New rules test drivers

Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter

The battles promise to be hot and electrifying on Easter Monday. Only the best prepared and reliable cars are expected to survive the intense rivalry at the Carnival of Speed meet, which officially gets under way tomorrow at Dover Raceway, St Ann. However, the track will be alive today, as the country's top circuit racers will be kept busy this morning, qualifying for grid positions in the respective classes.

Already, testing the limits are on some drivers' minds. "Because of the conditions of the new rules it is going to be very challenging, to erase the record in the Modified Production Class Two event. In spite of the challenges the Total Team is ready; we are coming all out, because we have a point to prove," said Kyle Gregg.

He explained that his car has lost power and is now a bit slower, because of the changes made in accordance with the new rules. It now has a smaller engine and Gregg has gone up in class, to battle for supremacy with Sebastien Rae. "But David (Summerbell) and André (Anderson), the other members of the Total Team, are ready come tomorrow," argued Gregg.

Alan Chen, who now competes in the MP 3 Class, will be a main rival of defending champion André Anderson. Unlike some of his colleagues, Chen is excited about the new rules. "The effect of the new rules has levelled the playing field. Everybody is now in with a chance and I am just encouraging my fans to just come out and enjoy racing," said Chen.

Chris Campbell seems to have sorted out the issues that have been impacting his BMW. "The car is now ready and we are coming to deliver," Campbell told Automotives on Friday.

Meanwhile, Peter 'Zoom Zoom' Rae, with his Epping-sponsored RX7 Mazda, is hoping to continue the trend he has started at the Palisadoes International Raceway with his string of go-karters. At the last race meet, Rae's team of three karters won seven races. "It would be nice to take the chequered flag and maintain the form of Rae's Motorsport," the lanky veteran boasted.

'RX7 will fly'

At the meet's official launch, Rae said his RX7 Mazda will be flying at the Carnival of Speed, which means that he could be the man to upstage Summerbell and Chris Campbell.

The late delivery of tyres from overseas has impacted the Brown's Town, St Ann, contingent. "Only Keith Mills from Brown's Town will be at this meet. The full team will be back for the next meet," said Nigel Edwards.

Also on show tomorrow will be Natasha Chang, George Bayley, Dean Corrodus, and a host of other drivers.

On the track in another capacity will be Bobby Marshall, who will be the one of the drivers of the Kia Pace Cars.

One of the main issues the Jamaica Race Drivers' Club (JRDC) will be focusing on is safety on and off the track. Newly elected JRDC president, Charles Chen, in collaboration with the Jamaica Automobile Association, is currently addressing safety matters. Chen has also invited more than 70 volunteers to the meet, in order assist with making the experience more comfortable for patrons.