The Raynor King Memorial stages rally, once popular when run by the Montego Bay Motoring Club, will make a return to the national rally championship series when the event returns to the humid canefields of Frome, Westmoreland, on Sunday, July 21, 2013.
Last held in 2008, the event is a tribute to the late Raynor King, a former stalwart of the Montego Bay Motoring Club, who along with brothers Noel “Bram Bram” and Strathon “Stratty” King, were household names in Jamaican car racing circles, as the “We three Kings” brigade would post impressive results at dexterities, sprints and rallies across the island.
Appoval has been granted from the land owners to stage the event, much of the road preparation work has already been done, sponsorship has been secured from Thrifty gas, Xsomo International and Team Mobay Racing/Tragedy Entertainment, and the organisers are now busy putting together the route books and time sheets for the event.
Best loved because of the smooth, fast and forgiving nature of the Westmoreland canefield roads, Frome has always held a special place in many rally driver’s hearts. Long, sweeping corners, thrilling jumps and fast straights contrasted with several 90 degree turns on the cane field “intervals” all combine to make the event a technical and rewarding day in the sun (and rain) for both competitors and spectators alike.
Here is how the roads look:
“Frome is a very nice venue to run a rally. Fast, smooth and forgiving. If you run off, you just run into a cane field and you drive back on the stage and continue (most times)”, said three time class winner Dean “Duct Tape” Corrodus, who has teamed up with Raynor’s son Daryl and decorated organiser Lawrence Henriques to stage the event.
“This was the first rally I entered”, said Daryl, “and the date coinciding with my late father’;s birthday, I wanted to make sure we had the event this year, as it has been off the calendar since 2008. We’ve been calling a list of drivers to see who is interested, and so far the response has been quite encouraging.”
Rally update:
The event is definitely on.
Sponsored by Thrifty Gas, Pay Now, Team MoBay Racing/Tragedy Entertainment, Tru Juice, ATL Automotive, LHL Collision Repair and the Automotive Performance Centre Ltd.
Special Stage 1 and 2 will be the forward run of the long stage (that had the big jump pictured above).
SS 2 and 4 will be the reverse run of that stage
SS 5 and 6 will be the forward run of the short stage starting at the school and SS7 and 8 will be the reverse run of that stage.
Competitor update:
JA2
1. Daryl King Thrifty Gas Honda Civic FWD
2. Matthew Gore Team Mobay Racing/Tragedy Entertainment Toyota Starlet FWD
3. Marvin Porteous Team Challenger/Spot Valley Toyota Starlet RWD
4. Dean Corrodus R & B Auto Parts/The Automotive Performance Centre Ltd Toyota Corolla FX FWD
JA3
5. Keith Saunders Slick’s Racing Chevrolet Chevette RWD
6. Bobby Marshal Mitsubishi Mirage RS
JA4
7. Thomas Hall Toyota Starlet
JN8
8. Joel Jackson Jetcon cars Subaru Impreza WRX
9. Dave Lee Spot Valley Mitsubishi lancer Evolution VIII
JA8
10. Andrew Balbour K’s Roofing Mitsubishi Cyborg
For further information regarding the event, contact the organizer Lawrence Henriques at 382-4219, Daryl King at 842-8317 or visit the Facebook event page at http://www.facebook.com/events/380386538732983/
