GTRidez

2011 CMRC – Round 3 – It all came down to this.

Rohindra Mahase — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 06:31:19 +0000

Jamaica and Barbados, synonymous to history. Guyana was now in the spotlight for round 3 of the 2011 Caribbean Motor Racing Championship. With the smoothest track in the CMRC series and the fastest cars in the Caribbean, the stage was set for a mighty showdown.

The results of the previous CMRC race held in Barbados, had been quashed due to low light conditions. A decision was made to not re-run the race in Guyana as had been originally proposed.

The grid was set for race one with Roger Mayers in his Ford Focus on pole position, Mark Vieira second in his Mazda RX-8 and David Summerbell Jr. in third with his Mitsubishi Evolution. Mark Maloney of Barbados tried all weekend to get his Mazda RX-3′s engine to sing the right tunes but unfortunately, he didn’t make it into qualifying and thus started from the back of the grid. Mayers took the race into his hands from the first lap, setting out a daunting task for those behind to catch him. The battle then fell to Vieira and Summerbell for second place. This didn’t last long however, as Summerbell spun a rod bearing in his Evolution, forcing him to retire. Mayers went on to comfortably win while Vieira and Doug Maloney finished second and third respectively.

Quite sometime later in the day, it was time for race number two in the CMRC series. This time though, there was no Summerbell on the grid. Mayers, Vieira, Doug Maloney and Andrew King filled up the first two rows on the grid and the race was off! It didn’t last long. Going into turn number one, there was major contact between Vieira and Andre Anderson from Jamaica and the race was red flagged. Vieira’s Mazda RX-7 suffered heavy suspension damage on right rear and he and his team protested Anderson’s aggressive driving style into the turn.
Eventually the track was cleared and the race was started with the sun setting in the background. Again, Mayer’s in his Ford Focus led from the drop of the flag and kept opening the gap to Doug Maloney as the laps went by. Nearing the end of the race, Mark Maloney visibly slowed, suggesting more engine problems for the Bajan. He stayed on track to collect the points for his team but as the checkered flag waved for the second CMRC race, it was Roger Mayers taking his second comfortable victory of the day. Doug Maloney and Andrew King wrapped up the remaining two podium positions.

As the sun disappeared below the horizon, we were losing light by the minute. Nevertheless, it was time for Race number three in a setting almost similar to the final race in round 2 at Bushy Park Circuit, Barbados. Going into the last race of the last round, David Summerbell was still in the lead. A lead of only four points over Roger Mayers. As the cars left the paddock area and rolled onto the grid, team Summerbell worked frantically to get their championship contender into the race.
A few minutes later, the green flag was waved and as the cars went into turn one, there was no Mitsubishi Evolution of David Summerbell. Unable to get the car on the grid by just a matter of a few minutes, Summerbell was left in the pits, defenseless against Mayers, who only needed to finish third or higher to snatch the championship. Mayers started on pole position, leading the race comfortably in the opening laps. With just a few laps to go, it would take a miracle of a race retirement to save team Summerbell’s day. Today wasn’t that day. As the checkered flags waved, it was Team Mayers and Team Barbados’ time to celebrate. They had won the 2011 CMRC Titles. Both country and individual.
A brief of the other CMRC Classes

In the CMRC Superbikes, victories were divided among Steven Vieira, Kevin Graham and Carlos Rodrigues in the 3 races respectively. Steven gathered enough points throughout the day to capture the title of 2011 CMRC Superbike Champion. In Group 2 class, Kenrick Husbands surpassed Team Guyana’s Chet Singh and Raj Singh, and fellow countryman, Mark Thompson in the points standing to win the 2011 CMRC Group 2 Champion title.
At the start of the second local Group 4 race, there was a major incident even before the competitors crossed the start line. Reports indicate that a driver had broken the starting formation thus causing the starting official to wave the red flag as the cars were powering down the front straight. The leader of the pack, Paul Vieira saw the flag and slowed while two other cars went around him. Vishok Persaud did not see the red flag and didn’t realise that Paul was slowing either. This resulted in Persaud smashing into the rear of Paul Vieira’s Mazda RX-7 at full throttle, sending him into the tire wall near the entrance of the pit. Persaud’s Subaru Impreza careened off to the left, collected Sean King’s Mazda RX-7 in the process and then burst into flames as it rolled to a stop. The fire was quickly controlled and put out by track marshals. All the drivers involved in this incident walked away without any notable injuries but the same could not be said about their cars. Paul Vieira’s Mazda suffered major rear suspension and chassis damage while Vishok Persaud’s Subaru suffered complete front suspension destruction and possible engine damage.

On an additional note, Doug Gore smashed the South Dakota lap record on saturday, setting a blistering time of 33.386 seconds. He attempted to better this time on sunday but conditions were unfavorable and he was unable to break his newly set record.

Below are the photos of all the action.

If you would like to purchase high resolution copies of any of the photos, please contact Rohindra Mahase via phone (592) 646-6123 or email rmahase@gmail.com

2011 CMRC – Round 3 – Qualifying

Rohindra Mahase — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:15:45 +0000

Final CMRC Grid for tomorrow.

1. Roger Mayers (Ford Focus) (BAR) – 33.520
2. Mark Vieira (Maxda RX-8) (GUY)- 33.773
3. David Summerbel (Mitsubishi Evolution) (JAM) – 33.898
4. Andrew King (Tube Framed Mazda RX-7) (GUY) – 34.582
5. Paul Vieira (2nd Gen. Mazda RX-7) (GUY) – 34.694
6. Peter Rae (2nd Gen. Mazda RX-7) (JAM) – 35.044
7. Andre Anderson (Mitsubishi Mivec) (JAM) – 35.215
8. Steve King (Nissan Skyline) (BAR) – 35.636
9. Doug Maloney (Audi A4 Quattro Turbo) (BAR) – 35.812
10. Kevin Jeffery – (Mitsubishi Evolution) (GUY) – 37.863
11. Mark Maloney (Mazda RX-3) (BAR) – No time posted.

A few photos from the Qualifying Session. Will upload more when time is available.

2011 CMRC – Round 3 – Friday Practice

Rohindra Mahase — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 08:04:40 +0000

Some photos from the action at the track today.

2011 GMRSC Endurance Race Meet – October

Rohindra Mahase — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 04:24:00 +0000

A few photos from the endurance racing meet held on Sunday, 9th October, 2011 at the South Dakota Circuit.

2011 GMRSC International Drag Meet – Round 2

Rohindra Mahase — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:12:00 +0000

GMRSC’s second drag racing meet for 2011 was held yesterday, Sunday 25th, August. In comparison to previous drag meets, the competitor and spectator turnout was lower than usual. No Surinamese drag cars came to the starting line but the crowd was given a treat from the Surinamese with a NOS (Nitrous Oxide) injected Suzuki GSX Superbike.

Crowd favourites Randell Daby (Red Mitsubishi Evolution) and Peter Daby (Matte Black 3rd Generation Mazda RX-7) could not get their cars ready in time and so did not race. Notable new cars on the drag strip for 2011 included a Toyota Alteeza running a 1JZGTE engine, a Toyota Corolla AE81, a Mark IV Toyota Supra and a Mark III Toyota Supra. The Alteeza, AE81 and Mark IV Supra were all run by Ramchand’s Auto Body.
Sanjay Persaud in his 3rd Generation Mazda RX-7 continued his great performance from Round 1.

During the latter part of the afternoon, the meet was halted by an incident involving the Surinamese rider with the NOX injected Suzuki GSX. The rider lost control of his bike a short distance after the finish line and crashed . Initial reports indicate that he suffered a broken arm and leg.

You can take a look at the photos below and see all the action for yourself!

2011 GMRSC International Drag Races – Round 2 – Previews

Rohindra Mahase — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:54:08 +0000

A few shots of preparations for this weekend’s drag racing meet.

2011 Biker Fest

Rohindra Mahase — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 04:26:35 +0000

A Few photos from the 6th Annual Biker Fest held at the National Park tarmac in Georgetown.

Our proper camera is still at the camera technician and the backup camera for the night was a point and shoot so photos may not be the usual quality.

2011 GMRSC Race of Champions – Round 2

Rohindra Mahase — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:54:51 +0000

Yes we are a bit late with the photos but the delay was due to some technical issues which were beyond our control.

We do not have the official results either but we will be obtaining them soon and posting them for you. For Group 4 though, Paul Vieira, Andrew King and Mark Vieira each won one race in that order.

2011 GMRSC Race of Champions – Round 2 – Qualifying

Rohindra Mahase — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 02:57:04 +0000

Here are Photos and Group 4 Qualifying times from the qualifying session of Round 2 of the 2011 GMRSC Race of Champions.
At the end of the gallery we also have a few shots of the crashed Caribbean Airlines airplane that is a short distance away from the track.

1 – Mark Vieira – 34.361 secs.
2 – Andrew King - 34.400 secs.
3 – Kevin Jeffery – 34.409 secs.
4 – Paul Vieira – 34.428 secs .
5 – Keith Evelyn – 36.081 secs.
6 – Irfan Kalamadeen – 36.583 secs.
7 – Kemal Rahaman – 36.757 secs.
8 – Raj Boodhoo – 46.205

Press Release by Stephan Sookram of NCN (slightly edited)

Mark Vieira shattered south dakota’s lap record during the time trials for this weekend’s national race of champions at the south dakota circuit.
Vieira clocked a time of 34. 361 to dethrone Andrew King and at 34.400 and shatter the previous record of 34.898
In the process guyana’s caribbean championship savior Kevin Jeffery could only muster 34 409 while current caribbean 2 wheel drive caribbean champion Paul Vieira who was hot on the heels of Jefferyclocked 34.428.
Speaking to media operatives after the shattering Vieira vowed to produce a time in the lower 33 second arena providing that there are dry weather conditions tomorrow.
The guyanese speed demon also promised spectators a special treat when he clashes with the likes of king and jeffrey in actual race format.

In the group three events Ravi Singhof trinidad and tobago qualified on pole with a 36.413
After some hot laps at the wheels of Mazda Miata Danny Persaud will start alongside him with 36.752 with Gavin Gayadin third with a time of 37.653
In the super bike class Stephen Vieira tore up the fresh circuit with a time of 35.363, while Gregory Lopez will be alongside him thanks to a 35.407 time, demoting Maurice Menezes to third with a time of 36. 361

Patrons are urged to use the highway entrance to the circuit after last evening’s airport mishap.
Tomorrow’s event will not be hampered by that event according to officials of the GMRSC.
The event begins at 8:30 with the lap of honor.

2011 GMRSC Race of Champions Round 2 – Moreeee Previews!

Rohindra Mahase — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 05:23:04 +0000

Here’s an entire barage of photo updates for you!

We paid a visit to the Dyno and also have some shots of practice action happening at the South Dakota Track.