 The
Trinidad & Tobago Rally Club launched their 2004 season
with a bang, hosting the first event of what promises to
be a highly competitive all stages championship on Saturday
24th January. The organizers of this event have capitalized
on the problems facing the sugar industry in the country,
making good use of old Caroni roads to stage the event.
The
stage consisted of a fine gravel surface with occasional
patches of coarser gravel and in some cases mud. On the
forward run (SS1 to SS4) the stage started off with a long
straight, culminating to a 90 left. Drivers then had to
negotiate a small crest and a long sweeping left. Another
long straight followed, with a sharp left and immediate
uphill 90 right to the finish. Total stage distance –
just short of 3.0 miles.
Special
Stages 5 to 8 followed this same course, but in the reverse
direction.
 The
competitor turnout was not as high as expected with only
eight competitors entering the event as many of the usual
competitors were still finishing the preparation on their
cars after the 2003 championship. The list if participants
for this event included, Jamaican-Trini John Powell in his
Lancer Evolution VII Grp N, Barry McKenzie in the Grp A
Subaru Impreza STI, and newcomer Ainsley Lochan in the Mitsubishi
Lancer Evolution VI. Completing the AWD class were Dave
Rampersad and Roger McKenzie, both in Lancer Evolution I
variants. The 2WD class included Shelford Robinson, Micheal
Dinoo and Franklin Seegobin who returned to competition
after a year absence.
The
day proved to be quite eventful, with the terrain getting
the better of a number of competitors. Dave Rampersad went
off on the first stage resulting in damage to the right
front of the car. This was not enough to defer him though
and he eventually finished second overall. Ainsley Lochan
suffered some mechanical problems that left him out of six
of the seven stages eventually run.
 Roger
McKenzie had some problems on SS4 and eventually came to
the finish line a little banged up and lacking a rear bumper.
Barry McKenzie had the worst luck of all on the day, which
started out with a faulty accelerator cable in the forward
direction, and resulted in what can best be described as
a few spectacular, WRC class somersaults. Driver and Co-Driver
suffering from minor cuts and bruised egos laughed it off
at the end, but the car told the true story at the end.
Barry as usual promised to have the car ready for the next
event.
On
15th Feb, the TTRC moves onto a tarmac stage at Wallerfield.
Look out for the battle continuing between John and Barry,
with Peter, Ainsley on the sidelines. The AWD categories
are rumored to be steadily increasing with another Scooby
and at least three Evos in the works. Be there, as 2WD competition
heats up also with some newcomers and some old school machines
vying for top honors on the day.
 
 
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