AMS Performance TA1 driven by David Summerbell from the CMRC Caribbean Invasion 2010

Despite the challenging situation the island nation of Jamaica is presently undergoing, the Jamaica Race Driver’s Club (JRDC) managed to pull off a successful first leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC), titled “Caribbean Invasion 2010”, on Sunday and Monday, May 23 and 24, 2010 with most classes qualifying on Sunday before a torrential downpour put an end to the 1st day’s proceedings and a full day of racing on Monday, all made possible with the assistance of Seaboard Marine, LIME and Turbo Energy drink.

A massive crowd turned out on the second day of the event to witness some of the most powerful circuit racing cars in the English speaking Caribbean grace the 1.6 mile track. Ample provision for spectator comfort, including 2 VIP all inclusive areas, seven covered stands and a large covered food court were in place. For those unable to enjoy the amenities at the venue, the races were streamed live on the internet at www.jrdc.org and www.ncumedia.com by the media services department of Northern Caribbean University and also broadcast live by Power 106.

AMS Performance TA1 driven by David Summerbell from the CMRC  Caribbean Invasion 2010

The man of the meet was undoubtedly “King” David Summerbell, who put his best foot forward in the defense of his 2009 Caribbean Motor Racing Championship by capturing pole position (1 min. 20.872 secs.) and winning all three CMRC races held plus a Modified Production Class 3 race and finishing second in a thrilling, 7 lap final race of the day, when the Thundersport class was run concurrently with Modified Production classes 1, 2 and 3. In that race, what seemed like a cat and mouse game between Summerbell who was driving his Total/PPG Paints/ AMS Performance sponsored Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 and veteran driver Peter “Zoom Zoom” Rae in his bright yellow Mazda RX7 went the way of Rae as the two drivers approached a back marker on the final lap with Summerbell in the lead. Rae used the opportunity to overtake both cars in a skillful overtaking maneuver to the outside and kept the lead to the checkered flag.
Mark Maloney of Barbados driving the Rockstar Energy Drink/Automotive Art Mazda RX3 put up the best challenge to the Jamaican contingent when he posted the 2nd fastest qualifying time of 1 min. 22.588 secs. early Monday morning and even led the first race for a while, but the raw straight line speed, the amazing handling and skillful talents of David Summerbell took him first to the checkered flag. Guyana’s Kevin Jeffrey driving the Top Power Racing Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 finished 3rd in race 1.

Summerbell again had it all his own way in race 2 followed by Team Mobay Racing’s Douglas “Hollywood” Gore who had switched cars to his Sherwin Williams Paints/Slam Condoms/Boomerang Tires/Tropical Battery Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 5, when his other car, the Lancer Evolution 10, had developed clutch problems causing him to retire on the first lap of race 1. Peter Rae was to finish 3rd. In the 3rd CMRC race, it was much the same, with a now familiar “Summer-Gore” 1-2 finish with Guyana’s Mark Viera in the Shell V Power/Digicel Mazda RX8 finally having a podium finish after a challenging weekend in Jamaica. Guyana’s Andrew King along with Barbados’ Doug Maloney both suffered from mechanical problems over the weekend and were not to place in any of the events.

– Dean Corrodus

More pictures from the event can be seen at vibeshots.com

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