Circuit Racing: Kyle ‘Speedy’ Gregg

At the JRDC’s circuit racing season opener in April, at Dover Raceway, I spoke to Kyle Gregg who was standing with his car as the machines assembled for the opening ceremony. My talking to him was not by chance, it was deliberate. I was interested in having a closer look at his machine but, more importantly, I wanted to ask him about his performance during qualifying.

Kyle leaning on his machine. Easy like Sunday morning!

Qualifying sets the tone of the race. It (qualifying) rewards the quick with a favorable position to start the race and shows a heart of stone to the slow. During qualifying in April, Kyle Gregg, competing in MP2, unleashed a torrential downpour of speed which drove fear into the transponders! Kyle was lapping Dover’s 1.6 miles at space shuttle blast off pace – recording 1:27s’. The unfathomable aspect of his pole-seeking rampage was this glaring observation, he was driving a 2000cc, naturally aspirated Honda Civic!

When I spoke to him on the grid, he was his usual jovial, nonchalant self. So there I was, enquiring, seeking a logical outline of how he tricked the clock. And what was Kyle doing? He was complaining that the car wasn’t behaving as expected, suggesting that it was skipping/ bouncing as he turned in, which caused him to lose a lot of time! Incredible!

Kyle’s lap times may be incomprehensible, but not unexpected. Kyle Gregg has motor racing in his genes, his shirt and possibly in his shoes! He is son to the reserved, soft-spoken, multi-Rally Jamaica winner, Gary ‘the Colonel’ Gregg. The Colonel may sit unnoticed in a room, but he wields an aura of serene invincibility, when he steps into a race car. The Colonel’s motor racing spec sheet, will confirm victories on several surfaces and in different disciplines. So, if he intends to secure his inheritance, losing is not an option for Kyle! Lol!

A proud father, Gary ‘the Colonel’ Gregg with son Kyle.

In 2009, Kyle condensed his karting experience and drove on to the big stage, Dover Raceway, competing in MP1. His rookie status apparently enhanced his resolve and the treatment meted out to his opponents, can only be described as aggravated assault!

Driving his Murray’s Auto Development (M.A.D.) and NG Racing prepared Honda Civic, he embarrassed more seasoned drivers with an all or nothing, rev to oblivion approach, that saw him taking the class championship, at his first attempt!

The first time may be argued to be a fluke, so to confirm the presence of exceptional driving ability in his DNA, he repeated the act and snatched the title again in 2010.

He has not missed a shift for 2011 thus far and despite competing in a different class – MP2- his arrant dominance of his class continues.

As we would say – full tilt!

Incidentally – some time last year, I saw Kyle driving TA1. When I saw him, he was driving from corner 1 to join the other race cars for the opening ceremony. David ‘King’ Summerbell Jr was in the seat-less passenger compartment.

In a conversation I had with Kyle at his office several months ago, without flinching, he stated that one of his goals for the 2011 season is to defeat the ‘King’ and take the overall driver’s title! Time will tell. It may not happen this season, but if Kyle’s development continues at the frenetic pace it has now assumed, it is my view that the writing is not only on the wall, it is also on the track, in his Honda and everywhere the word Champion can be written, Kyle ‘Speedy’ Gregg will claim that title. Kyle Gregg’s crown awaits!

Nb. Photos 2 and 3 were contributed by Mikey Spice and Omar Munroe.
Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer