The photo is described on the back as Joe Kelly's IRA at Dundrod June 1951. I knew that in the F1 Ulster Trophy race on 2 June 1951, Kelly had raced the Alta GP3 and that is the car seen to the left of the IRA in this photo. On checking the Dundrod programme, Joe Kelly had indeed entered a 1500cc IRA in the 10 lap handicap race that was run before the F1 race. The programme notes state that "Kelly drives a Riley engined special (called the "Irish Racing Automobile") in the handicap...."
The "Irish Racing Automobile (IRA)" was raced by Kelly in the 1949 Manx Cup race on the Isle of Man but was then described as having Lea-Francis power of 1725cc. In 1950 the IRA was again entered by Kelly in the Manx Cup and as a reserve entry in the Dundrod handicap race but by now with the 1500cc engine.
There are suggestions on the web that the Alta GP3 was later raced by Kelly under the name IRA, but here at Dundrod in 1951 they are clearly distinct cars.
Any more info on Kelly and his "IRA" would be most welcome.
Tony
Edited by taylov, 12 November 2009 - 18:09.