The hot summer months brought sizzling action to race tracks across the island as competitors were at full steam in the disciplines of karting, circuit and dexterity in the months of July and August.
Dexterity
Rounds 5 and 6 of the Automotive Performance Centre sponsored national dexterity championship took place on July 8 and August 25 respectively. The first, dubbed “Driftmasters”, was held in the cool hills of Manchester at Master Block Factory in Knockpatrick, where a block making factory was transformed into a drifter’s playpen. Cleve “Cutta Hype” Ottey triumphed with the fastest time in his rear wheel drive, turbo-charged Toyota Starlet, whipping the crowd into a frenzy every time he changed to 2nd gear and shot over the hill unto the skidpad, all the time holding the car in a controlled slide!
Detailed report here: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/auto/-Cutta–is-king_11931137
Maurice “Wurl Boss” Whittingham was finally beaten into 2nd place by Ottey, with Jamar Kinkaid in 3rd place. Tony Fu won the front wheel drive with limited slip differential class in his Team Challenger Toyota Corolla GT, Matthew Isaacs won the rear wheel drive class in his VW Bug, Richard Chan in the Excel Electronic Security Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV won the 4 wheel drive class and Kirkland Billings in a Nissan Sunny won the front wheel drive class.
The series then moved west for Slidelife, Gymkhana Reloaded, round 6 of the competition, staged at ATL Bogue City Centre in Montego Bay. On a Saturday night that saw the country spared the worst from Hurricane Isaac, the inclement weather still had some effect on the attendance, but bode well for the wetting of the course. Kingston resident Christopher “Teach” McFarlane took the spotlight at this event with a sweep of the top positions: fastest overall, fastest 2 wheel drive, fastest front wheel drive with limited slip differential and fastest in the championship run.
Whittingham took back the top position from Ottey in the Rear Wheel Drive with Limited Slip Differential class at this event, where Ottey slipped to third behind Kinkaid, as the St. Elizabeth youngster moved up a notch in the standings. Jordan Powell drove the ATL Unbeatable VW Polo to the win of the front wheel drive class, with Joel Jackson in the Jetcon Corporation Mazda Demio 2nd and Kirk Excell in a Nissan Sunny 3rd in class. Following MacFarlane in the FWD with LSD class were Team Mad Dem Racing’s Ameer Johnson in a Toyota Corolla Levin and MacFarlane’s Stewart’s Auto Sales teammate and mechanic Courtney Wilson who shared the rally prepared Mitsubishi Lancer GT with his mentor.
Complete report here: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/auto/Slip–Sliding-Fun_12382342
Whittingham continues to lead the overall dexterity championship points standings, with 4 more events to go.
Karting.
The Jamaica Karting Association also had two meets in the summer months. The first on July 15 and the second on August 19. Both events continued in the successful trend of the association that has seen close competition across several classes. Members of the Homestead Karting Club competed at the July meet and thoroughly enjoyed the Jamaican experience. Thomas Issa placed 2nd in the US Grand Nationals in the Rotax Jr class and has thus qualified to compete in the World Finals in Portugal in November. Notably also Justin Sirgany placed 2nd in the Rotax Micro class as Jamaican Karters gain prominence on the world stage.
See detailed reports here:
July: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/auto/great-action-at-karting-meet_11988688
August: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/auto/Karting-action-heats-up_12336970
Circuit
The Jamaica Race Drivers Club moved its Independence meet forward to clear any possible clashes with the 50th Anniversary of Independence celebrations across the island, and held a one day meet on July 29. Traditionally the smallest meet of the year, the size of the crowd did not detract from the close competition on the track, as fierce battles raged all day between competitors Kyle Gregg and Alan Chen, Tarik Minott and Gary Barrett, Heath Causewell, George Bayley and Andre Anderson
Detailed report here: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/auto/Total-Summerbell-Racing-takes-Dover-Independence-of-Speed-
Upcoming events
The JMMC Annual General Meeting & Elections will be held on Saturday September 15, 2012 at the Liguanea Club, Knutsford Blvd, Kingston 5 starting at 6p.m. Nominations for officers to form the next Executive Committee for the JMMC to hold office for 2013-2014 are now open. ONLY PAID UP MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO make Nominations and/or to be nominated for positions to the new committee. Nominations will remain open until Saturday September 15, 2012, until the closing of nominations as called by the meeting Chairman. Nominations are to be submitted in writing to the JMMC office at Tank Weld Equipment Building, Ferry Industrial Terrace, Mandela Hwy, Kingston 20 or send in via email addressed to Ms. Nicole Thompson at jamotoringclub@gmail.com. Emails with nomination should read in the subject line “Nomination JMMC Board 2012-2014”. You can also send in your nominations via fax to 934-1288.
The current chairman would like the new executive to be comprised of individuals representing the entire spectrum of motorsport in the island, and as such would like to see motorsports stakeholders join the JMMC and indeed be nominated forand elected to positions on the new committee, to ensure fairness and equity for each genre of the sport. As such, one or two representatives each from karting, circuit, drag, rally, sprint and dexterity are sought to move the ASN into the next term, as motorsport gains momentum through the combined effort of enterprising individuals dedicated to its growth.
Meet #7 for the Jamaica Karting Association is scheduled for Sunday, September 16.
For more information visit www.iriekart.com.jm or their Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/jamaicakarting
The National Sprint Series will journey to the fabled Vernamfield Airfield on September 30 for Overdrive/Vernamfield Rebirth, meet #5 in the six event series. Series sponsor The Automotive Performance Centre in its mandate to spread motorsports across the island will stage a joint meet with a reorganized drag racing fraternity to revive the historic facility that has been the scene of many motoring achievements over the years. Championship Tarmac sprint action will take place starting at 10am intermittently with properly coordinated ¼ mile drag racing between the sprint runs. A fast circuit track will be laid out that will bring out the best in circuit cars prepared for Dover Raceway, as this event is a good test of car setup ahead of the Heroes Day meet. Expect to see a massive amount of cars turn out for this event as Dover regulars as well as rally/sprint contenders grace the high speed circuit and the tyre wrenching, fire belching high horsepower monsters come out to play thereafter. Admission is $1,000 and gates open at 8am.
Assistance for this meet has been gained from Tank Weld Equipments, Team Mobay Racing & Tragedy Entertainment.
For more information on motorsports in Jamaica, call Ms. Nicole Thompson at 934-1288, Email the club at jamotoringclub@gmail.com or visit the club’s website at www.jamaicamotorsports.com or visit our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/JMMC/178228662233660?bookmark_t=page.
