Photos by Mario James
LEFT: Keroy Scott's fabulous dragon slayer.
RIGHT: Cars aren't the only attraction with beautiful lines.
Mario James, Gleaner Writer
COMPETITION IS ingrained in the human spirit. The need to constantly prove oneself against some benchmark, be it time or some other like-minded individual; even oneself. Human endeavour without competition is like knowledge without application, like breathing in a vacuum. It is just pointless.
In nature, life plays out as a competition. As animals have no mastery over the elements, they compete for the right to live. Humans have dominion, so our competitions don't have the same life or death conclusions as found in the animal kingdom. But they are just as serious, and fought with the same amount of fervour and passion.
Sounds of horsepower
Today, JamWest - Old Hope, Negril - comes alive with the sounds of horsepower. NevaSatisfy'd, held at the track on March 2 this year, was like a hundred shot of nitrous into the manifold of an ageing 4G63, attracting more than 10,000 rabid spectators. Drag racing seems to have finally found a home.
Lueboyz (Craig and Dwight Lue) have decided to release the hounds. Dean 'The Matador' Shaw, pilot/owner of Jamaica's fastest doorslammer - with his eight-second tube chassis 1969 Camaro - will take more of a back seat on this one, preferring to concentrate on the racing this time around. He is also at the centre of bike grudge match. The last time around, his stretched wheelbase turboed Honda CBR, while making it to the final, was whopped by experience in the form of Greg Cross. For this race meet, we are going to see Shaw step out of the white monster and strap on his crotch rocket. This bike held the track record at Vernamfield, posting a 10.031 before it was lengthened. The fastest time posted at JamWest in March was a 10.6, and it, according to Shaw, was not ridden to its full potential. With around 250 hp at the wheels, and 'The Matador' waving the red flag, this one should be mighty interesting!
Eyes at redline
Bryn Morgan should be there this time around with his rail. The last time he did an exhibition pass at JamWest, he ran a 7.9. With Shaw recently re-gearing his Camaro and extending the rev range to over 7,000 rpm, he should now be able to enter the eyes at redline, instead of running out of track before his ride hit its stride. It should be able to cut low eights, maybe even high sevens this time around, if the theory stacks up, so maybe the rail will actually have some competition. Definitely on, however, is the all-Camaro battle between Richard 'The Captain' Kidd and 'The Matador'. Kidd's Green machine actually pulled a faster 60-foot time (before hitting the concrete barrier) than Dean's car did during qualifying at the previous event, so this is no non-event.
The 10-second class will be hotly contested. Keroy Scott motivating his 1985 Corolla DX wagon powered by a Toyota 1JZ turbo motor has got to be the favourite in this field. With an adjustable four-link Ford rear and a fresh tranny, he is putting out close to 600 ponies and has the know-how to make his combination work. He'll be going up against promoter Craig Lue, who took the class in March with his Lue Blue Evo VII, when Keroy grenaded his transmission on the line in the final, posting consistently faster times on his way to the last race.
But there is a dark horse in this event; Tony Bayley, in a two-door Evo III, has dynoed at close to six bills with the wheels slipping on the rollers! Power to weight is on his side (two-door chassis). Lue is campaigning another car capable of 10s, a 1992 hatchback turbo B18 motor that's gassed to the gills with nitrous. If both his cars make it to the final, it should be funny seeing Craig Lue trying to split himself in two!
Eleven seconds and slower is a wide open field. Competitors like Shaun Smith and Eugene Grandison, if he shows up, are in it with a chance. Richard 'Puffy' Nicholas, entering his 5EFE 1498 cc EP71 bodied Turbo Starlet, has performed consistently enough over the years, and he is coming to JamWest with a fresh rebuild and wheelie bars. A low 11-second contender, the venerable Starlet now has lighter, stronger Pauter rods in its short block. It has run a 1.72 60-foot without wheelie bars, accompanied by lots of wheelspin. Puffy should now be able to plant those fat slicks and get a bigger bite out of the track. Look for him to have break-out capability.
Fun for fans
The fans won't be left out between races. Dean Corrodus, event organiser, promises that "Mandeville's Marcus Barnes and Al Siddique Ali, along with Montego Bay's Ivan Lee, will entertain the crowd during the break with sizzling, smoking dexterity displays of ultimate car control and handling."
He also says that a new access way has been cut, which will go a far way to alleviating the horrendous logjam that occurred after the last event; also a Red Bull VIP area will be constructed where "fans can sit in pampered luxury and view the event from an elevated platform".
Ten concessionaires will provide refreshment, and 40-foot containers will be positioned strategically alongside the track to give a vantage point to hordes of fans who are sure to come and witness this mother of all races. Pit passes cost $1,500, general admission $1,000 and special VIP parking areas $500. Musclecars rule!
mario.james@gleanerjm.com
