Rally: Carnival at the National Stadium!

Rally Jamaica 2009 – Part 1 of 2

A little while back, at the end of a sprint event at Vernamfield, I saw Jeffery Panton talking to Gary Gregg. I should point out that this was after Gary Gregg embarrassed the field with his superior machine – Ford Focus WRC. Jeffery was driving a Hyundai at the time, a car which simply did not measure up to Jeffery‘s skill level. They spoke and lo and behold, Jeffery was given a test drive. He went to the top of the sprint circuit and went through the gears as he completed a familiarization run.

Based on what I saw, I knew then, that it was only a matter of time before Jeffery got his own Ford Focus WRC. Winners enjoy winning.  Jeffery got a Ford Focus WRC shortly after and with it his resurgence began and he secured victory at Rally Jamaica 2008.

Gary ‘The Colonel’ Gregg is no fool. Don’t allow his cool demeanor to mislead you. Gary kept his cards to his chest. The Colonel went for the jugular. He acquired a new ride. Remaining with the tested and proven, Gary snatched another Ford Focus WRC. How about a Ford Focus WRC 2005!

Celebration
Rally Jamaica had its last two timed stages at the National Stadium and what was obviously a competition, a race, was transformed into a celebration of awesome machines, skillful drivers and hardworking teams.

Rally sport fans were filing into the viewing areas when I got there a little before 3:30 pm, for stages that were scheduled to begin a bit after 5pm. The atmosphere in the pit area was alive with stories being shared about the day’s events, cars receiving a bath and final prep, refreshments all around and spectators busy snapping photographs.

Junior ‘Fletty’ Barnes was beside himself with unrestrained excitement when he saw a photograph of his Bay Wata Evo IX airborne, on one of the Tru Juice stages. “Mi want dat” he said, referring to the picture.  The camaraderie at rallies is worth mentioning and it was prevalent at the stadium. Drivers walked around chatting, laughing, comparing notes and stories. It was a real party atmosphere, a carnival of sorts, not one that you would normally associate with a race.

Incidentally, the two cars mentioned earlier, Gary’s and Jeffery’s Ford Focus WRC cars were parked next to each other, while both drivers were engaged in a conversation under a tent.

After the clerk of the course gave the green light, the stages began and the machines were given the go ahead to entertain and make their teams proud. The fans came to see a show and the drivers did not waste much time to deliver what was expected of them.

Part 2 -Thursday.

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer