Rory Daley

Friday, February 01, 2013

CHRISTOPHER ‘Teach’ McFarlane was elected president of the Jamaica Race Drivers Club (JRDC) at its annual general meeting at the Liguanea Club, St Andrew, on Tuesday.

McFarlane takes over the organisation’s reins from Captain Marck Carey, who has held the position since December 2011.

McFARLANE… I want to improve spectator, competitor and sponsor participation. (Photos: File)

“I was nominated. I accepted and ran unopposed,” McFarlane told Auto.

The JRDC is responsible for circuit racing, primarily at Dover Raceway.

McFarlance, who is no stranger to motorsport, unveiled a 10-point plan to build on the foundation left by the previous executives.

“The first six are improvements. I want to improve spectator, competitor, and sponsor participation. We must strive to increase communication in all areas of the club and with our external partners,” he said.

He also wants to see talent within circuit racing get boosted through previously unused channels.

“The Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC) has the option to bring FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) professional training to the island and we’d like to exploit that to raise the level of our hardworking marshals,” he said.

With JamWest Raceway in Westmoreland now ready for its first full season of racing, McFarlane sees this as a chance for drivers to move ahead as well.

“I’d like to change the image of the club from primarily promoting Dover events to one more of developing drivers and the sport in general.”

Christopher McFarlane driving his Mitsubishi Lancer in a recent competition
.

McFarlane plans to put forward mechanisms to lower costs to teams while increasing competitiveness.

The 2013 JRDC executives include: Norman Minott, vice-president; Don Thompson, treasurer; Monique Gibbs executive secretary; Cressmore White, Silbourne Clarke, Raymond Donaldson, Captain Marck Carey.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/auto/McFarlane-heads-JRDC_13529249#ixzz2JexotZ9b

From the Jamaica Gleaner

J’cans Receive Top Regional Awards

Published: Sunday | January 27, 2013 0 Comments

Jamaica Automobile Association head Earl Jarrett (left), Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club president Peter Clarke (second left), go-karter Joshua Sirgany (second right), and Dover’s 2012 champion Sebastian Rae (right), at the FIA Americas’ Award ceremony in Panama City, Panama, on Saturday, January 19. -Contributed
Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

A section of the large crowd which gathered at the five-star Rio Hotel, Panama City, Panama, last weekend, reportedly erupted into loud cheers when three Jamaicans were announced as winners at the prestigious FIA Americas’ Award.

Dover’s champion driver Sebastian Rae, head of the Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA) Earl Jarrett, and 12-year-old Joshua Sirgany, Jamaica Karting Association (JKA) Driver of the Year, were recognised by affiliates of the Federation of International Automobiles (FIA) for their major achievements in 2012. Jarrett was honoured in the Mobility category.

The ceremony was held on Saturday, January 19.

“It’s wonderful. It’s a great honour to receive this award and to represent Jamaica at the international level. It has motivated me to try and win it again next year,” said young Sirgany.

His parents, Ricky and Tina Sirgany, said they got goose pimples when Joshua got up to receive his award. “It was a great feeling of accomplishment,” Ricky described the moment.

He said at least one country has since extended an invitation to his son to compete in their domestic events. “Venezuela has since invited Joshua to come and compete in the Easykart series, which begins next month. Lack of sponsorship might impact us, because we have plans for him to continue competing at the Florida Winter Tours,” Ricky said.

excellent experience

Rae believes the occasion may open new doors, not only for him, but for other Jamaican drivers. “It was an excellent experience and an honour to be among the top drivers in the Americas. This has motivated me to continue to strive as I proudly represent my country. I’m grateful to my supporters, sponsors, family, friends, and all those who have helped to make this grand achievement possible,” Rae said.

Peter Clarke, president of the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club, which is the local affiliate of the FIA, is a happy man. “It was an honour to see Jamaicans being recognised at this prestigious award. Locally, it will now enhance more collaboration between the JAA and motorsport,” Clarke said.

President of the world governing body of motorsport the Federation International le’ Automobile (FIA), Jean Todt, is currently in Jamaica along with a top level delegation comprising regional vice presidents of the FIA including Mr. Jose Abed of Mexico.

Mr. Todt and his party arrived last night by private jet as a guest of the Jamaica Automobile Association, FIA representatives in Jamaica for mobility, and along with the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club, FIA representatives in Jamaica for motorsports, was hosted at a breakfast meeting this morning at the Pegasus along with various stakeholders in jamaican motorsports.

Addressing the gathering were Minister of State in the Ministry of Toursim and Entertainment Hon. Damian Crawford M.P., Mr. John Lynch, Director of Tourism, the Jamaica Tourist Board and Dean Corrodus, Chairman of the JMMC.

