Circuit Racing: Inexpensive race cars in Barbados

I was looking at a few pictures recently, attached to the following caption/title – Digicel, Williams Industries International Race Meet – Lime by Digicel Barbados. The lime was 1 of the many promotional events held for the race meet scheduled for this weekend at Bushy Park.

As I looked at the pictures I couldn’t help but think that I was being reminded of a concept – the inexpensive race car. In this the modern era, race cars are fire breathing monsters, saturated with an endless supply of horsepower and appropriately attired in carbon fiber garments.

Grassroots race cars

The promotional event had several pictures which were pleasantly surprising. I was most appreciative of the abundance of ‘Grassroots’ race cars. The pictures made the point that motor racing is not restricted to the bloke who can sign a blank cheque and have a Porsche GT3 left at his door step. On the contrary, the pictures confirmed that motor racing can be enjoyed by anyone who clings to the emancipated allure racing or driving gives and this feeling can be had without an enormous expense.

That said, at the lime, the old Escorts, Toyotas and others of that hue, posed as true race cars and stood menacingly, next to their younger but much more powerful siblings (the big budget race cars).

The lesson is simple. If you really want to race, if this is something you are passionate about, do not sit with a blank sheet of paper trying to conceptualize, fund and build that 12,000 horsepower Formula 1 type race car you think you will need to win a championship. Instead begin with what you have, get the little jalopy race ready and compete for the sheer thrill competing gives and as you progress, you may set sights on our own TA1, or a Mark Maloney special (RX3).

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer