BARBADOS RALLY CLUB RETAINS FOCUS ON ITS ROOTS

Despite the established worldwide appeal of Sol Rally Barbados, the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport International, the event’s organiser, the Barbados Rally Club (BRC), has not lost track of its roots. As the Club begins its 56th season, members were reminded of the importance of its history in grass roots motor sport at the Club’s AGM last Friday (March 8).   In his annual address, out-going Chairman Geoff Noel told members at the Barbados Clay Target Shooting Association (BCTSA) Clubhouse at Searles, Christ Church: “We have history, lots of it! Among the Committee of Management’s targets for 2013 is to continue our efforts to support the MudDogs and Autocross events, as we value their importance to the club, both from an historical and developmental perspective.”   A navigational rally in June 1955 was the catalyst to the foundation of the BRC - it remains the longest-established motor sport event in the Caribbean with a continuous history – while autocross also played an important part in the Club’s early days. In their current form, both are regularly attracting newcomers to motor sport.   Dealing with some of the CoM’s other annual targets, Noel continued: “We continue to be proactive in our approach to getting sponsorship for the club. This is on-going, and our success is evident in the continuing commercial arrangements achieved with our long-term partners. The current economic environment is not having the major negative effect that we had all anticipated, but we are aware that this is an item that will constantly need attention.”   The Club’s 2013 calendar got under way at Bushy Park, St Philip, last month (February 23), with reigning BRC Autocross Champion Omar Boodhoo winning the first of four rounds, which attracted an encouraging influx of newcomers. Clerk of the Course Geoff Goddard said: “The top six finishers in the 2012 Championship were among the entries, while 11 first-timers took the opportunity offered by the Club which, in the interests of trying to encourage more people to become involved, waived all fees for this event.”   The off-road navigational programme kicks off next Saturday (March 16) with the BRC March Safari, the first of five rounds in the Chefette MudDogs Safari and Chefette MudDogs Safari Novice Championships. An increased involvement from Chefette Restaurants sees the company sponsoring the overall Championship, as well as continuing its support for the Novice class.   The first two rounds of the Virgin Atlantic Driver’s and Class Championships will take place the following weekend (Sunday, March 24) at the double-header gravel speed event organised by the Motoring Club of Barbados Inc (MCBI).   During the evening, Noel thanked retiring CoM member Warren Gollop “for his sterling work as Assistant Competition Secretary and MudDogs Chairman over the past few years” and also made special mention of Autocross Clerk of the Course Goddard “for his efforts in promoting and running the BRC’s Autocross events, without which this part of the Club would struggle.” He also thanked the large band of volunteer marshals, Stage Commanders and the media for their continued support of the Club’s programme. The full Barbados Rally Club Committee of Management for 2013 is: Chairman, Mark Hamilton; Vice-Chairman, Geoffrey Noel; Treasurer, Jeanne Crawford; Competition Secretary, Neil Corbin; Assistant Competition Secretary, Darnley Rayside; Vehicle Classification Officer, Adrian Linton; Secretary, Jamal Brathwaite; Marshal Liaison Officer, Roger Hill; Equipment Officer, Roger Sargeant; Public Relations Officer, Neil Barnard; Entertainment Secretary, Sean Gill. Virgin Atlantic BRC Driver's & Class Championships BRC 2wd & 4wd Championships Rounds 1 & 2 - March 24 – MCBI Speed Event Round 3 - Apr 28 - BRC Shakedown Stages Round 4 – May 26 - Scotiabank King of the Hill Rounds 5 & 6 - June 1/2 - Sol Rally Barbados Round 7 - August 17 - BRC Summer Nights Tarmac Stages Round 8 & 9 - September 29 - BRC Autumn Gravel Sprint Rounds 10 - October 13 - BRC Winter Gravel Rally Chefette MudDogs Safari Championship & Chefette MudDogs Safari Novice Championship Round 1 - March 16 - BRC MudDogs March Safari Round 2 - April 13 – Chefette April Safari May Day MudFest - May 1 Round 3 - June 29/30 – Sol Go Further June Safari Round 4 - September 15 - BRC MudDogs September Safari Round 5 - November 10 - Nassco November Safari BRC Autocross Championship Round 1 – February 23 Round 2 - May 19 Round 3 - August 11 Round 4 - October 26 For media information only. No regulatory value. For further media information, robin@bradfax.com Web sites: www.rallybarbados.net, www.barbadosrallyclub.com, www.muddogsbarbados.com