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When the 22 confirmed crews line up for this Saturday’s (April 14) Chefette April Safari - the second round of the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) MudDogs Safari Championship - they will be facing a tough challenge . . . unlike most events, however, this will not be a challenge created by bad weather creating muddy terrain, but man-made, because of the almost drought-like conditions of recent weeks.
When the entry list was confirmed at last night’s (Tuesday) Briefing Meeting at the Barbados Clay Target Shooting Association (BCTSA) Club House at Searles, Christ Church, the route-setters offered a few words of advice, reports the BRC’s MudDogs Chairman, Warren Gollop: “With some carefully chosen words, Kirk Watkins promised that, since the weather won’t co-operate with challenging conditions, then he and Sean Dowding have created them, in the form of ‘to-the-letter’ navigational challenges.
“The route is approximately 70 per cent ‘as you see it’ and 30 per cent map work. ‘Watty’ encouraged crews to read their rally manuals, and brush up on their knowledge, as it will be tested. Much of the Chefette April Safari will be on unfamiliar roads from recent events . . . and some may have been unused for a very long time.”
After the start at Chefette Wildey – the first crew, John Pinto and Nick Branson (Suzuki Jimny) will set off at 2.01pm – the route will move quickly into the south-east corner of the island, then wind its way back and forth to Stop-Over at Chefette Charles Rowe Bridge. After the second route winds around the central parishes, the finish will be at Country View Bar in Market Hill. Gollop adds: “There will be two spectator challenges in the vicinity of the bar. Just rock up and ask for directions!”
Some shuffling of driver and navigator combinations, plus the absence of others committed elsewhere, means that new names on this weekend’s entry list bring to more than 50 competitors who have been involved in MudDogs this year. Gollop welcomes all newcomers and returnees and had this to say: “I am pleased to have new crews on the roster and a couple of returning near-novices to welcome back into the fold.
“I am wary, however, as this is going to be a true test of their resolve! Thankfully, the MudDogs family is known to be very accommodating to the rookies, and I am sure they will appreciate it for this event. Sean Dowding said to me today ‘we will either be loved or hated at the end . . . there will not be many in between!’”
On the sponsorship front, Gollop concluced: “I am very encouraged to have Chefette Restaurants, in their 40th Anniversary celebration year, on board for a second Safari in succession, and in their second year of this partnership. I know their inclusion has been well accepted by hungry rallyists and appreciative marshals.”
The Prizegiving for the Chefette April Safari will be held at the BCTSA Club House on Monday (April 19), once results are made final.
BRC MudDogs Safari Championship
& Chefette MudDogs Safari Novice Championship
Round 2 - April 18 - Chefette March Safari
Chefette Novice Class
1 John Pinto/Nick Branson (Suzuki Jimny)
2 Dominic Straker/Nicholas Pinto (Hunte’s Auto Spares Nissan Patrol)
4 Michael Fields/Roslind Jackson (Land Rover Defender 110)
6 Damien Johnson/Daniel Christie (Suzuki Samurai)
14 Justin Inniss/Chris Choat (ACE Engineering/Amalie Oil/Quik Liners VW Baja Manx)
16 Nicholas Czuchnicki/Ryan Foster (Land Rover Defender 110)
20 Aswad Bannister/Nyere Jones (Toyota Hilux)
22 Jamal McCollin/Dermot King (K & G Services Suzuki Samurai)
Pro Class
3 Judy-Ann Bradshaw/Peter Bradshaw (Land Rover Defender 110)
5 Simon Parravicino/Andrew Croney (Sweet Temptations Suzuki Samurai)
7 Nicolas Lorde/Warrick Eastmond (Niccolls & Edghill Construction/Comfeet/Sam Lorde’s Activity Centre Land Rover Discovery)
8 Chris Armstrong/Wayne Clarke (Toyota Hilux)
9 Kerry Renee/Jason Downey (Suzuki Samurai)
10 Audley Croney/Jeremy Croney (CC Motorsports/Sweet Temptations Suzuki Samurai)
11 Leslie Alleyne/Chris O’Neal (Huzier Ltd Mahindra Pik-Up)
12 Michael Ward/Willie Hinds (Suzuki Samurai)
13 Mark Western/Robin Hinds (Yardman/Kar Parts Store Nissan Patrol)
15 Ryan Corbin/Dustin Edwards (Corbin’s Catering Services/Mahogany Ridge/Crane & Equipments/SDRR)
17 Matthew Durant/Andre Murrell (Green Leaf Design/Midas Magic Auto Valet Suzuki Jimny)
18 Sean Mottley/Michelle Oliver (CIBC First Caribbean International Bank Suzuki Vitara)
19 Gregory Dickenson/Rorie McConney (Toyota Hilux)
21 Ben Norris/Darnley Rayside (Electric Avenue Land Rover Discovery)
For further media information, robin@bradfax.com
Web sites: www.barbadosrallyclub.com [2], www.muddogsbarbados.com
