Guess what I saw?

With specific jobs come particular perks. Some perks carry monetary value others don’t but, they are perks nonetheless. One (such perk) which is of significance here relates to having information about activities/events long before it hits the streets. Having inside info, an exclusive, etc. is what individuals in the media live for.

If you read car magazines or follow happenings in the auto industry, you may notice that individuals are always trying to take snapshots of cars yet to be released – spy photos. With race cars it is no different. We all want to see what the race cars look like, before they are unveiled to the public or before they hit the track. An inexplicable force drives our inquisitive quest or as we say in Jamaica ‘we jus faas’!

Blame it on whatever chugs your boat, but, that is how we are and I embrace my roots of which I am proud. So imagine my glee when I stumbled upon a highly classified photo-shoot of David Summerbell’s 2010 Dover machine, TA1. You must understand that I have to tell you this now because the official unveiling will take place tonight at the Jamaica Pegasus at 7: 30 pm, so after that, this will no longer be an exclusive.

TOTAL

A major sponsor came onboard some time last year in the shape and form of French company, TOTAL. Despite a new entity paying the bills – that is what a sponsor does- the car still retained most of its original colors. That was then, this is now. At a location which is no stranger to feats of speed – the National Stadium – the machine TA1, relaxing under cool pre-afternoon skies, was appropriately positioned for a series of snaps. The typical show of force normally associated with TA1 was temporarily shelved and replaced by a diffident lass.TA1 the blushing model was red all over!

David, obviously concerned about how the car will be received by the fans asked – “How does it look?” I responded by saying that it looked good, too pretty to be racing, to which he responded, “That is what we want to hear.”

Come to think of it, I must share a light hearted moment. As we strained to push the car ‘uphill’, onto the trailer after the photo shoot (4 grown men), a task at which we were failing miserably, a friendly, crystal clear female voice said – “I will go around there” (to help push). I will not say whose voice it was, but I found it rather funny because there we were, grunting and groaning under the weight of the car and the damsel recognizing that we were in distress, was willing to chip in! Don’t worry about what she actually did. It’s the thought that counts!

TA1 has a new wardrobe with new livery and with Samantha’s blessing (her name is on the spoiler) all some people may see is a red blur as it blows by, or a red speck as it blasts away in the distance.

NB. The official launch of the 2010 Circuit Racing season at Dover Raceway takes place this evening at the Jamaica Pegasus (March 19th) at 7:30pm.
        
Cecil Munroe Gleaner On- Line Writer