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TTRC STAG Speed Stages - Rally Cedar Hil

  • Written by Kavita
  • Published in Rally

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stagIn preparation for the international rally coming up in August the rally club staged its final practice run. Harold Morley and Geoff Goddard of Barbados were here for this Cedar Hill stage.

Photography by Duane Boodasingh, Devi Nath, Gerrard Wilson and Candace Bhagirath
Article provided by the TTRC and written by Barry McKenzie

"The Cedar hill Stage is definitely one of the best Gravel Stages on our Island"

rallyThe showers of blessings were well timed as it began after the first 2 runs, would you believe that the guys posted the same times in the wet, just to show the grip level on the stage.

We had a really bad week with Customs and Harold Morley’s WRC Subaru was not cleared in time for the event, he was loaned the Rent-a-Sube from Rallymac Motors which they had earlier rented to John Powell who graciously consented to forego this vital practice to accommodate Harold, Thanks John a true gentleman (nah he just figured lick might have been the order of the day from the Evos COWARD!!!!).

No great news from Sunday except to congratulate the two novices Darrel in the Evo 2 and Rezan in the Evo 2 wd, these fellas we have to keep our eyes on as their improvement from the last rally has just been amazing, they have also continued to upgrade their cars, Darrel is now running a Link Ecu and Cusco Suspension, the Evo was popping faster than Popcorn in a microwave, his Car is really quick and the launch from Start will now require him to used a neck brace for sure!! Rezan is planning to kick so 2WD Butt next month and has invested in a Gems Ecu to do battle with the foreign Teams.

Shelford drove an entire stage with a Flat Tire and a cussing navigator who was telling him “keep the damn car straight nuh, wuh wrong with yuh!
It was great to see the other teams members giving him a quick tire change so he could get back to the start of the next stage.

Ainsley EVOAinsley in the NP Ultra/Josef’s/Stag Evo7 was his usual brilliant and entertaining self with a super drive to take the overall win not without a memorable and almost disastrous moment out of the Tunnel, Flat in Fourth Gear, the back tried to pass the front of the car in the right bend and he had to make a new road through the Ditch on the inside of the corner , according to spectators he was only using the right rear wheel at one time to plow the new road with the other three wheels looking for air, he regained control and finished the stage and fastest time as well .

Barry made his debut in the Castrol/Rallymac/ Sweet 'Tambran' Evo 6 and out of the box with no gravel experience in the car posted a 2min 12sec run on the first stage which was the fastest time for stage one, stupidly he took the advice of the more experienced 4WD EVO Pilot Ainsley who suggested that the corner by the Tires was a perfect FLAT in FOURTH Gear, it ended with the Evo 6 with the brand new paint job being FLAT in DRAIN! Waiting for a pullout, The Evo 6 was back out for the next stage with revenge in mind but it was not to be as the Clutch was left at the Start line in pieces and they had to retire the car.

Barry had this to say “I know that many loyal Sube fans have issued a warrant for me but please hold until the international in August and let me show you all why I switched to Evo, The R&D Gearbox in the EVO was a joy for me to drive, you all know that has been my biggest problem in the Subaru as the MRT gearbox is a waste of time (Don’t ever but one Folks)”

rally“I must say the Evo handle Beautifully and I truly expected to Beat Ainsley in Stage 2 as I had gotten the feel and confidence of the cars handling trait, albeit we knew we were down on power I went into Stage 2 not realizing that the clutch was the problem as you just cannot hear the engine on the gravel coupled with the wine of the gearbox, anyways I knew that the corner was a Fourth Gear one but it should not have been Flat out ,more medium, such was my confidence in the car at that moment I felt that I could Fly, well I did actually at that point for about 3 Sec into the Ditch”.

Ainsley was asked about his chances against the experienced Bajans and Jamaicans who are expected to make the event in August.

“ I don’t think there is any foreign Competitor in a group A car that can catch us on our Turf for the International except maybe Micey from Barbados , who has run here before but I understand he may not make the event, Paul Bourne learned the hard way the treachery of our wet gravel when he really struggled to stay ahead of John and I for the overall win, now I have the experience and I am more familiar with the car which is really working well so I feel up to the challenge and welcome the Foreign Teams".

Jerome Lum Hung driver of the Turbo Corolla says “ Bring more 2WD, WE want more FOOD, now that Barry gone 4WD is only Shelford to worry about and I ain’t fraid atall, I only want foreign food especially the Iguana or some Suzuki car I always hearing about, FOOD I say !!!!

rallyJohn Powell WRC Corolla is on the port and is expect to clear and be on show to the public on the weekend at Rallymac Motors location for the Pre Rally Lime Courtesy Stag on Saturday, John is super confident about this new cars ability to secure the win in August “ There is no way that our guest from the other Islands can beat me on my home ground except of course if I run off or have mechanical problems, This car is incredibly quick and I now have had the tutoring for the legendary Didier Auriel who drove the sister car to my own , he gave me some really good tips on the characteristic of the Corolla that helped in the 2 Overall position in the Barbados Rally Carnival ,My strength in rallying is on Gravel and I will prove that in August here and in Jamaica in December to the Caribbean!

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