Rally Jamaica 2015: Living up to expectations!

This is an old predictable joke – What has four wheels and flies? The uninformed would ponder and come up short. The astute would pause for a rather brief interval and then bellow – A garbage truck! And the audience laughs!

That joke has to be modified, based on what I saw today in the orchard. It will be funny no more! Rallying is serious business. How serious? Calculate. A tried, tested and proven WRC machine costs upwards of £250,000! That is serious business!

But, as witnessed today, modern rally machines when wrapped in capable hands, can fly! A WRC machine has four rather irascible wheels and when mated to the rocket boosters buried in the engine bay, flight is only seconds away!

On one of the stages I stood next to the Start-box and when the timer (counting down for a minute) got to 5 seconds, launch control was initiated, mechanical concerto ensued and when the magic mark appeared – zero -BLAST OFF- occurred!

If you have never witnessed Rally Jamaica you still have time ! And guess what? Gravel, as I predicted is under siege – what with Jeffery Panton, John Penti Powell, Kyle Gregg and Joel Jackson, crushing pedal to metal !

Sunday’s stages promises more of the same but an enticing conclusion is planned! I will close with this treat. On one of the stages, as Kyle Gregg appeared sideways, exited one corner, repositioned and flung the Evo 9 into another challenging right, anti- lag singing like a canary – machine skillfully corrected and aimed towards the brief straight ahead, hurling dust, stones, and oranges in the direction of the raving, approving fans, a member of Bogwalk’s local fraternity who was observing the enthralling spectacle, shouted with an officer’s authority – SUMMERBELLLLLLLLL! Rally Jamaica 2015 !

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On- Line Writer