Circuit Racing: Car of the year – Part 2

As we welcome the transition from one year to another, it would not hurt to reflect on 2012. Were the goals decided at the beginning of the year realised? If they weren’t, what was responsible for the lack of accomplishment and how will these obstacles be overcome in the near future?  It would be prudent though to do a honest assessment of things past, in a bid to make informed adjustments to ensure progress.

Whatever color, shape and form, the picture that your reflection arrives at adopts, never lose sight of this most salient point – there is always a lot to be grateful for! As brilliant as we think we are, we are still at a loss regarding what the next second brings. We, in no way, control the next moment. So, for each of those next moments we are granted, we should be thankful and wish nothing but love for our Jamaican brothers and sisters!

Honda

The issue at hand, however, is the car of the year. I have chosen Chiney Dolly’s Honda Civic. I will tell you why. For reasons not yet determined, men have an obsession with horsepower. The bigger the number (horsepower) the faster the car! Like cows to slaughter, local petrolheads were led to accept this uninformed view. Want to win races? The answer is simple – increase your horsepower!

When most ‘name-brand’ drivers need a new race car, do they think of acquiring one here (in Jamaica)? No! Who does that? Anyway, to shrink a long story, more horsepower and foreign-made were regarded as two of the key ingredients for the winning formula. Then came a petite, rather attractive young lady with designs on winning races at Dover.

ATL Automotive

She acquired a Honda Civic and set wheels in motion that have revolutionized the circuit racing thought process. With the assistance of the ATL Automotive team and Rajendra Jadusingh, a machine which could be classified as anemic in the horsepower department, was built. But despite the absence of fire-breathing, missile-packing horses, the MP1 class was served notice, when, on its first outing, the machine assisted its charming pilot to 1: 28s around Dover’s 1.6 mile challenge in July! How was this possible? I bring your attention to ATL Automotive’s press release (July) -

This race car was built on local soil using the brainpower and abilities of individuals who are actually Jamaicans – strange but true. This machine was so impressive, a protest was launched disputing its eligibility for the MP1 class! With careful thought and implementation the impossible is easy!

Ladies and gentlemen, 2012 was an interesting year. I learnt a lot. Father, forgive me for my transgressions, there were many, but my resolve to do better has strengthened immensely. To 2012, we say goodbye and to 2013, we say – flat, shift next to the redline and victory will be mine!

Thank you Rochelle Marshal.

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer