New rules narrow gap

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

With the implementation of new rules governing circuit racing at the Dover Raceway, St. Ann, for the recent Easter Monday meet, the competitiveness seems to be rising.

And after David Summerbell Jr's record-breaking performance, meet organiser Dean Corrodus strongly believes that the rivalry will be heightened even further later this year.

"The new rules were designed to make the races more competitive and give everybody a chance of winning. For me, the Texaco/Techron meet was an exciting event. We saw Alan Chen racing much closer to André Anderson," argued Corrodus.

He also noted Matthew Gore's victory in one of the two Thundersport II events. Gore drove an excellent race to beat Summerbell. "This was Matthew Gore's first win in the Thundersport II," said Corrodus, who stressed that the playing field is now level, so anyone can now upset the apple cart.

He cautioned, however, that drivers or teams with large budgets will still continue to do well.

The big attraction for the upcoming Labour Day meet is the Drifters Invasion. "We will be having five cars - three Nissans, one BMW and a Corolla - out of the United States. They will be driven by US-based drivers with Caribbean connections. This is the first time we will be having a drifters competition at Dover," Corrodus said.

In his post-meet comments, Corrodus explained that both patrons and competitors enjoyed a much better environment. "A significant achievement was gaining access to Alfred Chen's house on the hilltop which overlooks the Dover circuit. We can now cater for corporate Jamaica," Corodud said.

In addition, he said, "persons who used to jump the fence and watch the races from the hilltop can no longer do so."

He further pointed out that the road surface leading to the Dover Raceway entrance has been paved, and there are new access roads to the main road and paddock area to facilitate emergency vehicles. In addition, food stalls, the paddock area and signs have been upgraded.

"We even had Knutsford Express leaving Kingston straight to Dover with patrons. For the May meet, we are looking to extend that service to Montego Bay, also," said Corrodus.

The Barbados Tourism Authority, in conjunction with the Jamaica Race Driver's Club, offered two prize packages - one to a driver and the other to a patron - to attend the Top Gear Festival in Barbados on May 17 and 18.

The winning driver was Summerbell, based on the meet results. A number of drivers tied with maximum points in their class races, but Summerbell's setting of a new lap record of 1:17.557 seconds in the Thunder Sport qualifying session separated him from the pack.

The winning patron was Sydney Adams of Brown's Town, St Ann.