Oil surge costs Summerbell regional title - B'dos takes multiple trophies amid J'can mishaps

An oil surge problem with the Mitsubishi Evolution 8 cost Jamaica's David Summerbell the regional drivers' title for this year's Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC), which concluded in Guyana last Sunday.

"We thought we had solved the problem two days before the race meet. Just when it began feeling much faster, the problem recurred," said Summerbell, who lost out by six points to Roger Mayers of Barbados. Mayers gave the Bajans even more to celebrate by establishing a new track record at the South Dakota circuit, where his country also wrapped up the regional title.

According to an experienced Jamaican mechanic, an 'oil surge' means that there could have been bearings failure. It could also be the movement of oil away from the pick-up pipe in the engine.

"Though Summerbell finished second in the drivers' cham-pionship, this is our worst performance in the regional championship since 2006. Next year we will be pulling out all stops," commented Hilary Jardine, president of Jamaica Race Drivers Club (JRDC), who made the trip as team manager.

There are reports that Summerbell attempted to contest the last race of the day, just to secure enough points to stave off Mayers, but his service team could not get the car ready in time.

In the first CMRC event at South Dakota last Sunday, Roger Mayers in his Ford Focus was in pole position, with Guyana's Mark Vieira second in his Mazda RX-8 and Summerbell Jr in third. The Bajan took the race into his hands from the first lap, setting a pace than none could follow.

The battle for the minor places was left to Vieira and Summerbell. The contest didn't last long, however, as Summerbell spun a rod bearing, forcing him to retire from the race. Mayers went on to win comfortably, while Vieira and Doug Maloney finished second and third respectively.

The Jamaicans' misfortune did not stop there as Peter Rae crashed out of one of the CRMC events and, in another race, André Anderson was involved in accident with Vieira.

Still, Rae told Automotives on Friday that "it was really a very good meet".

In the CMRC Superbikes, Steven Vieira, Kevin Graham and Carlos Rodrigues each won one of the three races. Vieira amassed enough points throughout the day to take the 2011 CMRC Superbike Champion title.

Kenrick Husbands surpassed Team Guyana's Chet Singh and Raj Singh, as well as countryman Mark Thompson, in the points standing to win the 2011 CMRC Group 2 Champion title.

The only bright spark for Jamaica was the dazzling performance of Doug Gore and his Audi TT. Though he did not contest the CMRC, Gore smashed the South Dakota lap record on Saturday, November 12, setting a blistering time of 33.386 seconds.