Speed Promotions Circuit Racing - 8th April 2001

Article by Nebert Marin
Photography byDuane Boodasingh, Rawle Francis, Narend Sooknarine and Nebert Marin

Congratulations are in order for the organizers at Speed Promotion for their first event of the Carib Stock Car Racing Series 2001. The event was well attended and the race program was tight with no noticeable voids.

Title sponsors Carib Lager Beer was ever present with their beautiful Carib Girls. They ought to be proud about the large spectator turnout. No doubt the Chutney Bangout competition attracted a large segment of auto enthusiasts, but the die hard gear heads aim to convert those audiophiles without being converted themselves.

The weather was perfect for circuit racing and the first race was very exciting, especially for third position, with the Busta car battling it out with the Tampico Sentra. Both drivers traded positions at the top and bottom corners which demonstrated very clearly just how important it is to drive the proper line when entering and exiting a corner using braking techniques to out-corner other competitors. In the end the Busta car managed to get the correct formula and finish the race in third. Tanko Baboolal took first place with Greg De Verteuil in second. Last year's champion Gordon Gonsalves was unable to finish as he was forced to retire with engine troubles. Silbourne Clark came out in the second race with a car that placed 5th in the first round and took the checkered flag.

Fast cars and pretty women were the order of the day. The atmosphere was pumped and the sweet perfume of racing fuel and octane boost mixed with burnt rubber settled over the pit area as anxious teams waited for the upcoming races.

The restyle and re-tuned Classic Motors Honda Type-R turned heads as it led for most of the modified production race. Tuned by Tola's Engineering with a new driver this year the Type-R Civic formally driven by Classic's Rikard Asbjornson is poised to dominate its class.

Noticeably absent was Daniel Ramoutarsingh who usually campaigns a stock car in the Carib Series and a Mitsubishi Colt in the modified production race. Diamond Star (Mitsubishi) fans are waiting to lock horns with the Honda camp hoping to answer whether V-TEC or MIVEC rules. Less than friendly rivalry no doubt.

American marketing guru's have long recognised the power of using motorsport marketing as a solid business tool to boost brand recognition and brand loyalty. Forward thinking, local brand managers are turning up the heat on their competitors on the track. Traditional automotive products are not the only items being advertised in this exciting atmosphere. Sponsors include beverage manufacturers, fashion designers and radio stations.

The star of the day was undoubtedly Franklin Boodram in another Tola tuned Honda, sporting a highly modified, fire breathing 1800cc V-TEC engine. This modified production car annihilated bigger, faster, GTU built-to-order racecars. Jason Chen, Peter Morris, Erica Dinnoo and Gerard Carrington did not compete, but be sure to catch them at this years upcoming events.