Circuit Racing: I am David Summerbell Jr!

I am a proud product of the Caribbean. I am from a culture where we make maximum use of the nothing that we have. Thankfully, the Jamaican experience I dived in while growing up in a rural setting, has served me well and it has forced me to appreciate that we all have a role to play in the shaping of the future, for the generations that are waiting their turn to leave their imprint on the history of ‘the rock’.

I say all of that to say this – at times we are totally ignorant of the impact we have on the lives of others and as such we should recognize those who have achieved immensely, but they are still human and humble enough to show respect to those around them and take the time from usual bustle to share with people they hardly know.

I am in no way qualified to introduce David Summerbell Jr., Stephen Gunter and others of his ilk are more equipped and familiar with his history and as such are more competent to complete a delivery worthy of the individual we have come to refer to as ‘the King’. Having said that, let us all agree that despite his limitless achievements in motorsport at the local and regional level and in Stephen’s mind, he (David) had the inherent attributes required to claim success internationally if he had gone that route, but, that is another story – not this story – David Summerbell Jr has remained grounded and has played the role of  a faithful servant to his fans.

David ‘the King’ Summerbell remains an individual who has that – come and speak to me countenance – he has the humble-giant poise. We can count, in less than five seconds, the few who have achieved in motorsports, at the level which David Summerbell resides. Despite his royal lineage, his fans and admirers will never hesitate to ask him a question, hail him, or just let him know that they will be cheering from ankle to head top when TA1 rolls out! His ever widening smile when he greets a fan is contagious and apparently it creates a comfort zone his female fans enjoy – the embrace usually tightens in proportion with the smile! If you spend enough time in the paddock, you will lose count of the individuals who hover near to his pit-bay just to say hi, shake his hand and for the fairer sex contingent, force a hug and a squeeze!

His dominance is undeniable, he is loved by a wide cross-section of the Jamaican motorsports family and if I didn’t realize it before, I was informed in bold, but humorous language, by a youngster whose mannerisms belie  his age, about Summerbell’s pervasive reach.

When the race-program ended on Sunday, I was standing in the paddock next to a race-car. Three extraordinarily happy youngsters ran towards the race-car, their playful eyes darting everywhere except in the direction in which they were heading. When they were about ten paces from the machine, the shortest of the three, who could not have been much taller than an upright ‘old school’ Red Stripe beer bottle case – the cardboard type – applied his air brakes and pointed to the Scary Movie-mask image on the car which was used to represent Neva Scared Racing. The words stumbled from his mouth as he said, “Whoi, Ghost!” His facial expression and body language extracted instant laughter from everyone who heard.

Speaking almost in a chorus, they asked multiple questions about the car – did it race, where did it place, who was the driver, etc. I couldn’t help myself – lost in their voices and abundant energy – I was for a moment, compelled to revisit when I was their age. But, that thought was quickly discarded when the MC – yes the shortest of the three – took center-stage.

Every crew has a joker and he made it clear that he directed all the laughter! He was about 3 feet high (not tall), about 5 lbs on the chubby side, with bright, gleaming eyes and he had a skin tone that honors our African heritage. During the discussion relating to which car/driver at the track was the fastest, etc. he took two steps back and said in a bold, judge-serious tone – “A me name Summerbell! Summerbell a di fastest ting dung ya! Laughter erupted again!

It struck me at the time, but it didn’t reverberate then, until much later. A youngster hanging out with his friends, having a wonderful time at the race- track, totally oblivious to the Syrian and any other conflict in the world! Despite his tender years, he was not only able to recognize success and achievement in the shape and form of David Summerbell Jr, but he was also able to identify with it and desire it as his own. In David Summerbell Jr. he saw himself, someone who was successful at what he did and someone who he would not only want to become, but he was. David’s success was his success – “A me name Summerbell!” A simple sentence crafted in Jamaican creole, but with profound implications. The adults who were present and listening, all had a good laugh as his show continued.

Possibly I was stunned by his pronouncement and listening too keenly as his face illuminated when he spoke about David because it  didn’t occur to me then, but I should have asked him if he has ever spoken to David or if he has ever met him. I am certain it would be an epic episode if he got the opportunity to meet or speak to David. The influence ‘the King’ wields is immeasurable and the fact that youngsters embrace him as their role model, especially in the current Jamaican context – a society that yearns for leadership and worthy role models –  only strengthens the position that we must honor him, celebrate all that he has accomplished and in our own way, allow him to understand how many lives he has touched.

Before the youngster’s show came to a close, he left us with a gem -” Yeah, Summerbell a di fastest ting dung ya, but when the Audi come, im caan even see whe it tun!” Classic! I will make it a point of duty to look for him at the next race meet!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer