CIRCUIT RACING: SUMMERBELL – BULLIED AND BEATEN! FINAL

PETER MOODIE JR

I heard and watched the TT-R as it went by. I did the same for the other machines in the race. I could tell then, the first time it blew by, that the TT-R was in abnormal mode! I saw Peter Moodie Jr. on Saturday. He was preparing Fraser McConnell’s Subaru. I asked him if he intends to reurn to racing. He said, ” With my money? No. If I get sponsorship. Yes!”

I remembered that he was instrumental in Doug Gore purchasing the DTM TT-R. He reminded me that he went to Germany with Doug when the machine was being considered. He said he did not play a similar role in Kyle’s acquisition of the Radical. But, when I asked him which machine he would compete in if given the opportunity. He did not hesitate. ” A Radical “, he said. I found his response interesting.

While I was comfortably perched on the rocks, I witnessed Doug ‘Hollywood’ Gore communicating with his machine in ways I cannot recall seeing at previous events. They were not separate entities. They were not in a Honda, but they were in one accord! The machine released ravenous, ridiculous speed along the back- stretch. It climbed the gentle rise, a quick breathe on the brakes blended with rapid, sequential downshifts and the chicane straightened.

The machine was better planted than an oak! I cannot recall being that impressed with either the TT-R or Doug Gore’s driving. I checked. I saw Summerbell and TA 1 fighting a yeoman’s fight. I will always tip my hat off to the King. He has and continues to earn respect. But, on any given day, there is not much separating the Thundersport machines – arguably less than a second.

So, when you give Doug Gore a gift, which was what he received in Race 3 (despite being behind Kyle initially) and his driving is at the level of competence and comfort that  I saw from those rocks, there is absolutely no machine at Dover Raceway that can defeat the DTM Audi TT-R! Peter Moodie might be forced to reconsider! The machine he told me was a (real) race-car, when he compared TA 1 and the DTM TT-R, is still the Awesome Champion at Dover!

Some will argue that another side of Doug Gore emerges when he is on-track and possibly he, in a bid to secure his P1 spot, bullied Summerbell in Race 1. All that is debatable. But, in Race 3, at Dover Raceway on August 7th, Doug Gore and the TT-R were on the warpath, blazing a trail with victory screaming from every corner they exited. The King was beaten in Race 3, but his fans will argue that he won Race 1.

I want to see David Summerbell and the TA-1 that competed in Race 1 vs Doug Hollywood Gore and the DTM TT-R that competed in Race 3! Will Kyle Gregg be able to keep up?

Where will you be in October? The Heroes of Speed is next!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer