CIRCUIT RACING: THE REAL HEROES OF SPEED – THE FANS! PART 2

Doug Gore went to town during Race 1 when braking issues ceased Summerbell’s forward motion. Summerbell grabbed a pit-stop and returned with a fire-trail in Race 2. The Audi TT-R was stunned by a TA-1 grenade along the back straight. The demolition allowed TA-1 to dismantle the TT-R before the chicane. Doug’s misery was heightened when Kyle Gregg slipped by, a few meters from the finish line!

DTM TT-R

Race 3 saw a rejuvenated Doug and his DTM TT-R. Amalgamated points meant Summerbell started behind his rivals. Kyle Gregg leapt from the start like a rapacious panther in Radical-guise. But his ambition and his pace exceeded his tyres ability. His machine, when prodded violently by an anxious right foot, reacted similarly when exiting corner 1.

A romantic encounter between Kyle’s right rear tyre and an erect guardrail was avoided by a yet to be found whisker. The chasing TT-R did not reply to the invitation. Doug sped by. David Summerbell, trapped by the pack of jostling machines, had no option but to engage seek and destroy mode. And based upon revelations in Race 2, the evidence indicated that the goal was attainable.

TA-1

I can still hear fans commenting on TA-1′s pace along Dover’s start-finish straight – “TA-1 a travel!” But, I have said it before. There are times when Doug Gore and the TT-R arrive at a state which can only be described as unison, resulting in harmonious, unbeatable speed. They achieved it at the Independence of Speed and again during Race 3 at the Heroes of Speed.

Summerbell and TA-1 were executing remarkable feats, but Doug and the TT-R existed at the same, if not at a higher level. The chase was on. The gap, like a spendthrift’s bank account, was shrinking. Would we witness a TA-1 drone-strike?

But, it was not to be. The TT-R remained steadfast and indestructible – P1! TA-1 hesitated in the heat of the battle (pun intended) and had to settle for a testicle-damaging finish.

Doug Gore currently retains the advantage. He won more races than his rivals. Big up Hollywood, maintaining the West’s respect. Maurice Whittingham and arguably, Dover’s ‘biggest driver’ Chippy – Mr Addison – were also in the building

PETER MOODIE SNR

Essentially, circuit racing, like reggae is in our dna. Ask Peter Moodie Snr – a god walking! He is someone who should definitely be honored! At the Heroes of Speed, while I was standing on the hill, close to Pinky’s Bluff, I wandered into the fan-experience during TS Race 2.

Words are my companions, but even they will fall short to convey the invasion of sheer joy, relentless excitement and raucous, unencumbered emotions which were visible, audible and at times, virtually tangible, when Summerbell was purposefully eradicating his opponents as he made his way forward to challenge Doug Gore.

When TA-1 finally locked the TT-R’s diffuser and eased into an overtaking stance at the beginning of the back straight, the foreshocks which rocked Pinky’s Bluff are still being examined by seismologists. Your life should be filled with memorable moments. Race 2 – Dover Raceway – Heroes of Speed, in the general area of Pinky’s Bluff, the fans revealed the true significance and meaning of circuit racing!

FRASER McCONNELL

To the JRDC, David Summerbell Jr, Doug Gore, Kyle Gregg, Gary Barrett, Nicholas Barnes,Brian Shor, William Myers, Joslyn Crawford, Mario Woon and all the competitors who made the 2016 circuit racing season possible, we say thank you. Big up to Fraser McConnell – 2016 Drivers’ Champion and Kyle Reynolds – 2016 Riders’ Champion.

But, please allow me to say, that for their continued support and their blind, forceful loyalty, we salute the real heroes of speed – the fans!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer