Ironshore Sprint – A Honda Civic Type R is the fastest car in Mobay!

There are weekends when nothing resembling motorsports happens and we are depressed. We seek the nearest watering hole to swim in our sorrows or at least try to bury them in a bottle which will be selected based on the depth of our restricted pockets! Hennessy anyone?

Then there are those weekends when everything is happening – both local and overseas! Our confusion assumes center stage because we want to attend the local events and watch what is televised also.

If you are blessed with wealth, your difficulty will diminish immensely, when you remember that you have access to recording devices which will enhance your ability to have fun in the salubrious tropical atmosphere – relax at the local event -and then you can retreat to the privacy of your entertainment center, relax on your California sofa, grab a beer and indulge in your passion!

I am not a part of the fortunate club, so I was distraught when I discovered that Formula One’s opening round, in Australia, was scheduled for the same Sunday that the MBMC’s Sprint #1, Screaming Streets, was planning to infuse much needed excitement, thrills and continuous adrenalin into the souls of the petrol-heads who reside in Montego Bay (Mobay).

There was no dilemma, however, my path was predetermined. We were in Mobay by Saturday night!

We drove into Ironshore’s grand prix circuit at about 1pm and machines could be heard familiarizing rubber with asphalt in a bruising fashion! The entry list was not lengthy, but what it lacked in numbers, it provided compensation in quality.

The competitor list had an interesting mix of seasoned veterans, current stars and also upcoming talents. Heavyweights in the building included, Douglas ‘Hollywood’ Gore, Dean Corrodus, Daryl King, Maurice Wittingham, Matthew Gore and the flamboyant Cleve ‘Cutta Hype’ Ottey.

On the asphalt, the battle against the clock was furious. The machines went out in pairs and Chris ‘Teach’ McFarlane went ballistic on the microphone, as he kept the crowd informed of each competitor’s time.

As if conscious of the announcers report, some drivers summoned energy from event-sponsor, Red Bull and the machines attempted to fly! If you saw Daryl King’s 2 wheel negotiation of the hairpin, you would be frightened but impressed at the same time! My light-skinned neighbours would say – Awesome!

We all wanted to see what Doug ‘Hollywood’ Gore would deliver a scintillating drive in his familiar steed – the Mitsubishi Evo X – but apparently, as Jamaicans would say – ‘the Evo did a carry feelings’, still upset about the fact that he has migrated to Audi!

The Evo X awaiting its turn at Dover Raceway.

Doug was at the Start-Finish line, he received the countdown and when he depressed the accelerator and discarded the clutch, the Evo rebelled, not willing to deliver more glory to his former boss! The Evo X died -abrupt mechanical failure!

Cleve ‘Cutta’ Hype, as stated in jest by ‘Teach’, cannot drive in a straight line, but that is exactly why Mobay loves him. His boost-fed Starlet waged a chassis war as he flung the machine like a stone from a hungry boy’s hand chasing a ripe East Indian mango! The ‘rush’ he created when he entered and exited the hairpin was tangible! There were several Starlets in the building and incidentally Jeremy Groves’ machine was also in action, but Cutta Hype is in his own atmosphere.

But, it was a sprint event and time was a major factor. And we all know that time abhors sliding – we love it, but time is merciless. After all the noise, mishaps and acts of bravado as the drivers attempted to be the boss of speed, an unexpected hero emerged.

A member of the ‘lawnmower’ fraternity who has obviously sharpened his tools and is now much better equipped to distribute mayhem, left tongues wagging.

Dean Corrodus shelved his – administrator/promoter/organizer/know it all – caps and re-introduced himself to the Ironshore faithful. Driving under instructions from the text-book, he tutored everyone present.

Dean’s sniper!

The Honda Civic Type R was obviously feeling ‘some type of way’. It, like David, slaughtered Goliath and everybody else who was silly enough to offer a challenge. Who said more horsepower = more speed or better performance? A lesson was taught in Mobay on Sunday and guess what – A Honda Civic Type R is the fastest car in Mobay!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer