The Trinidad and Tobago Automobile Sports Association’s race meeting held on Sunday August 3rd , 2003 gave a whole new meaning to the words “audience participation”. The meet termed “2 Fast 2 Furious Circuit Drag” gave spectators the chance to experience the thrill of racing around the Circuit, albeit a condensed version.
Spectators were allowed to race their road cars, 2 cars at a time, one lap around the circuit, true 2 Fast 2 Furious style, with the winner being the first to cross the finish line. Competition was knockout style, to determine a winner for each of the four time brackets. But wait, I’m getting ahead of myself. First things first !.
After the national Anthem and prayer by in-house pastor Mr. Pernell Welsh, the crowd was given a sneak preview of the circuit cars and circuit drag cars carded for competition as they came out for the customary Lap of Honour.
The first Circuit Race of the day was a combination of cars from the Stock Cars Series and Modified Production Group B.
Top contenders of the Stock Car series, Gregory De Verteuil, driving the Esso car, and Christian Hospedales in the Vibe sponsored car were not allowed the pleasure of complacency, with serious new competition looming on the horizon in the form of Jimmy Fifi.
Fifi showed excellent form, but it was just not to be. De Verteuil took the lion’s share, all three wins, resigning a disappointed Hospedales to second best throughout the day.
In the first Modified Production B race, victory was effortless for Mark Singh, with Haresh Nanan’s Toyota proving slight competition for his Honda. Previous crowd favorite Daniel Ramoutarsingh missed this race, because he forgot to bring a pump for his car. What can I say ? Daniel, boy, forget de pit crew, what you need iz a good secretary !!!!!!
The entry of the Mivec into the other two races however stiffened competition quite a bit for the Honda, and Mark Singh, either overzealous or overanxious about this, squeezed too hard on the accelerator at the bottom corner, putting his car into a spin. The car inevitably stalled in the middle of the track, in the path of oncoming cars, and it was only the quick action of the top corner marshal that prevented that from becoming a disaster.
With his only major contender out of the race, the Ramoutarsingh’s Mivec went on to lay claim to two easy wins.
Honda vs Rotary : who will emerge victorious. Well, commentator Gary Hunt regaled the crowd with talks of a friendly rivalry between Mark Singh’s Honda of Team Tola and Tankoo Baboolal RX7. Up for grabs , a case of beer !
Supporters of Ravi Singh’s RX 7 were disappointed when surprisingly the yellow machine retired to the pits because of engine difficulties, but not before it had first seized victory in Race 1 of Modified Production Class A. Believing his strongest adversary out of competition, Tankoo Baboolal’s complacency cost him victory in the second race, as underestimated Rookie Driver, Stuart Johnson seized victory from within the grasps of the RX7.
Veteran Baboolal proved however that experience is the key, and made his rotary bark on the tracks, securing a win, leaving the Orange VTEC thirsting for victory, and everyone else thirsting for a taste of the beer !!!
Gary, so much for boarding Tola Team for a beer, boy !
The Circuit Drag aspect was equally exciting, with over 15 cars competing in the 4 time brackets.
Erica Dinnoo flaunted woman power throughout competition for the 56.00 – 59.00 second bracket, demolishing all competition in her way and advancing to the finals. However, in the final round Sheldon Bissesar’s RX 7 proved too much for her Starlet, and he wrangled the victory from her for this bracket.
The crunch of the 69.01 – 62.00 second bracket came down to a face off between Krishna Balliram’s B13 Sentra and Ruddy Beekee’s purple March. Beekee easily secured the title, leaving Balliram to wonder what hit him, LITERALLY !.
Balliram’s demolition derby Sentra and Beekee the “overtaking expert”, its no surprise ! It’s a match made in heaven!.
The drivers of the final bracket wanted the crowd to have a generous view of them and their cars, hence they entered the 66.00 – 69.00 second bracket. Shane Bahadur in a blue 120Y proved that size does not matter, and he claimed victory for this bracket, against his more formidable opponents.
But all that I have written here I am sure that you knew already. What ? you didn’t !!!! All that action, and you missed it ???? All of it ?????
Hey, well don’t miss the next event !! TTASA’s next Race Meeting is September 21st, 2003.