Attendees included event host Earl Jarrett, Chairman of the Jamaica Automobile Association, Duane Ellis, General manager of the JAA who chaired the function, Neil Williams, president of the Jamaica Karting Association, Gary Gregg, 2004/2005 National drivers champion and successful circuit competitor, Peter Rae (successful circuit driver), Peter Moodie Jr (2011 Jamaica Karting Association champion driver and former circuit, sprint, dexterity and rally competitor), Hilary Jardine OD, JP,( immediate past president of the Jamaica Race Drivers Club), Errol Anderson (immediate past chairman of the Jamaica Milennium Motoring Club), Winsor Young, (Operations manager in charge of track operations, Jamwest Enterprises) and other stakeholders and club executives from the motorsports fraternity.

The delegation is scheduled to meet with the Governor General of Jamaica Hon. Dr. Patrick Allen, the Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister Hon. Natalie Neita-Headley, pay a visit to the Usain Bolt track at UTECH, have lunch with Road Safety stakeholders at the Mona visitor’s lodge before passing by the Palisadoes International raceway before their departure this afternoon for the Dominican Republic, one of six stops on their Caribbean tour.

Two major historic achievements were recorded in the annals of Jamaican Motorsports for June 2012, when Jamaica’s second dedicated circuit racing facility at Jamwest Speedway in Old Hope, Westmoreland, had its first exhibition circuit event coupled with the third meet on the drag racing calendar on June 24, in addition to the first sanctioned championship event at the new Farmville track at Thetford Great House in Church Pen, Bushy Park, St. Catherine on June 17. The annual renewal of the Raynor King Memorial Rally on June 24 rounded out the activities for June.

Sprint championship

Thetford Great House (left) and view of the track

Round 4 of the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club’s national sprint championship took place at the Farmville track at Thetford Great House in Church Pen, near Bushy Park, St. Catherine on Sunday, June 17. The event was extensively advertised using TVJ, Irie Social (Asafa Powell’s social media promotions company), the electronic media, thousands of colorful flyers distributed on motorcades and promotions at all preceding motorsports events. Regrettably, inclement weather was to affect his event, as after months of drought, mother nature provided soothing rain for a parched land on the day of the event, rendering what was billed as “Dirtmasters” into what was more accurately described as “Mudmasters”. Nevertheless, the nineteen competitors that took to the course in a variety of vehicles ranging from a 175cc dirt bike to a 2000cc turbocharged 4wd Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution certainly made the most of it.

King, Powell and Gore

Spencer Whittingham was crowned “The Dirtmaster” by virtue of his blistering fastest overall time of 1 minute 24.84 seconds set on his third run which also gave him the win of the JN8 class. The JA2 class was won by Daryl King, the JA3 class by Dean Corrodus, JA4 by Thomas Hall, the quad races by Lenin Thompson and the bike races were a clean sweep for Kyle Reynolds.

Full report here: http://www.facebook.com/notes/dean-a-g-corrodus/dirt-masters-jmmc-sprint-4-report/10151809642795332

Circuit & Drag

The Jamwest Speedway in Old Hope, Westmoreland was abuzz with excitement on June 23 and 24. On the drag racing scene, American Stanley Albritton powered Dean Shaw’s 1,500 horsepower, methanol fed, supercharged V8 Chevrolet Camaro down the quarter mile to beat Bryn Morgan’s turbo charged V8 rail dragster for the win of the 8 second class.

Albritton (left) and Morgan

Other class winners were:

