Drag Racing : Vengeance 4 – The Beasts Come Out To Play (pt 1.)

I am from rural Jamaica and ‘country people’ are known for their sayings. A very popular one is – when man a plan god a wipe out! As I indicated in an earlier blog, the Vengeance series of drag racing events, gets better with time and for that reason I usually try my best to ensure that I am present for each staging of the event. So there I was, planning to be in Westmoreland, Negril to be exact, from Saturday to watch qualifying and then racing on Sunday. But even the best laid plans, at times do not materialize. The maker had other ideas. I was a bit under the weather on Saturday and had to postpone my little ‘country run’. A friend went ahead and based on what he told me had transpired during test n tune I decided to make a formal request to the supreme being, hoping I would find favour and be granted the strength I would need for :

- the 2-3 hr journey to Jamwest

- the several hours in the sun, that shines on one individual at a time at Jamwest. At Jamwest when you pass through the gates you are given your own sun, which sits immediately above your head for the duration of the race meet

- the 2-3 hours for the return trip.

It was a tall order but worth trying.

Cayman Rivalry

Sunday morning I was a new being, a bit ‘woozy’ but energized by the thought of seeing and hearing the mechanical atrocities I was informed would be at Jamwest. The mind is very powerful and after I successfully convinced myself that I was okay my friends and I headed to the home of reggae icon Peter Tosh – Westmoreland.

Qualifying was actually held on Sunday and got underway shortly after I arrived. The pit area was choked with race cars, to the point where Rhonda had to ask persons to honour the rules regarding the vehicles that were allowed in the pits. It was well known that the 11 seconds class would be an erupting volcano of activity, but a lot of interest was generated in the 10 seconds class with a brewing Cayman Nissan Skyline GTR rivalry.

Xavier Murray

The 9 seconds class sprung a pleasant surprise as well. At previous events Craig Lue was forced to battle with blown (supercharged), nitrous fed American iron in David vs Goliath races but, this time around, a tuner who needs no introduction brought his beast out to play. Xavier Murray woke up from his self imposed slumber and attacked Jamwest with a vengeance. He brought 3 of his M.A.D. creations – Turbocharged DC 5, the lime green AE86 driven by Alan Chen and his purpose built Honda Civic.

Damian ‘Damage’ Allen

One of the highlights of qualifying came in the 10 seconds class. Damian ‘Damage’ Allen, driving the Bay Waata Evo left the line in his usual aggressive manner. Midway the track, the bonnet recognized the importance of weight reduction to a drag car. The bonnet broke free, slammed into the windshield, then started flapping vigorously like the wings of a humming bird beside the driver door and then took flight, eventually caressing the track in the right lane. The average driver would have been thrown off his run, but not ‘Damage’. Adopting a zero tolerance approach, ‘Damage’ didn’t even lift (off the throttle) much less to react, he kept the throttle buried and completed his run, stopping the clock at 10.354 @133 mph! Bonnet, which bonnet?

Windsor Young

Windsor Young (the promoter of the event) pulled a trick out of the bag and finally got the Young’s Service centre sponsored Datsun to complete the 1320ft in impressive fashion. The SR20 DET powered Datsun, with a healthy dose of Nitrous brought smiles of appreciation to the faces of the Nismo fans who now have their heads high with the resurgence of the ‘Pulstars’ (Herbie, Howard and company) and the addition of the GTR’s.

When racing resumed after qualifying …..

Cecil Munroe Jr. Gleaner On-line Writer