Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) : Pre-Race Activities

If you really want to see what makes a race car go like the wind when the green flag is waved you need to go to the track before race day and observe the preparation. I did just that on Saturday.

I entered the pits a few ticks after 9am. I was met by a spectacular machine. Resting, in slumber mode under a massive white tent was Mark Maloney’s Maxda RX3. It wasn’t exploring its hair raising vocal range, it was withdrawn appearing docile and innocuous. I took a few snaps and moved on.

Dean Shaw’s mini NASCAR truck was being detailed, so I went over to take a look. Tucked away within the engine bay is a 1200cc turbocharged Kawasaki motor rated at 260 bhp. Dean’s truck has very few ponies doing pulling duties (by Dover standards), but he drove fear into the motors of more powerful machines last race meet, so much so that protests were lodged! The secret? It weighs next to nothing!

Joel Jackson’s Subaru will not be found wanting in the ‘sound competition’ but as he said, “That’s the problem, it jus sound good”! As I moved on he was contemplating how to resolve his tire issues.

As Doug Gore rolled in, the mechanics under the Maloney tent acknowledged and spoke among themselves. Doug didn’t waste much time, there was work to be done. Robi, the suspension guru is an approachable fellow but he comes at a price. The tweaking began as soon as the Evo X came off the flat-bed. Being inquisitive, I listened as Doug made comparisons between the Evo V and X as the fine tuning progressed.

Mark Vieira was missing in action at Dover for the 2009 season and when he fired up his RX-8 I was overjoyed that he returned. If you love to hear a pure race car in all its mechanical single mindedness, the pleasure will be all yours when Mark Viera’s machine comes alive. It took to the track and in a blaze of sequential shifts it got acquainted with Dover Raceway.

As I was about to leave in the early afternoon, I couldn’t help but feel as if something was missing. It appeared in a blink – I didn’t hear Mark Maloney’s machine, it was still being prepared under the tent and David Summerbell Jr had not arrived as yet.

Monday is D-Day for the CMRC drivers. We are accustomed to having our races served piping hot and if the machines present are anything to go by, Teams Jamaica, Barbados and Guyana are adequately prepared to deliver the chef’s special – Nail-biting battles!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer