Drivers ready for action

Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter

THERE WAS an exchange of friendly banter between some of the country's leading circuit racing drivers at Saturday night's official launch of the 2006 Jamaica Race Drivers Club (JRDC), Dover Raceway Championship.

"We are expecting to have an exciting day of motor racing. Qualifying begins at 10 a.m., but the actual racing kicks off at about noon," said the JRDC president, Peter Rae.

Organiser of the race meet, Hilary Jardine, believes this is one of the most competitive line-ups for the past seven years and is expecting some close finishes in the respective classes.

The atmosphere inside the large show room at the Motor Sales and Service Limited, on South Camp Road, Kingston, was filled with anxiety Saturday night.

The drivers who were overheard discussing their preparation were eager and hungry for racing.

"Basically, we are rebuilding the car, using the same formula that we used last year. We are just doing a few small things that we think could make a big change at the race track," said Lenny Burke, who is the defending champion in the MP Class Two.

Burke added: "A lot people have been threatening that they are much better and faster this year, but I'm coming to defend my title."

Teyhren Ramdon who is from East Kingston, made his debut last year and enjoyed every moment of the competition.

He returns with his Mazda 323 to take on rivals such as Lloyd Lawrence and Rohan Clark in the IP 39 Class.

Clark, who is also from Kingston and will be driving a Nissan Pulsar, said he will be going all out to win.

The launch of the event concluded with the presentation of trophies to respective winners of the December racemeet and special plaques to media personnel such as Winston Cassanova of CVM, Sam Allen of TVJ, Courtney Sergeant of Radio Jamaica, Glenroy Sinclair, The Gleaner, Dwight Fraser, KLAS, Chris McFarlane, Power 106, Brian Schmidt, Irie FM, Esmond Williams, Auto Report and Hurbun Williams, Jamaica Observer.