First-timer Shawn “Short Man” Eversley, Philip Moe and Seth-Ross Turney werethe pick of the drivers at Track Attack Day 2 of the Barbados Auto Racing League (BARL)at the Vaucluse Racewayon Sunday.
Eversley, at the wheel ofa specially-prepared Suzuki Swift GTi, was not daunted by the presence of more seasoned campaigners and passed the finishing marshal three times in first position during the five-lap races set by the organisers.
“I am enjoying myself even though it’s the first time for me driving at Vaucluse. It is an interesting track,” he told NATIONSPORT as he headed back to the pits.
Only Philip Moe, in a Leeson Moe-prepared Toyota Corolla Coupe, and Turney, shone brighter than Eversley, who, like the others, are preparing for next month’s meet at the same venue and for the2015 season.
Moe started from the front row and extended the five-second starting interval between drivers during the runs andwas never headed by anyone during the day.
He made good use of the preparation work carried outby Danny Croney, one of the competitors, and Nicholas King, and exhibited the skill and guile of the group champion he isas he picked good lines while holding off the challenges of all who tried to challenge him.
Turney was in a similar mood, and after the morning heatsand chalking up good seat time among the Group Three competitors, proved to be too much for the field as he tookthe flag to bring the curtain down on the day’s action.
He was followed homeby Stuart Knaggs in theGod & Co/Muffler CentreToyota Corolla, Nicholas St Hill and Ryan Francis.
During the day’s action, which was watched by a moderate Sunday crowd, drivers such as Justin Campbell in a BMW M3, Harold “Doc” Morley ina Porsche, Jason Harewoodin a Toyota Starlet and Danny Croney in the SDRR Hoses Toyota Starlet kept competition extremely tight in Group Four.
Ryan Francis in a Ford Escort MKI, Orville “Sluggie” Blackman in a Toyota Starlet and Ripley Greene in a Toyota Corolla were among the top performers in Group Two.
Danny Wiles in a Toyota and Kevin Wiggins, also in a Starlet, and youthful Nick St Hillkept the running order tightin Group 1.
But it was not a day of all plain sailing as experienced driver Robert Gill, in a Toyota Starlet, Dirk Gray and Chris Hinds, who was back in action after a long layoff, suffered mechanical problems of varying kinds and were sidelined afterthe luncheon interval.
League chairman Stefan Hinds said he was satisfied with the day’s action and was looking forward to race day No. 3of the League which is setfor December 1.
“The Vaucluse track is to be inspected by the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF)this week and after that we would be in a better positionto plan for the remainderof this year,” he said.
He cited newcomers Damian Sobers, Fabian Holder and Darren Lashley as driversto watch as the League prepares for next year.
“Our race dates have already been submitted to the BMFso we are on track with the business of motorsport andof the Barbados Auto Racing League,” he added.
A car show by Bajan Car Freaks and a raffle helpedto diversify the day’s event.
