Left: Douglas Gore driving a Mitsubishi Evolution VIIII at the JMMC Petcom All Stages Rally at Bog Walk, St. Catherine - day two on December 4, 2005. Right: Cars rev up the entertainment value of motor rallies like the The JMMC Petcom All Stages Rally held at Bog Walk, St. Catherine in December. - ANDREW SMITH PHOTOS
FOR SOME PEOPLE, race car driving is much more than just cars, it's an entertainment option.
The motor events are held at Dover raceway in St. Ann, Vernam Fields in Clarendon, Palisadoes Go-Kart Track and rally stages in different parishes, with a fanfare in New Kingston. At these events there are bike, car, and go-kart races, drag racing, bike stunts, and bike and car burn out competitions among other things.
The excitement that engulfs motor races leads patrons to the events year after year. Families and friends gather at each staging to absorb the entertainment. "I go to rally every time they have it with my family. We carry our igloo, chairs and umbrella and just sit at one spot and watch the cars pass. I come here for entertainment because it's a nice outdoor event, and the driving is very entertaining," said Denise, a patron.
For one man, the bikini models at Vernam Fields are what caught his attention. "I'm not really a car person but when I heard about the bikini models, I had to go, you know. I'm all about the ladies. They don't have them all the time, but that time was good. I go every once in a while just for the fun of it, plus there is music in between the races and an MC," said Mark.
Dover is a full day of activities, including food.
"We go for the drive out in the country with the children. It's clean entertainment, no expletives from the microphone and there is a shaded building for us to sit under and watch the races. I think Dover and other racing meets are definite entertainment options as it's a fun-filled day. Even if you don't know the technicalities of the cars, just watching the races is enough fun," said Pauline.
Left: A crowd watches while Jonathan Still from Barbados drives a BMW M3.
Right: A car goes through the water pool. - ANDREW SMITH PHOTOS
New Kingston is where Kingstonians who don't go to the rural rally stages go for their entertainment. In New Kingston, Knutsford Boulevard is lined with cones and barricades for the creative styling of the race car drivers, while the crowd lines the sides of the street.
"New Kingston is the hypest part for me cause the driving mad, the crowd full a vibes and the entertainment free. Even though the crowd thick, you nuh haffi worry bout nuh man a pick yuh or fight or anything. It's a lot of fun, nice Sunday evening entertainment. I would go to this any day over a session or a stage show," said Bryan.
The Jamaica Motoring Club (JMC) sees the motor races as a definite entertainment option, although some stages are more entertaining than others.
"The New Kingston and Bog Walk stages, where there is the water splash, are more popular, they are more spectator friendly. There is music there, but only as fillers. Most people come out for the drag races at Vernam Fields and Jamwest, they are the most popular events. The events are really for car lovers but everyone can come out and enjoy the entertainment," said Marcia Dawes, executive secretary for JMC.
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