9 sec: Damian Allen -Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III

10 sec: Kenrick Baker -Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III

11 sec: Herbie Edwards -Nissan Pulsar GTiR

12 sec: Kevin Archer -Toyota Corolla Levin

13 sec: Andrew Palmer- Honda Integra

14 sec: Overton Grant -Honda Integra

15 sec: Christopher Sukhu -Honda CRX

16 sec: Darin Virgo -Toyota Hiace Super Custom

Powell (left) and Clarke

Jordan Powell (R & B Auto Parts Toyota Glanza) and Ricardo Clarke (Big Rat Auto Toyota Corolla) took the inaugural wins of the two exhibition circuit races that were held. Competitors Peter “Zoom Zoom” Rae (Peter Rae Motorsports Mazda RX7), Dean “Duct Tape” Corrodus (Automotive Performance Centre Ltd Honda Civic Type R), Dean Shaw and Dieter Wilson (Amsoil Prochallenge trucks), Richard Chan (R&B Auto Toyota Corolla FX), Saeed Mohammed (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III), Peter James (Big Rat Auto Toyota Corolla) and Vivian Mitchell (MAD/Innovative Auto Parts Honda Civic Type R) were the first drivers to officialally test the new 1.8 mile circuit, and along with Douglas “Hollywood” Gore who drove his daily driven Audi A4 Coupe as the pace car, all gave rave reviews of the high speed track. Chief Steward and Jamaica Race Drivers Club (JRDC) scrutineer Rajendra Jadusingh also gave the track the thumbs up as safety features outlined by the Competition Sub Committee of the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club were implemented to bring the track up to the specified safety requirements before its first official use. Since then, Marck Carey, president of the JRDC has visited the track and reports that television and photographs do not do the venue justice, as he was thoroughly impressed with the facilities, which include four large, covered spectator stands, restrooms that look like they came from a north coast resort, expanded parking areas, new admission booths and additional food vending areas.

Peter Rae’s Mazda RX7, ¼ mile dragstrip and Damian Allen’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution on the launch pad.

Jamwest Speedway

Rally

The Raynor King Memorial Rally that had been rescheduled from Mothers Day, May 13, was run on June 24 using a single stage location in Lydford, St. Ann. Richard Rerrie/Winston Dawson driving the Leroy’s Auto Glass/Scott’s Auto/Petcom/Advance Performance Parts  Subaru Impreza WRX Sti won the event in a time of 25 minutes 20.709 seconds ahead of Matthew Gore/Raymond Farquharson in the Summer Flex/Tragedy Entertainment Toyota Starlet (26:57.460) and Macklin and Dominique Peterkin in the Valvoline/Kinn’s Auto Subaru Impreza WQRX Sti Spec C (27:07.590).

Rerrie/Dawson

Gore/Farquharson (left) and Peterkin/Peterkin.

Of the nine cars that started the event, seven were classified as finishers, with the teams of Thomas Hall/Dmitre Dawkins (Toyota Starlet) and Peter Jaggon/Victor Handal (Jaggon’s Gases/IGL Subaru Impeza WRX) rounding out the top 5.

Upcoming events:

Driftmasters, the fifth event in the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club’s National Dexterity championship, takes place on Sunday, July 8 at Masterblock factory in Knockpatrick, Manchester, starting at noon.

Multiple dexterity champion Maurice “Wurl Boss” Whittingham, Cleve “Cutta Hype” Ottey, Dennis “Krossbreed” Bicarie, Kingsley “Soljie” Scott and Ian “Big Red Truck” Wright to name a few will be competing for trophies and championship points in five categories.

The sprint event (Overdrive, JMMC Sprint #5) originally scheduled for July 15 has been rescheduled to Sunday, September 16.

The Jamaica Race Drivers Club will stage the third event in the 2012 circuit racing championship dubbed “Summer Heat” on July 28/29. Action will be seen in several categories including Bracket 45, 38, 32 and 27 as well as Modified Production classes 1 to 4 and Thundersport classes 1 and 2.

http://go-jamaica.com/pressrelease/item.php?id=405

Rally Jamaica 2011, December 2-4, 2011: Twenty Years Celebration!!!

3 Days of Fun Filled Motorsporting Action. AN EXCITING EVENT IN MOTORSPORT. The Caribbeans largest gravel rally spectacular!! Come and experience an adventure of a lifetime, comfortable, and worry-free. We look forward to showing you OUR world COME HAVE fun on the island known as “JAMROCK”.

The organizers of Rally Jamaica 2011 invite suitably qualified members of the Jamaica Race Driver’s Club and the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club who have competed in 2011 to enter the Festival of Speed downtown Kingston 20th Anniversary Superspecial stage of Rally Jamaica on Sunday, December 4, 2011.

Competitors must complete the rally entry form, pay a nominal entry fee of Ja$2,000.00, be in possession of a valid JMMC Competition license for 2011, wear the approved safety gear required for all speed events and have a vehicle that is compliant with the Thundersport Class 1 or Class 2 requirements as outlined by the JRDC and must have competed in a JMMC speed event or a JRDC circuit event in 2011.

Entries are limited to 20 competitors who will be afforded two timed runs of the course. Awards will be presented for this section of the event in the two categories listed above i.e. Thundersport Class 1 (0 - 2300cc) and Thundersport Class 2 (2301cc - unlimited) with corrective displacement factors applied. Please see the technical regulations of the JRDC available elsewhere on this very same website or at www.jrdc.org for further information on vehicle classification and safety requirements.

For further information, contact Larry Henriques @ 382-4219 or visit www.rallyjamaica.com