4th AutoSport Drag Racing - 24th March 2002
Article by Rawle Mahbir
Photography by Rawle Francis

What a great feeling it was to be back in action at the AutoDrome this past weekend. Thepotential to attract some of the fastest cars in the world is not an idle boast and AutoSport has shown that they have the professional, managerial and organizational skills to take this sport to unlimited heights. This in spite of the unseasonal rainy conditions being experienced in what is now being termed the wettest March month by the local Met. officials. But this is an Act of God which we accept with open arms.

However it is very clear that we are faced with acts of man, who pretend that they love the sport. They miss no opportunity to deliberately place stumbling blocks into the path of those who are consistently successful in encouraging and attracting new sponsors, spectators and competitors to all our regular events. These deceitful hypocrites will have no one to blame when they have to face the wrath of God for their misdeeds. By their wicked ways, they are actually being punished right here on this earth, even in the things they seemingly enjoy. They cannot recognize that their diabolical objectives are consistently blocking their path to achieving anything positive in the short time that they have on this earth.

It is said that Mans inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn.

So much for the distractions from our stated goals of developing Motor Sport.

As predicted, the records are beginning to tumble. And the word is out, this will happen at every single Event for the rest of the year. Riccardo Pustam threatened to blow away the existing fastest time record for year 2002. He came, he raced and he conquered. He registered the fastest time in T&T since 1999. And suggests that this will be whittled away in the coming months in his quest to break the eight second barrier and even go after the fastest time ever registered by a local driver. This record is 7.391 Secs. @ 182.93 mph, and was established on 15th August 1999 by Sheldon Bissessar with his Party Time Rail.

But uneasy rests the head that wears the crown. As we note that Feraz Akaloo with his Sheik Lisha-sponsored V8 Camaro has also improved on his previous best time with a run of 8.662 secs. And he is positive that he can go much better once he masters the power surge brought on by the squirts of the mighty Nitrous. This machine is still some distance away from its true potential. Michael Douglas was unable to face the starter this time around but assures that his January best time is not a one-off hit and he will be back.

So was Hero beaten? Well…. He actually faces the reality that he is not super-human and the parts are finally showing the strain of his seven consecutive wins. But true to form he did not give up and went down fighting. His arch rival Ken Gokool with his V8 Green Day Cortina finally was able to taste the sweet nectar of victory and this will certainly give him all the encouragement to claw away at the points lead enjoyed by Hero. But did you check out the sticker on the trunk lid of Green Day's machine?

Daryan Warner is the newest challenger in this very keenly contested 10-second Bracket. Remember this is a street car, yes, driven to the track on Race day! And the power being extracted from the only Toyota machine up at the top, to match strides with all those purpose-built racing machines, shows that his technical crew is on the right track. Daryan is bent on gaining respect from the best in the business. He again claimed the official award of the fastest six-cylinder and unofficial bragging-rights for the fatstest street car in T&T. Kent Jacob with his V8 "Rug Doctor" Cortina made a welcome return to the track but was hampered with some niggling problems even as he arrived at the start line. But we are assured that he can find the right prescription next time around.

Jason Laing, with his Puff-n-Stuff Turbo Rotary, holder of the record for the fastest Rotary in the island again could only hold on to third place in his class. But here is another driver who knows that his first win in 10-Seconds cannot be too far away.

The 12 seconds challengers are yet to get the better of Brian Franco who claimed another first place with his 38-Special Escort fitted with a 3000 Nissan straight-6. Placing a close second was Laro-team-member Larry Ragoobar sporting similar power in his yellow Charmant. And Frank "Bill" Radhay with his immaculate Ford Escort is now enjoying himself up here where the air is rare. Mark Bartlett also ran away with the Award for the Fastest 4-cylinder of the Day clocking 11.818 seconds at a speed of 118.73 mph.

The very consistent Paul Chung claimed another win in the 13 seconds Bracket driving the only Ford-powered V8 convertible Kingswood. Cristian Tam the winner in January was knocked into second place with Oswald Stoute battling his way into third spot. Navin Maraj is gaining some good experience with a Skyline 6 engine stuffed into his little Escort. And newcomer Riad Hosein with his RX7 is looking quite good in this early stage of his racing career.

In the 14 Seconds Class Gerard Aboud, still sorting out his recently-acquired turbo Honda Civic, used his street machine to sharpen his skills and ran away with first place from Yazeed Ali with his new Skoda "Big Red Machine" Wagon fitted with a straight-6 3000cc engine. Clint Kumar with his B13 SR20DET hung in to claim the third berth this time around.

Newcomer Dion Welch earned his first trophy in Drag Racing in only his second attempt in the 15-Second Bracket. But he will soon find out that there is no guarantee of repeated success with the likes of Arjune Sookhan and Keith Darbeau breathing down his neck. And of course points-leader Gerald Pegus will be back! It is from this class that all the relative newcomers seek to establish a name for themselves in this highly competitive sport.

Finally Marlon Benjamin with his second consecutive victory, has increased his points-lead in the 16-seconds Bracket. But Marlon has shown incredible consistency in copping THREE best-reaction-times awards within five Events, and proves that most victories in Drag Racing are established right at the start line. Douglas Stampfli, the winner in January, was able to claim second spot from Fadak Ghany with his Corolla, making a welcome return after some years of relaxation.