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Racing for 'poll' position

Published:Sunday | April 14, 2013 | 12:00 AM
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Othneil Lawrence (right) collects his prize from a Total representative at the recent awards ceremony for the Easter Monday meet at Dover Raceway, St Ann.-Photo by Errol Crosby
Then state minister, transport and works, and member of parliament, Othneil Lawrence (right), speaking with ATL Group's Adam Stewart at Dover in October 2011. -Contributed
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Former MP registers first Dover win

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

He suffered a major loss in the 2011 general election but bounced back to form by winning again on Easter Monday - in the same constituency, but not in the political arena.

Othneil Lawrence did it this time without any campaigning or help from his constituents. All the former minister of state in the Ministry of Transport and Works did was sit firmly in his seat, stave off his challengers, then speed on to register his first victory at the Dover Raceway, St Ann.

Using his regular street car, a Mitsubishi Evolution VI, the former junior minister posted a time of 1:46 to take the chequered flag in the five-lap Improved Production 45 Class event.

"This is a class in which any of the competitors who drives faster than 1:45 per lap they are disqualified. It is so amazing to see people like Othneil (Lawrence) coming out to do what they love best. It shows growth and progress in the sport," commented Christopher 'Teach' McFarlane, president of the Jamaica Race Drivers Club.

He further explains that this is the class where some of the top competitors in the sport started out. Prior to making his debut at the country's premier race track, Lawrence, then member of parliament for North West St Ann, was often observed at Dover, cheering on his favourite drivers while watching the many bumper-to-bumper rivalries and nail-biting finishes.

He has since been transformed from an ardent patron into one of the rising stars in the lower class. This is after a short stint in drag racing during the early 1990s. Apart from the fact that he lives about three miles from the Dover Raceway, Lawrence brags that the constituency still belongs to him.

"I have not quit politics. I'm just here at Dover with my two sons and friends, enjoying myself. I'm still the Jamaica Labour Party representative for North Western St Ann. I am coming to win back the seat for the party," said Lawrence.

The tall, sturdy-looking Lawrence first won the seat in the 2007 general election by 864 votes, beating Dr Michael Whittingham. However, he lost by 968 votes to Dr Dayton Campbell in the December 2011 general elections.