Circuit Racing:Natasha ‘Chiney Dolly’ Chang and her Honda Civic – a formidable pair!

I spoke to Natasha shortly after she took a dip in the treacherous Dover waters in May (Caribbean Invasion). When I saw the car during qualifying, I am still not certain what it was about the car why I had a particular interest in the car. The fact that I saw it on Lyndhurst road, several months before, at Victor Brown’s place, in its infancy, might begin to provide an explanation, but I will not explore further. Back then, it was just a regular, stock, black, underpowered Honda Civic EG, awaiting transformation.

I would, when I passed through the ‘shop’, check on the car to see the progress. Yes, my AE86 went to the same doctor, so to me, the EG was family. Then one day I went there and it was gone. The next time I saw it, it was at Dover (May), posing like an accomplished racecar. What was once a dull, lifeless EG was now a vibrant, colorful, potent weapon. I approved.

I called Natasha some time after the race meet to make arrangements to take a few pictures of the car. She was her usual jovial, gracious and cooperative self. She explained, when I spoke to her, that the car would be going under the surgeon’s knife, yet again, to further the evolution process and as such I had limited time within which to operate. I aligned my schedule to accommodate the time constraints and I was allowed to take the pictures at the machine’s home base, ATL Motors on Hagley Park Road, the day before surgery began.

In the days leading to the Independence of Speed event in July, I was informed about the official launch of Natasha’s race car. Like a parent at a graduation ceremony I was present and excited. After the formal sentences left the lips of the few speakers, the fabric given the responsibility of clothing the untamed, but sedated beast, was withdrawn by sexily clad ladies. Did I say I was excited?

Fabric tossed aside, the racecar, which chief engineer, Raj Jadusingh stated was the most technically advanced of its kind ever built in Jamaica for MP1, appeared. It instantly displayed the elevated level of superiority normally brandished by owners of Honda motorcars. I was impressed.

During the launch, Natasha said she was aiming for 1:29’s. A few days later, during practice at the track, I asked her what times she was doing and with a broad satisfied smile she said 1:28’s, first time out! Despite hiccups during the event, Natasha left her mark and the MP1 grid and others took notice.

Natasha’s machine.

Fast-forward to October, the event is now the Heroes of Speed. I am standing on the rock formation at Pinky’s Bluff. Natasha is starting at the rear of the pack. As the convoy passes on the warm up lap a male said something to the effect of – ‘look out fi di girl’, others around him agreed. When the race began, quicker than hot metal through butter, Natasha knifed her way through the pack. The men and especially the women on the rock, at Pinky’s Bluff, discarded their sanity as they cheered! The men were shouting in conversation with each other – “di gal can drive” – the women were screaming -” Natasha!” It was fun-filled pandemonium on the hillside. Trapped in the carnival atmosphere I concluded that Natasha and her machine were now a formidable pair.

Natasha’s performance at the Heroes of Speed raised a few eyebrows – a protest was lodged. I actually learnt about the protest against Natasha’s machine after the event (from a friend). I called Raj and asked what was happening. I got a detailed account which concluded that the machine is legal for the class(es) it competes in. I was forced to revisit what the lead engineer said during the launch –”this car is unlike what is usually built locally” and to that I will add – the gal can drive!

What do you think about Natasha ‘Chiney Dolly’s performance during the 2012 circuit racing season?

NB. Gal, as used above, should be taken for what it means in our local dialect – girl/woman – and not in the distasteful context which individuals who prefer to ignore the language of the people would suggest it means!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer