CIRCUIT RACING : JUSTICE FOR DOUG ‘HOLLYWOOD’ GORE? PART 2

At the CMRC event in Trinidad, in June,  multiple CMRC Group 4 champion, Doug ‘Hollywood‘ Gore had what I will describe as an out of body experience. If you are familiar with Doug ‘Hollywood‘ Gore, chances are you are also familiar with his usual flamboyant, jocular demeanor.

So, watching him display TNT tendencies, as he did, to an on-track incident, provides enough evidence to conclude that, clearly, he was overcome by forces which even he could neither comprehend nor control!

As time elapsed, composure was retained and apologies surfaced from both Doug and his team. The damage done could not be shelved though and in a sport which has an established framework to address the errant ways of drivers/teams we knew that a process would commence and the penalties would be applied.

JMMC

On June 29, 2018 the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC) issued a release which indicated that the body was investigating on-track and off-track incidents involving Doug Gore at the CMRC event in Trinidad. The document was signed by the Co-Chairman of the Competition Sub-Committee (CS) Stephen Gunter. My discomfort was immediate.

JRDC

A disciplinary sub committee of the JRDC met on July 4, 2018. The committee determined that ‘Hollywood’ should be fined $50,000 (JA), placed on probation  for a year, removed as the JRDC’s representative to the Caribbean Motor Racing Association and a public apology should be made.

Doug Gore and David Summerbell Jr have been rivals for more years than Google’s search engine can account for! Their battles, which dispense explosive ferocity, with an intensity that only C4 can rival, have created factions of cult-like followers at Dover Raceway.

At times, the bouts and the implications they maintain have led to rather bruising encounters. We can readily and vividly recall numerous incidents involving the machines driven by Doug and David. But, none prior was as devastating as the assault at Jamwest Speedway which saw David’s TA 1 dismembering Doug’s DTM Audi.

STEPHEN GUNTER

The JMMC’s CS Co-Chairman, Stephen Gunter has been a permanent fixture as David Summerbell’s crew chief throughout the duration of each heavyweight title fight involving the two champion-drivers. Stephen Gunter is David Sumerbell’s crew chief.

The hearing to address the matters relating to Doug Gore’s conduct was held by the CS on July 7, 2018. Stephen Gunter sat in his capacity as Co-Chairman.

The JMMC’s CS ruled that – ‘Hollywood‘ should be fined $1000 (US), he should perform community service at 4 schools, he should be placed on probation until December 2019 and arguably the most significant penalty – ‘Hollywood’s‘ competition license will be suspended for the remainder of the 2018 calendar year with immediate effect.

DOUG GORE

Doug Gore, after TA1 demolished his race car, went in search of another potent beast to defeat and upstage the ‘King‘. The machine – a Kia-bred BEAST – thanks to a gang of unfortunate circumstances, has not seen a lap in full-rage mode, but its debut is scheduled to occur in 2018. Stephen Gunter is still David Summerbell’s crew chief.

Did it not occur to the JMMC that Stephen Gunter, despite his post he should not have been a part of the process to determine the penalties to be applied to Doug Gore? No one saw the radioactive conflict of interest?

There is this little thing about justice that Lord Chief Justice Hewart made mention of more than a century ago – “Justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done”.

Impartiality is paramount. And in this case/hearing relating to Doug Gore, Stephen Gunter’s involvement builds the platform from which the argument may be stoutly made that impartiality was compromised!

Do you think Doug Gore was treated fairly?

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer