A successful staging of the JMMC/Tru Juice/CVM Stages Rally was held in the Tru Juice vineyards of Bog Walk, St. Catherine, despite slippery conditions following a near torrential downpour of rain before noon. With the introduction of the rains, traction proved to be continually evasive, even for the mighty WRC Ford Focus of Jeffery Panton. While the competitors battled with grip issues throughout the day, this only added to the entertainment value for spectators, as they were treated to numerous drift-like displays by the entire field of competitors. The rains also resulted in the cancellation of the running of the New Works stage which was scheduled to run twice after lunch. This was however, compensated by running the Bybrook stage an additional time.
While the entertainment value for spectators was improved, the attrition rate normally experienced by competitors during the Bog Walk rally improved due to the evidently slower pace. Of the 13 entrants, only three competitors were unable to complete the day. Matthew Gore was unable to complete his first rally in over three years in the Liquid Lightning Energy Drink sponsored Toyota Corolla due to mechanical failure. Other entrants not completing the day were Salvador Solis/Nigel Lyn in their Intec Resear/Horse P Racing Mitsubishi Evolution II. Doug ‘Hollywood’ Gore/Mark Nelson were also dropouts due to the conditions.
Jeffery Panton DominatesJeffery Panton with co-driver Michael Fennel, representing the JA9 class, stayed true to form in his Active Traders/Bearings & Seals/Automotive Art/Barcode/Jamaica Freight & Shipping sponsored Ford Focus WRC.
Jeffery and Mike completed the day with a total elapsed time of 37:10.772. Even though the withdrawal by Doug Gore reduced the competition amongst the ‘big juice’ machinery, there was still stiff competition by Richard ‘Sir Rich’ Rerrie alongside Winston Dawson representing the JA8 class, in their very entertaining Pit bull/Leroys Auto Glass/Puma/Advantage General Insurance sponsored Subaru Imprezza WRX STi, nicknamed ‘Trauma’.
Sir Rich as usual, did not fail to entertain, while producing competitive times to keep Jeffery on honest. Trauma completed the day with an elapsed time of 39:08.154.
The only other four wheel drive entrant to finish the day was Dave Lee/Colin ‘Stuffy’ Chambers in the JN8 class driving their Spot Valley Entertainment sponsored Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII, with an elapsed time of 41:57.886.
The Collonel Sharpening His SwordGary Gregg hasn’t seen any competition this year in a four wheel drive beast. He has however been very consistent in his domination of the two wheel drive class in almost all the rally sport events he entered this year.
Alongside Hugh Hutchinson in his B.D. Gregg & Sons/N.G. Racing sponsored Honda Civic, he has not only won the mostly populated JA2 class, but also copped two wheel drive honors with an elapsed time of 43:27.922 ahead of Thomas Hall/Andre Gordon (Xsomo Intl./Sasco/Mobil 1/D & S Auto sponsored JA4 Toyota Turbo Starlet – 44:40.214)
and Rally Jamaica 2008 defending JA3 champions Bobby Marshal/Carlington Brissett in their Motor Sales/Singer/Ocean Spray/TGIF/PPG/Derryk A. Gibson/Budget Car Rentals sponsored Mitsubishi Mirage RS with a best time of 45:05.464.
Second place in the JA2 class was Mark ‘The Stig’ Groves/Tricia Groves in their ASL Trucking/Liquid Lightning/Bryans Jewelry sponsored Toyota Levin (53:58.809), ahead of Daryl King/Rameses McGregor in their Ankara Auto/Rory Texaco/Thrifty Gas sponsored Toyota Starlet.
Dean Corrodus/Pernell Fitz-Coy was the only other entrant in the JA3 class in their Khumo Tires/Tropical Battery sponsored Honda Civic (48:14.370). Husband and wife team of Jason and Katryna Lawson were the only representatives of the JN2 class, as well as the only rear-wheel drive entrants in their May Pen Ice/Mushroom Swim Wear sponsored Toyota Corolla (1:00:13.136).
The Anticipation IncreasesWith only one loose surface event (JMMC/Spot Valley Sprint 6 scheduled for November 1) to go before the highly anticipated Rally Jamaica 2009 in December, speculation is mounting about the coveted Rally Jamaica trophy. A strong overseas contingent from the Eastern Caribbean to include the likes of Paul ‘The Surfer’ Bourne, Roger ‘The Sherriff’ Skeete and John ‘Penti’ Powell with improved machinery will be more than enough competition for our stalwarts Panton and Gregg. However, as evidently seen this year, The Colonel has stepped down in class and is not expected to acquire a powerhouse for Rally Jamaica. We would hope that the reason he’s been ‘practicing’ in the Honda is to surprise us come December. Let us all hope that Panton will be able hold off the overseas invasion which may also include past Irish Rally Champion Mark Higgins.
This event was made possible by the efforts of Tru Juice, CVM, Xsomo International, KFC, Bay Wata, Tropical Battery and KIG
The next event on the Rally Sport Calendar will be the highly entertaining facility of Spot Valley hosting Sprint 6 on November 1, 2009.
