Rae, Summerbell tangle at Dover

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Co-ordinator

Heading into today's Independence of Speed meet at Dover Raceway, St Ann, the major question is if Peter Rae's Mazda RX7 will defuse the famed Mitsubishi Evolution 8 of David Summerbell.

"It is going to be an interesting affair. Peter (Rae) is an experienced driver, very crafty, and his car is really fast. My thing is, will he be able to negotiate the first corner before Summerbell (David), because that will be critical," said Errol Anderson, former president of the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club.

Peter 'Jacko' Moodie, one of Jamaica's all-time top circuit racing drivers, believes that based on previous lap times by both cars, it is unlikely that Rae will upstage Summerbell. He stressed that everything will depend on what the RX7 Mazda is capable of doing today.

"No way! Peter Rae can't beat David (Summerbell). I believe that David is going to just play with him," commented David Rose, one of the die-hard fans, and member of the Bowlas Crew, which hangs out at the 'Gullyside' end of the track.

Dr Don Gilbert, a race driver himself, has been impressed with the significant improvement of the Rae's RX7. "It is very fast, but Rae needs to be more consistent. I don't think he can beat Summerbell," Gilbert said.

Speaking with Automotives recently, Rae said his 21 year-old race car is running like a well-oiled machine. "I tested it recently while en route to the Jam West event, and it felt like a rocket," claimed Rae.

Summerbell has remained calm and cool. "At the last race meet his car was very fast. We are not taking any chances," said Summerbell. The Total Crew has effected some significant changes to the Mitsubishi Evolution 8 and, according to Summerbell, "it should be much faster now".

Today's meet promises to be filled with non-stop excitement. Though he has been experiencing problems with his gearbox, the stout-hearted Alan Chen will be coming to take on Kyle Gregg, who is the the Jamaica Race Drivers' Club 2011 champion driver.

"We are still working on the car," Chen told Automotives last Thursday.

Among the other drivers who a lot is expected of are the Bayley brothers (George and Robert), Charles Chen, André Anderson, Peter Jaggan, Nigel Edwards, Dean Corrodus and Peter 'Bull' Thompson - if his car is ready. "Peter 'Bull' Thompson is always a danger once his car is ready," commented Captain Marck Carey, president of the Jamaica Race Drivers Club.