Bike Racing

Devan McCartney was the big winner as Bushy Park Motor Sports Inc (BPMSI) launched its 2018 Championship season last Sunday (March 25). Although entries were lower than anticipated, the races produced some quality action, with track conditions changing throughout the afternoon. Driving his familiar orange Zephirins Bakery/C & A Autobody Repair Honda CRX, former bike racer McCartney won Group 1 Class 2 in all three races, taking an early lead in the BPMSI Champion Driver title chase . . . just as he did at last year’s opening round.

Lifetime Achievement Awards recognise members’ contributions

Six decades of motor sport were celebrated on Saturday evening (February 3) when the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) combined its Annual Prizegiving at Mahogany Ridge, St Thomas, with a celebration of its 60th Anniversary, reached in 2017. The outstanding contributions of four long-standing members were rewarded with Lifetime Achievement Awards, while a number of the Club’s commercial partners were also recognised, along with the marshals, medical support teams and the media.

As the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF) prepares for this weekend’s start of the 2018 motor sport season, it does so without long-standing Vice-President John Sealy, who has retired. In a heartfelt tribute to the former VP, BMF President Andrew Mallalieu acknowledged that “replacing John with just one person is impossible”, so there will be some changes in the BMF structure.

Team Barbados will be represented in all four Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) categories for cars when the 2017 season finale runs off this weekend (November 11/12) in Guyana. Reigning Group Champions Mark Maloney (Gp4/2wd) and Mark Thompson (Gp2) will be joined by former CMRC Champion Roger Mayers (Gp4 /4wd) and Tremaine Forde-Catwell (Gp3).

Former F1 World Champion Jenson Button raced against cars, karts and a plane at Bushy Park Barbados on Saturday (October 14) when he headed a cast of international visitors in the island’s second Festival of Speed. During an action-packed eight-hour programme, which ran from day into night, there was something for everyone, including a half-time show with Allison Hinds the headline act.

The Twister Aerobatics Team, one of the star turns packing the eight-hour schedule for Saturday’s (October 14) Barbados Festival of Speed, will give the island a preview of the action tomorrow (Wednesday), with two spectacular air displays in their 180mph Silence SA1100 aircraft. In their first-ever display in the Americas, they will fly from Bushy Park Barbados to Cave Hill, then back along the south coast at noon and 6.00pm.

Former World F1 Champion Jenson Button will have his work cut out at next weekend’s (Saturday, October 14) Barbados Festival of Speed. Among a number of challenges accepted by Button and current Sahara Force India driver Esteban Ocon is for the 2009 Champion to race against one of the Silence SA1100 aircraft which will be starring in the Twister Aerobatic Team’s daytime aerial ballet and twilight pyrotechnics displays.