‘MUD DOGS’ TACKLE TOYO TIRES SAFARI SATURDAY

The Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) Mud Dogs Safari Championship gets under way on Saturday (March 8) with the Toyo Tires March Safari. Nearly 30 crews have entered the opening round of the newly-titled Championship, an encouraging start for the organisers, who have big plans to build on the recent growth in this section of the sport.
The start is slated for 2.00pm from Collins Ltd, Warrens, following scrutineering; the route, set by former June Rally winner Stewart Gill, will concentrate on the island’s central and eastern parishes and finish at around 10.30pm, after which there will be a ‘lime’ for competitors, marshals and spectators at the BCTSA Clubhouse at Searles, Christ Church.
A feature of all Safaris this season will be a Driver’s Challenge set out at a venue where spectators can easily be accommodated; on Saturday, it will be at the Vaucluse Raceway in St Thomas and include a stop-over between around 5.30 and 7.00pm.
‘Mud Dogs’ is a new identity created for the BRC’s 4x4 section, which has been growing steadily in recent years, particularly since the introduction in 2004 of what is now called the Safari Championship. Former Champion Driver Leslie Alleyne, who was elected Assistant Competition Secretary at the Club’s AGM last month, is chairing a new sub-committee, whose goal is to grow this aspect of the sport. Alleyne notes: “The name ‘Mud Dogs’ was conceived to create a fun and modern identity for our sport, and one which embodies the spirit of our members . . . and the conditions in which we compete.
“We have come up with a plan to take the Safari Championship to a higher level, and are actively seeking sponsorship to fund our plans; we have already secured Toyo Tires and Shelbury Construction as title sponsors of our first two events, and aim to secure four more. All will get recognition at every event and on our promotional material and clothing, although each will select a specific event of which to be title sponsor.”
The BRC Mud Dogs Safari Championship will comprise six events, four off-road navigational rallies run under the Safari title and two challenge events known as MudFests; trophies will be awarded at each event. As before, the four Safaris will include separate Championships for Navigator and Driver, with additional special awards including highest-placed novice and female; for the MudFests, there will be one championship rewarding the highest-placed competitors.
The Prizegiving for the Toyo Tires March Safari will be held at the BCTSA Clubhouse next Tuesday (March 11) at 7.00pm, once results have been made official.

BRC Mud Dogs Safari Championship, round 1
March 8 – Toyo Tires March Safari
Pro Class
1 Paul Marshall/Ricky Holder (Mitsubishi L200)
2 Sean Dowding/Kirk Watkins (Axis Construction Toyota Hilux)
4 Leslie Alleyne/Anna-Lee Alleyne (Bridgestone Tires/AutoZone Inc Mitsubishi Pajero iO)
6 Nicholas Lorde/Warrick Eastmond (Biddy’s Visitor Information/Niccolls & Edghill Construction Ltd Suzuki Grand Vitara)
8 John Sealy/Lisa Roett (Land Rover Defender)
9 Gregory Dickenson/Tim Wells (Home & Lawn Maintenance Services Ltd Toyota Hilux)
10 Colin Goodman/Chris O’Neal (Suzuki Samurai)
14 Dean Springer/Andrew Croney (Eastern Veterinary Clinic Suzuki Vitara)
16 Christopher Beckley/Warren Gollop (Essco Mitsubishi Pajero)
17 Barry Gale/Neil Barnard (Mitsubishi L200)
18 Chris Armstrong/Wayne Clarke (Suzuki Samurai)
19 Michael Ward/Willie Hinds (Niccolls & Edghill Construction Ltd Jeep Wrangler)
21 Ryan Corbin/Dustin Edwards (Corbins Catering Services/Sweet Temptations Toyota Hilux)
22 Audley Croney/Geoffrey Goddard (Suzuki Samurai)
24 Darrin White/Robert Warren (Flyin’ Fish Nissan Frontier)
25 Mark Western/Robin Hinds (Yardman/Kar Parts Store Land Rover Defender)
28 Sean Mottley/Kreigg Yearwood (Suzuki Vitara)
Novice Class
3 Dominic Brooker/Stephen Dear (SDRR Hydraulic & Industrial Spares Inc/Next Generation Electrical Inc Toyota Hilux)
5 Feroze Rafikh/Farouk Smith (Phoenix Construction & Maintenance Jeep CJ7)
7 Hadley Green/Justin Cuke (Hunt’s Auto/Stingray Car Rental Toyota Hilux)
11 Edson Arthur/Renne Mings (Rezults Auto Shop Toyota Hilux)
12 Ryan Sisnett/Ryan Batson (Land Rover Defender)
13 Damian Brooker/Derek Edwards (Joe Brooker’s Building Ltd/SDRR Hydraulic & Industrial Spares Inc Toyota Hilux)
15 Russell Williams/Geoffrey Pilgrim (Suzuki Samurai)
20 Anthony Seal-Mayers/Renatta Roett (Simpson Motors Suzuki Samurai)
23 Kirk King/Trisha King (K & N Equipment Suzuki Samurai)
26 Ian Worrell/Wayne Manning (Black Bess/Sunbeach Land Rover Series III)
27 Adrian Sinckler/Winston Drakes (Suzuki Samurai)
29 Rodney Mason/Wendell Skeete (Rodney’s Trucking/Gill’s Auto Body Shop/Jan’s Mini Mart Mitsubishi Pajero)

2008 BRC Mud Dogs Safari Championship
March 8 – Toyo Tires March Safari
May 1 – May Day MudFest
June 28/29 – Shelbury Construction June Safari
July 20 – Summer MudFest
September 21 – September Safari
November 9 – November Safari

For further information, robin@bradfax.com