CHEFETTE SUPPORTS MUDDOGS AGAIN IN 2014

Chefette Restaurants has been confirmed as title sponsor of the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) MudDogs Safari Championship for the second year, continuing its enthusiastic backing for the series, which began with the awarding of Novice trophies in 2010. Competitors are now making preparations for the new season, which will kick off with the March Safari on Sunday, March 16.

Four months since victory in the Nassco November Safari sealed the 2013 Champion Navigator and Driver titles for Chris O’Neal and Leslie Alleyne respectively, the MudDogs – the BRC’s off-road division – are preparing to do battle once again for the Sextant Challenge Trophy and the Peter Farmer Memorial Trophy.

Entries for the March Safari opened on Monday (March 3) at Motorsport Services in Haggatt Hall and will close next Tuesday (March 11) at noon; the Briefing Meeting will be held at 7.30pm the same evening, at the Barbados Clay Target Shooting Association (BCTSA) Club House at Searles, Christ Church, after which the entry list will be published. The Prizegiving will be held at The Mill, Canewood, St Michael on Tuesday, March 18, once results are made final.

Route-setters for the season-opener are Pete Bradshaw and Willie Hinds, both experienced off-road competitors. Bradshaw has set route 1, with Hinds responsible for the Safari’s second half. While details of the route are still being finalised, the year’s first event is intended to encourage newcomers to navigational events to enjoy their day and take a long-term interest in the sport.

With the new season come some changes in the MudDogs structure. Last year’s Chairman Darnley Rayside has stepped down to Vice-Chairman, and is replaced by Ricky Holder. In addition, there have been some changes to the qualifications for a Novice to be upgraded to the Pro Class: from now, a Novice will be promoted if he or she wins a Safari, places in the top 10 twice in one season or has contested a total of 15 Safaris. Simply winning the Novice Championship does not qualify a competitor for Pro status.

Ahead of the new season, Holder said: “The MudDogs are looking forward to this year. Our calendar has been expanded, with three dates on the MudFest list in May, August and October, to add to the usual five rounds of the Chefette MudDogs Safari Championship. We are keen to play our part in island motor sport, which looks set to reach new heights in 2014.”

The pricing structure for competitors has also been slightly modified: the entry fee is $40.00 per vehicle (late entry $55.00), insurance $40.00, Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF) annual restricted licence fee $70.00 per person; in addition, BRC membership fees are $200.00 for annual subscription or $50.00 for temporary membership.

As before, MudDogs are required to compete in four out of the five Safaris to be eligible for year-end Championship points; if they compete in all five Safaris, then their best four scores will count. First place on each Safari earns 60 points, second place earns 58, decreasing by two points per position down to 30th, which earns two points. All positions after 30th will earn one point.

Chefette MudDogs Safari Championship

& Chefette MudDogs Safari Novice Championship Round 1 - March 16 - BRC MudDogs March Safari Round 2 - April 6 – BRC MudDogs April Safari MudFest - May 4 Round 3 - June 28/29 – BRC MudDogs June Safari MudFest - August 17 Round 4 - September 21 - BRC MudDogs September Safari MudFest - October 26 Round 5 - November 9 - BRC MudDogs November Safari