Thompson prepares for Heroes Day speed meet

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

THE LITTLE blue-and-white, space-frame RX7 Mazda of Peter 'Bull' Thompson was seen last Saturday moving like a runaway train in the pouring rain at the Dover race circuit.

Thompson was preparing for next Monday's Heroes of Speed race meet.

"I was supposed to go and practise again yesterday but it was raining. So far, the car is feeling very good. It is now up to 250 horsepower," said a smiling Thompson yesterday.

Qualifying will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday with the first race set to get under way at noon.

This will be the final race meet of the Cable and Wireless-sponsored Jamaica Race Driver's Club (JRDC) championship. The event will also be used as a tribute to fallen heroes of local motor racing.

People such as Alfred Chen, Lance Douglas, Andrew Moscoe and Gary Grant. "The last race of the day will be the Alfred Chen Memorial," said Hilary Jardine, president of the JRDC, who will be receiving a national honour for his outstanding contribution to circuit racing.

Up to yesterday morning, Peter 'Zoom Zoom' Rae was still adding the finishing touches to his New York Brake/Autodon RX7 Mazda. Reports are that his sponsor, Mark Gerber of New York Brake, has brought down some special tyres and parts to boost the rotary engine.

The two Peters are hoping to stay ahead of Doug and Matthew Gore and David Summerbell.

Another veteran, Clinton 'Pinky' McGann, will again take on the opposition in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution super car. Further reports are that Team Xpress Racing competitors, including defending IP39 champion Rohan Clarke in a Nissan Pulsar, Julian Gordon in a Volkswagen Golf, Dion Gardner and Andy Williams in Mitsubishi Mirage RS's, are all busy preparing their cars for the big event. Likewise the Team MoBay Racing camp, as both Doug Gore and Gary Williams will be coming with new, more powerful engines for the meet after they suffered overheating problems at the previous race meet.