Rally 'Roller Coaster' - Chaguanas - 22nd July 2007
Photography by Gerrard Wilson, Duane Boodasingh, Candace Bhagirath and Devi Nath.
Article by: Barry McKenzie of TTRC
Rally Roller Coaster Indeed !!!!!!!!
With the approval of the Couva Tabaquite Talparo Regional Corporation, Chaguanas played host to the TTRC on the weekend with an inaugural Gravel rally held just east of the Abel Block Factory, The stage of 4.3 KM ran from Depot Road to Mt Moriah. Heading east to Cunupia.
Rally Roller Coaster according to the Drivers who were “Blessed” to have being up and down the Coaster, was the next best thing to Disneyworld in person, but guest what? Most of the “Blessed” hope that we don’t have Mt Moriah on our Calendar anytime soon. It was according to most, the toughest and most technical Rally ever as well.
 The Stage comprised of 11 spectacular high speed Jumps which were both thrilling and in some case downright scary for the teams, keep it straight !!!! Keep it straaaaight !!!! was the call of the Codriver going over the jumps which in some areas kept the cars airborne for several seconds and over 4 ft off Mother earth...!!!! Some very slippery Ninety turns was also thrown in on the Coaster and spectators were treated to some delightful driving displays and grass cutting ability of some of the competitors.
The highlight of the Coaster was the up and down section which for the teams it generated serious G FORCEs which some teams were forced to slow to avoid the blackout scenario.
TTRC finally got the Timing System going for this event with the assistance of Mr John Crony (runs 3 of the system for BRC) who took a week off his job in Barbados to come and give us a hand.
The service park for this event was in ABEL’s Car Park and after a late start Ainsley Lochan / Scott Sheppard in the ULTRA/STAG/ Josef’s EVO 6 started the show road with a blistering run that got the large spectators pockets along the route to cover the pot for a bit and take in the action, they gave the Spectators quite a good show as on the Ninety Left with a slight wide corner due to the quick entry, they still posted the fastest time of the Day at 2min.36sec, eventually Gearbox problem would hamper their run on Sunday and a chance at the win however second in class and overall would be on the cards for this team.
The One Oot Team sponsored by Ultra Rallymac followed and Barry was cautiously feeling out the Stages and also the bark of a tree, which they stopped just inches away after brake failure at the tire chicane, they would suffer with a bent rear suspension, The Teams still held on to the overall lead at the launch halt, but that was the start of the end for the One Oot boys as a failed electrical systems on the transit to the start of the evening stage would put them out of contention.
The Esso/Lucozade Subaru team of Vishal Dhanraj/ Richard Ramsingh worked flawlessly on Sunday and attrition saw this team move up the order to 3rd in Group A.
 John Powell/ Nicholas Telfer re-debuted the Ultra Group N Impreza after a disastrous launch on the previous event, this immaculately prepped (Big Boyz Toyz) Impreza had a VIP grooming from the Prodrive guys who came to Trinidad just for 5 days to get the engine and suspension sorted and on Sunday this team showed the fruits of their labor which was poured into this Rallycar , they were up and in tune with the car almost immediately and they would challenge the evos from the word GO !! The Ultra Impreza would eventually take the lead after the lunch stop and finish First in Class and Overall at the end with some exciting motorcycle styled cornering at some of the spectator points.
Kirk Pouchet/ Krishna Raj Kumar in the Esso Lucozade Evo 7 were also a casually on Sunday with a broken rear differential, they would retire on the first run after the lunch stop.
Two Wheel Drive Class finally had a rear wheel drive machine entered after a lot of promises made by some Ford Guys and guess what it’s a Mitsubishi Lancer Rear wheel Drive (ex Andrew Cheekes ex Winston Siriram) Turbo with Noel Phillip at the wheels and Travis Hosein co driving, Noel comes to rallying with a lot of experience in Motorsport (circuit racer and powerboat racer) and on Sunday he showed very cool control of the Rear Drive to finish on the podium in third position, so whey d Fords ? (still Fixing Or Repairing Dem).
Rezan Mohammed/Arshad Mondro Lancer Evo FWD 2000 Turbo was in perfect harmony in his backyard and it showed by his first place position and third place overall, a most consistent team,
Darryl Ramesar/ Mikhail Ramadhar Evo FWD had hoped to dominate the 2WD Class this time around but after posting a fantastic time to lead the class he would retire with a Blown engine that caught the car on Fire luckily the marshals were able to assist and contain the damages.
Roger Mckenzie/ Simon Rodriguez in the Castrol/ Rallymac Toyota Runx were also consistent in class however on the return they encountered some concrete on the Ninety Right Uphill which bent the Suspension and chassis but they rallied on to finish the event in second position on the podium.
Results
4WD
1st. John Powell/Nicholas Telfer - 10:57:16 minutes
2nd Ainsley Lochan/Scott Sheppard - 11:09:13 minutes
3rd Vishal Dhanraj/Richard Ramsingh - 12:25:76 minutes
2WD
1st Rezan Mohammed/Arshad Mondro - 12:28:09 minutes
2nd Roger Mckenxie/Simon Rodriguez - 13:06:52 minutes
3rd Noel Phillips Jr/Travis Hosein - 15:25:33 minutes
Overall Winners
1st. John Powell/Nicholas Telfer - 10:57:16 minutes
2nd Ainsley Lochan/Scott Sheppard - 11:09:13 minutes
3rd Vishal Dhanraj/Richard Ramsingh - 12:25:76 minutes
Best Team
John Powell/Nicholas Telfer
Ainsley Lochan/Scott Sheppard
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