Karting at ARC - 19th March 2006
Photography by Devi Nath
Article by Gordon Rooks - Competition Secretary TTKA

A New Home for Karting in 2006
The Trinidad & Tobago Karting Association (TTKA) has found a new home at the Arima Race Club (ARC) car park on the south side of the horseracing track. This area is larger than Pier 2 and has a far better racing surface. A longer and faster track has been laid out for the 2006 season that had its first event held on Sunday 19th March. It was an enjoyable day with racers setting lap time benchmarks to be broken in the coming months. The 100 cc class has a new champion in Brandon Steele who lapped everyone except the 2nd place finisher in just 15 laps!! At 13 years old, Brandon promises to be one the country’s top drivers in the coming years. The Rotax Max class seems to be gaining in popularity and the race in that class went off without a hitch. Trinidad is now recognized by Rotax International as an official competitor that should open the doors for the possibility of a worldwide International event being held here in the future. 

As with any new facility there were some teething problems and safety issues that are being addressed and will be corrected by the next event carded for 23rd April. There were two incidents both of which occurred in the shifter class, the first being a crash between Mr. Ryan Garcia and Mr. Gary Hunt and the other a spinout involving Mr. Brent Hurdle resulting in him crashing into a table in the race control tent. The table acted as a battering ram hitting 4 officials. Immediately the EMR’s in attendance sprang into action taking all necessary to the Arima hospital for medical attention and we a glad to report that there were no serious injuries other than cuts and bruises. This brought the days events to a premature close.

With 12 events carded for 2006 including an international where Jamaica, Barbados and Guyana have been invited this promises to be the TTKA’s best season to date.

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