Circuit Racing: David Summerbell’s near miss – Part 1 of 3

When I went to JRDC representative, Lisa Williams, to collect my arm-band/pass for the Heroes of Speed race-meet, I asked her to ensure that the one she gave me allowed access to the press designated area – the press box. A request to which she replied – “Everyone wants to go to the press box”. That may be true, but there is logic guiding the madness. The press box facilitates a unique advantage. The fact that it is located on the tower, at the center of the infield at Dover Raceway, allows an unencumbered view of most of the track. This assists immensely, if the intention is to report accurately and devoid of bias, events as they unfold.

I do not know if it was by design or coincidence, but, as the cars went to the grid for Event #10 on the schedule – JUST BET Modified Production Classes 3 & 4 - one of Jamaica’s wealthiest sons, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart arrived. Event # 10 was significant because the star attraction at Dover Raceway, Doug ‘Hollywood’ Gore and David ‘King’ Summerbell Jr., the 2 protagonists in our circuit racing suspense thriller, were positioning themselves for their first major face-off since TA 1′s meltdown in August.

As the helicopter locked lips with the helipad for its seamless transition from air to ground, race fans scurried like demented ants, trying unsuccessfully to flee the grass-laden tornado the gigantic swirling blades of the helicopter whipped up. As freshly cut blades of grass clung to the ascending dream of the Wright brothers, JRDC President, Hilary Jardine OD, made his way to meet the business mogul. The press scrum came next.

Butch Stewart sharing a light moment in the press box (Do  you recognize the lady he is talking to?)

As the cars darted left and right, preparing, but restrained, behind the pace car, the anticipation was tangible, the conversations innumerable and the voices rang with uncertainty. The tension was as thick as thieves! Legs which were bent before for the previous races were all extended. Chairs, steps, cardboards, were all vacant. Dover Raceway was on its feet.

Audi DTM TT-R

The starter demanded two attempts before he sanctioned the event and when he released the green flag, Doug’s Audi DTM TT-R went scalp-hunting. Doug won the battle to turn 1, taunting TA1 as he sped towards turn 2.

Somewhere in a trained cellar of my mind, after 2-3 laps, I surmised that despite David’s best efforts, Goliath would claim victory. TA1, in my view, didn’t have enough for the TT-R, so I did something I cannot recall doing during a ‘big race’. I went for a leisurely stroll. I wandered into the pits. My eyes were not prepared for what I saw and in that moment my brain’s hard-drive crashed! I was on unfamiliar ground, scenes from Sigourney Weaver’s, Aliens and Will Smith’s, I am Legend, flashed by repeatedly.

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer