TTRC's Unsung Heroes
9th May 2008
Photography by: Gerrard Wilson and Candace Bhagirath
Article by Jacqueline Alexis, PRO of TTRC

The Trinidad & Tobago Rally Club is one of the oldest motorsports club in the country, existing for close to 30 years. It is a non-profit organisation relying on sponsorship, the good will of volunteers and commitment of executives and members for the success of their events.

This article is about some of these folks.

Why do they do it? Why would any sane person stand in the blazing sun or cold rain, eating dust that also covers you in a fine layer, caking your hair and discolouring your clothes (is that a white t- shirt?) or collecting Preysal brown mud (careful!) to form an inch thick sole to your sneakers, from dawn to night, Saturday and or Sunday? Why ? The answer is simple - for the love of rallying. These people - our officials and marshals - are among TTRC's unsung heroes. Some have gone, many are still around and new ones are on board.

From various walks of life, they perform different roles on rally day with core marshals dedicated to a particular function. Marshalling is a serious responsibility and carries with it, a gravity that is unrealised until an incident occurs and you have to make a quick judgement call. They are the eyes and ears of the Rally - dressed in fluorescent vests and armed with radios, red and yellow flags and fire extinguishers.

Lennox Madhosingh or Uncle Lennox is a retired T&TEC Power Gen supervisor. His social life revolves around sport (cricket, rallying) and politics. In the Club since 1996, both he and his wife, Feroza, are Honorary TTRC Members, officiating as Chief Marshal and Clerk of the Course at many events.

Lynette Gillette nee Aaron is a TTRC member of 12 years. She has educated potential marshals both on site as well as formally. Now a mother of one, Lynette trained the Nissan (thank you, Gerry and Bibi) and Mitsubishi Clubs (thanks, Leon) in the finer points of marshalling for the International Event.

Genevieve Singh-Nath, a dedicated Start Marshal, is an Executive Assistant at Assemblers And Wholesalers Of Electronics in Central Trinidad ". . .I come out to marshal because of the love for the sport, not only rallying but others like Drag Racing and Solodex which I compete in. I have been involved in (it) and the club since 1993 . . . . "

Devendra Nath, Gen's hubby, with Gerrard Wilson, Candace Bhagirath, Narend Sooknarine, Duane Boodasingh, are among several freelance TriniTuner/Zorce photographers and you can see their as well as several others' efforts posted on trinituner.com for each motor sport event. For Gerrard "it's not a job, it's a passion for rallying". Ajeet Siewnarine of trinturbo.com specialises in video taping in-car action and is dedicated to all types of motorsport. Derek Charles, an aficionado of photography and video, is doing a wonderful job of re-furbishing the Club's website rallytrinidad.com. Wayne Lee also is seen at our rallies clicking away happily.

Speaking of the media, I'd like to say a personal thank-you to Robert and Sonya of CNMG, Brent Yen Chong and Vidia Ramphal of radio stations 99.1 FM and 91.1FM respectively. They have helped to bring the Club and some of the top drivers to the forefront. To the dailies of Guardian, Express and Newsday - THANK YOU! For your patience and support.

Narend has teamed up with Ryan Peyrau of Lifestyle Motors to form a formidable MC duo. Rawle 'Banzai' also MC'd for the Club last year. Dr. Surendra Dhanraj, TTRC's current Navigator of the Year , was the Club's medic and Results Marshal for many years.

Graveney Dindial, the Club's Competition Secretary of 2 years, is Equipment Marshal responsible for the marshalling equipment and stage signage. He and his crew also decorate the stages with bunting and flags. Graveney, like Gen, is tied to the motorsport through his father, who used to rally many years ago. He is the current Chief Marshal and in the last event, Clerk of the Course as well.

Silbourne Clarke of Neal and Massy Motors, Chief Scrutineer for Rally Trinidad events, is very knowledgable on cars and motorsport on the whole. His contributions borne of several years' experience, are appreciated by the Club.

Yugesh Maraj, one of the 'triplets', is a Director of The Motorist, located at Santa Flora and is into rallying seriously about 3 years now ". . . .since the 1000K that we crashed in, I love the sport and think that has something to do with the fact that my dad was an active member of the club since its inception. . . "

Another triplet - Barry Samaroo - is now TTRC executive - VP Administration. He started marshalling in 2006 and was selected as Navigation Rookie of the Year 2006. He has graduated to sitting on the left side of Barry Mckenzie in his rally car.

Shiva Maharaj - last triplet, another dedicated and more experienced marshal who has not missed an event since 2006. Punctual for every event, he also competes in Navigation Rallies and last year, won the TTRC managed NP Fun Car Rally and Treasure Hunt with Yugesh.

Young Marlon Jadoonanan, a young man who joined the Club only last year, mans the timing system. He's the Finish Marshal position, also assisting Graveney set up the stages with David Williams, another young rally enthusiast who offers his time to be either Pit Marshal, Finish Marshal with Marlon or on the course Marshal. ". . . it doesn't matter where you put me, just put me. . . "

Arvind Dattoo is a teacher by profession and recently became firmly ensconced as one of the Start Marshals, operating the timing system. Mild natured, he appears unflappable. Why does he marshal? ". . .For me, it's the family influence, from my grandfather who was a mechanic to my uncles who run one of the most respected service stations in the East. Also, believe it or not it relaxes me and has my mind at ease. . . . "

Ian McDowell - financial director of Hilo Food Stores ". . .was there when it was formed . .I have been involved for 30 years in motorsport and the Club . . . was an active rally driver until mid 90's. . . " He loves the sport and is interested in seeing it progress and get more professional. Ian marshals at our events and was the Clerk of the Course for Rally Trinidad 2008.

Sarah-Jane, part of Nuff Noise pit crew, is also a school teacher, who helped me at the last event when we implemented target timing. Thank you, Sarah.

On behalf of TTRC, I'd like to thank yet another barrage of people - Anthony 'Tampico', Ameer, Julie, Umar, Bob, Dunstan, (another) Ryan, Reyos, Teron, Anil, Michellene, Neyrad, Quincy, Michelle, Ralph, Sunil, Alicia, Rajiv, Kimberly, Johnathan, Brandon, Nigel, Sayyad, Kori, Richard, (another) Alicia, (yet another) Ryan, Nicholas, Navin, Ralph, Dale, Teron, Gem, Pauline, John for giving us some sound advice. I sincerely hope I have not omitted any marshal who has assisted this year and sincerely apologise if I did. They support their husbands, fathers, uncles, fiancé and friends who are rally drivers. I'd like to recognise also publicly, all those who have helped us over the years.

I wish to make special mention of Bashir Kajim, who passed away recently. He and his son were an active marshalling team who printed our time cards. Bashir, this one's for you. . .

Rally Trinidad 2008 would not have been such a success if it were not also for corporate sponsors STAG and ULTRA (thank you, Andre/Tracey and John/Brent), Junior Sammy Group of Companies who donated the manpower and heavy equipment for stage preparation (nuff respect to Sean and Kyle), Tropical Power, our very own power provider (thank you, Robert), Batchasingh Quarries that provided material for the stages (hail out to Dallas), Bisham Singh of Oracle Signs - official sign provider, Neal & Massy Automotives - agent for Subaru (thank you Mr. Lumsden), David Coelho of Subway, who supplied subways for the marshals, Caribbean Bottlers- supplier of Dasani Water (thanks, Mariella), Tampico juices (thank you , Anthony), Texprint - who printed the various time cards and number boards at such short notice (hail to Dave), Trinidad Powder Coaters for supplying 2 prizes to the local winners, Rallymac Motors for being Rally HQ and providing the manpower for getting the Route Books prepared, checked and bound and last but not least, Sham - the Curry Duck King!