All-Ireland teams, was the highest bidder for the the outing at the Renault sports awards charity auction in December. He also had a special interest as the principals behind White Oak are Kinsella brothers from Meath.
Leonard and Gene are partners in the project, while Justin and Paddy Kinsella are architects on the project's development team.
Interesting to note also that Austin MacHale, another partner in White Oak, is a cousin of ex- Meath full-back Mick Lyons.
Harrington and Boylan couldn't have been in better company for their chance to burn some rubber.
The MacHale name is legendary in motorsport and dad Austin, and sons Gareth and Aaron, all competed in the World Rally Championship held in the North before Christmas.
Hi-tech
Gareth MacHale introduced Harrington to the thrills and experience of the hi-tech Rally car. First he briefed the Open Champion about the car and its technical aspects which include its 400 brake horse power and use of modified aviation fuel. Then it was time to suit up, get the helmet on and hang on for dear life as Gareth took the champ for a spin.
It was a real blast for the golfer: "The speed and braking ability of the car is incredible," commented Harrington. "We were really on it from the outset."
Clearly, the Dubliner couldn't wait to get behind the wheel.
When he took to the driver's seat of the ex-works Ford WRC, Harrington's sporting ability was soon evident as he began to find his way with the car and he got the thumbs up from Gareth.
"Padraig really adapted to the car quickly. Within a few laps he was up to full speed and was really pushing the car through the corners. Hand-eye co-ordination is a critical part of rallying as well as golf and Padraig certainly has the skill," said Gareth on completion of the first set of laps.
Harrington spent over an hour driving the car and mid-way through the session, he had settled into a rhythm and had even tried a handbrake turn or two. "I really enjoyed the day and most of all the opportunity to drive this amazing car. I hope I get the chance to drive it again soon," said Harrington.
Padraig was so enthusiastic that at one stage Austin MacHale quipped to Boylan: "We'll have to get Padraig out of the car soon because he'll want to buy it."
Then it was Boylan's turn. "Padraig and I were like two kids," he said. "We had a great day. Definitely this experience brought out the secret side of me. It was just fantastic.
"Both of us had a touch of flu that day but we soon forgot about it. The G-force when you take off is just so strong that if you weren't strapped in you'd be fired out the back of the car!
"And you'd have to marvel at the expertise of the MacHales. Their skill and confidence in handling the car is amazing.
He added: "They can do anything with the car and it's as if it becomes part of them when they get in behind the wheel."
A team from PGA Tour Productions travelled to Mondello to film Harrington's Rally Car debut and will feature his 'alternative' sporting activity in a future episode of Inside the PGA Tour on the Golf Channel.
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