Something has to give
Veteran driver Peter Rae seeks balance between CMRC and JRDC circuit
PETER RAE, who will make his final pass as a motor racer this year, has confirmed his participation at the May 1213 Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) opener set for the JamWest Motorsports and Adventure Park in Negril.
Rae started racing dirt bikes at age eight before graduating to go-karts and eventually becoming one of Jamaica’s most well-known race car drivers.
However, after 50 years, he has decided to take his final flag, saying that he will bow out locally at Heroes of Speed in October by resurrecting one of his iconic cars, the ‘Pocket Rocket’ Mini Cooper.
Meanwhile, the elder statesman is all for Jamaica capitalising on home advantage at the opening leg of the CMRC, ditching what he described as “behind-thescenes politics” involving the Dover, St Ann-based Jamaica Race Drivers’ Club (JRDC), which has a meet scheduled a week later.
Local drivers are balking at the proximity of the meets, saying that it would be financial suicide, made worse by a warning that no JRDC championship points will be allocated for drivers taking part at the CMRC meet at JamWest.
Rae said that he will be driving at both meets and hopes that something gives, especially JRDC’s position of withholding club championship points.
At least 33 cars have been confirmed from overseas competitors for the CMRC opener, including debut international participation from United States’ Caribbean American Motor Sports.
Waving a conciliatory white flag, Silbourne Clarke, Caribbean Motor Racing Association chairman, said that the JRDC is welcome to stage its meet at JamWest on Saturday, May 12. However, crews participating in any of the six CMRC championship events the following day must abide by that organisation’s rules.
“For this particular event, we are trying to get local involvement. Jamaica should be leading in country points at the end of this leg, but, last year, it was Trinidad and Tobago who were leading. It’s all about ego, but we want the sport to flourish,” said Rae.
WIN-WIN SITUATION
“I have been trying to iron out things between JamWest and our club, JRDC, because the previous JRDC administration was very involved with the CMRC,”Rae explained, pointing out that the sport, and Jamaica, by extension, has everything to gain from a harmonious relationship between the two bodies.
“It’s a win-win situation because JamWest is soon to be accredited FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) Level 3.
“This means JamWest will soon be able to feature Porsches [and] Mustangs, which Dover can’t accommodate. JamWest is alive and kicking. Dover only hosts three or four meets for the year, and that’s it. JamWest has an Adventure park and tourists passing through,” he added.
“JamWest is a faster track at which top speed averages 150 mph down the main straight. At Dover, it’s 122 mph. The circuit is about the same length, 1.6 miles, but JamWest is a faster track. The straightaway and the corners are very fast.
“I have this brand, Reggae Racers, which I use to promote Brand Jamaica. We have one set of people, fans, who we are trying to move around the place, which is hard with all this infighting,” Rae added.