Anthony Ramon Archer posted the fastest time as over 40 drivers faced the starter in the opening event on the racing calendar of the Barbados Association of Dragsters and Drifters (BADD) at Bushy Park last weekend.
On a day when rookie drivers stole the spotlight and upset the more seasoned campaigners, Archer, at the wheel of the LIME/4G Network Nissan GTiR, blazed his way to the day’s fastest time of 7.239 seconds and set the tone for what should have been an exciting day for him, but he took no further part in the day’s action because of technical glitches.
By then the first of six rookie drivers, including reigning Barbados Karting Association (BKA) champion driver, the youthful Tremaine Catwell, had moved the day’s action to the next level by whipping all before them.
Most notable was Jamal Batson, who, after a very successful opening round of eliminations with the third generation, self-prepared Mitsubishi Mirage, made light work of all who lined up next to him, including Corey Stanford at the wheel of the Dennis Heath-tuned Williams Equipment/SDRR Hydraulics/Illusion Graphics Corolla.
Batson drove away with the honours in the 7.5 to 8 seconds category after Stanford had broken the time bracket for the group.
Speaking after the event, Batson said he felt good about his performance and noted it was a team effort and that he looking forward the coming race days of the season.
“To be a first-timer and do well is always good, but I am cautious. Perhaps the rest of the drivers were not looking for that kind of performance from us, but there is more to come,” he said.
Another to make his presence felt at the event was Jason Tindale in a Toyota Starlet. He made off with the 10 to 10.5 seconds category, while James Cox, in a well prepared Toyota Glanza grabbed the 9 to 9.5 seconds category.
However, Stanford stormed back to take the rear wheel drive knockout category, while Bradley Hill in a Honda Civic took the front-wheel drive knockout honours as well as the title in the 8.5 to 9 seconds category.
Another rookie, Randy Yarde, in a Mitsubishi Lancer drove away with the title in the four-wheel drive knockout category.
