Gore takes battle of the Dougs

Tash-Shanna Tugman, Gleaner Writer

Although beaten convincingly by Jamaica's Doug Gore at last Sunday's Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) meet, 66-year-old Barbadian Doug Maloney has earned the respect of the Jamaicans with his awesome display in an Audi A4 Quattro.

The meet was held at the Dover Raceway, St Ann.

A retired banker, Maloney is the oldest circuit racer currently contesting the CMRC. Still, Maloney took the fight to Doug Gore and almost won the battle in the third CMRC Group 4 event.

Immediately after the drivers got the green flag, the Barbadian made a bold move on the outside and almost assumed the lead while approaching the first corner. However Gore, with his experience, took charge and put the Audi TT in front before they actually completed negotiating the sharp bend.

"That car is one of the fastest cars in the region. It is extremely fast, and if Doug (Maloney) was much younger, who knows what?" commented Gore, who responded to questions about the the Barbadian's bold move.

Sporting a smile as he emerged from the driver's side of the Audi A4 Quattro, Doug Maloney explained how he became hooked on motor sport. "I started racing in 1969 at a motorcycling competition that the bank where I worked hosted. Some friends had invited me, and that was when my love for racing began," Maloney told Automotives while relaxing in the pit area at Dover.

That has led to three generations of motor sport enthusiasts in the family, including Doug's son Mark, and grandson, Zane. They recently received an award in Barbados as the top 'Sporting Family'. Doug's grandson, Zane, at age nine, won the national go-kart championship in Barbados for that age group.

According to the supertouringregister website, Maloney's now famous car was originally sold to Brad Jones Racing for use in the 1996 Australian Super Touring Championship, where Greg Murphy used it to take third in the series. It was built in 1995.

In 1997, the car was sold to a Europe-based team. Where the car was used during this period is not currently known, but it is understood it spent time in Finland.

At some point, the car was acquired by Kyle Chura, who sold the car in November 2002. In early 2003, it was bought by California- based ex-NATCC team Neuspeed, which completely rebuilt the car and fitted it with a turbocharged engine.

In 2004-5, the car was run in the Dutch Supercars Challenge by Steve Hirst and Ric Wood.

At the end of 2006, the car was sold to Doug Maloney and shipped to Barbados. Since 2007, Maloney has regularly competed in the Barbados Auto Racing League and the CMRC, while the car has consistently been further modified. During 2011, it acquired wider wheel arches and extra boot-mounted radiators.