Dover goes a drifting

The Jamaica Race Drivers Club (JRDC) has officially announced the presence of five overseas drifters for its second meet of 2014. The Seaboard Marine Total Dover Drift Invasion and Speed race meet will be held at Dover Raceway, St Ann, on Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25.

According to Monique Gibbs, JRDC's Communications director, there will be no Jamaican leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CRMC) this year. Therefore, the special attraction will be a display by five US-based drifters, who operate under the banner Ter Tech.

They are Bill Stenger, Alberto Abalos, Ryan Kaufman, Joshua Kaufman and Harri Tervola.

It will not be all about drifting, of course. In addition to the presence of all the drivers who compete at the last race meet, Doug 'Hollywood' Gore will be racing in the MP2 category using Dean Corrodus' Honda.

Brian Ingleton of NuGen, speaking on behalf of Ter Tec, said the drifters are eagerly looking forward to being in Jamaica to entertain the expected crowd at Dover. They are travelling to Jamaica from Curacao and, before that, were in Puerto Rico and Aruba. The group boasts over eight years of drifting in several countries.

READY TO RACE

David Summerbell, who will be going to Barbados for the Top Gear Festival courtesy of the Barbados Tourism Authority, said that he and his car are ready to race at the upcoming meet. He plans to go for six wins - three in the MP4 and three in the Thundersport 2. He will be depending on the reliability of his car to do 45 laps and win the two categories outright.

Natasha Chang said that she had some issues at the last race meet, but she is now fully ready to take on all comers, including Kyle Gregg, who is leading the MP2 category.

JRDC president Charles Chen said that it is full speed ahead with the new rules, which have resulted in more exciting on-track action for the spectators. He also said that each race meet will have its own distinct event, to make it interesting for spectators who keep coming back to Dover meet after meet.

Gibbs said that spectators can expect continued improvements to Dover. The first 20 persons who book round-trip tickets on Knutsford Express to the meet will get complimentary pit passes.

Sponsors for next weekend's race meet are Seaboard Marine, Total, Texaco with Techron, Jamaica Automotive Association, Dekal Wireless, Knutsford Express, Pepsi Cola, Power 106, Music 99, Klas ESPN and Irie FM.

Co-title sponsor Seaboard Marine, represented by Michelle Marks, lauded the meet for its constant high-quality entertainment which families can look forward to. She said that Seaboard will be transporting the 'drift' cars to and from Jamaica.

The other co-title sponsor, Total, was represented by Andrea Stephenson, who endorsed the meet as a perfect fit for her company. She said Total's commitment showed when they were the first company to sponsor a group of drivers inn David Summerbell, Andre Anderson and Kyle Gregg, as well as Bracket 45. Now, she said, Total is stepping up to joint title sponsorship.