“No way I was missing Rally Carnival” says Flying Scotsman
Barbados
Rally Carnival regular Graeme Finlayson was looking forward to a few
days’ holiday before the start of the sixth running of the annual event
. . . but that will be the last thing on his mind when he arrives in
the island in 10 days’ time. Before he can compete in the Vaucluse
Raceway International RallySprint (May 27) and Rally Barbados 2006
(June 3/4), he has to finish building his new rally car!
The
Scotsman has become a popular figure among local rally fans following
his regular appearances in the lightweight motorcycle-engined Fluke
sports car, which he brought to Barbados for the past four years. As he
reports, however, this year he has something different: “I had an offer
for the car that I really couldn't refuse and, after five years, it was
time to try something new, anyway. A shame, but I was starting to feel
the need for a roof and some door bars - I could never take my eyes off
the telegraph poles in the Fluke!”
There is a long-term project in the pipeline, described by
Finlayson as “a real beast, but a good 12 months away”; never happy if
not competing, however, the former kart racer bought a Peugeot 205,
which would have fitted into the Production 3 category in Barbados. It
was not quick enough, however: “I couldn't face the thought of
pottering around at relatively sedate speeds in Barbados with a
front-wheel-drive car (no matter how pretty it was) so I got hold of a
rear-wheel-drive 205 in January.”
Work has been continuing since then; what Finlayson believes is a
former grasstrack race car now has 2-litre 220 horsepower Vauxhall
engine, ultra-light flywheel, a proper clutch, some big brakes and a
six-speed Quaife sequential gearbox. But there are many other things it
hasn’t got!
As Finlayson explains: “There is no way we were going to miss Rally
Carnival but the flipside, thanx to being let down by specialists,
external mechanics and suppliers is that we're going to have a bit of
work to do in Barbados, as the car is arriving only partially finished.
We will be testing and shaking down for the first time once we arrive.
The car should certainly be fun, and at least we'll have a roof, some
protection from the elements and a bit more room.”
Co-driver for Rally Barbados will be Finlayson’s close friend
Martin Atwell, who campaigned a Westfield sports car similar to the
Fluke a few seasons ago; Atwell, who comes from a Bajan family steeped
in motor sport, will drive the Peugeot at the RallySprint, so Finlayson
gets at least some rest: “As I won't be getting much holiday this year,
I'd like to have just the one weekend relaxing on what might be the
only chance of this year!”
Another British driver returning for Rally Carnival is Simon
Wallis, the only European driver to have been classified in the overall
results of Rally Barbados for the past three years . . . and he will be
driving the fourth different car with the fourth different co-driver in
four years! Wallis, who has previously brought three different Vauxhall
Astras to the island, isn’t bringing a car at all this year!
Instead, he will be driving the Modified 7 Peugeot 205GTi
campaigned in recent seasons by Peugeot preparation wizard Simon
Gillmore and his son Anthony; and Wallis’s co-driver is home-grown, too
– on the notes will be Barbados Rally Club committee member Lindsay
Farmer, who last contested the event two years ago, sitting alongside
St Vincent’s Steve Ollivierre.
New-look web site for Caribbean’s biggest motor sport event
The Rally Barbados web site has been completely redesigned to keep
the many thousands of motor sport fans worldwide who follow the event
better informed. Just go on-line and find www.rallybarbados.bb for all
the latest news and, within the next few days, the rally schedule and
entry list.
The site has been designed by GeoOrbis, a company which provides
satellite imagery, GIS consulting, vehicle tracking, real estate
virtual tours and web site development regionally and internationally.
"We were thrilled to provide web site design and development for
the Rally Barbados web site. The project manager, designer and
programmer are all hard-core enthusiasts as well as competitors", says
Sean Chandler of GeoOrbis.
"Without disclosing too much, we are working on providing stage
results during the event, in more than one format if possible. Anyone
visiting the site right now can see that the photos are presented in an
unique way, allowing for larger, brighter photos than ever before."
"We have also made it very easy for the Rally Barbados committee to
update the site by adding regulations, photos, entry forms, press
releases, spectator information and stage maps."
Key dates for Barbados Rally Carnival 2006
Saturday, May 20 – scrutineering for local entries, McEnearney Quality, Wildey
Friday, May 26 – scrutineering for overseas entries, McEnearney Quality
Saturday, May 27 – Vaucluse Raceway International RallySprint, Vaucluse Raceway, St Thomas
Thursday, June 1 – Rally Barbados 2006 shakedown
Saturday, June 3 – Rally Barbados 2006, day 1
Sunday, June 4 – Rally Barbados 2006, day 2
Monday, June 5 – Rally Barbados 2006 prize-giving, The Boatyard
For further information, robin@bradfax.com - BRC web site: www.rallyclub.com
