STRONG SUPPORT FOR TOYO TIRES SAFARI

More than half the 36 crews entered for the Toyo Tires February Safari on Sunday (February 11) are in the novice class, promising further continued growth in the sport of navigational rallying; it is the first round of the 2007 Barbados Rally Club (BRC) Safari Championship and launches the Club’s 50th Anniversary season.
The BRC was founded in 1957, following the first running of the June Rally, which is still on its annual calendar as the longest-running motor sport event in the Caribbean; with considerable interest surrounding the Club’s planned celebrations, some famous names from the past appear on this weekend’s provisional entry list.
Navigational committee member Lindsay Farmer says: “I am very pleased with the entry, particularly bearing in mind this is the first event of the year, and there are some regular competitors out of the island. And its great to see entries from guys like Doug Armstrong, Hal Hunte, Bruce Skeete and Timothy Wells, who haven’t been seen in action for a long while.
“Hopefully, this near-equal mix of experienced crews and novices will mean the newcomers can learn quickly, and be encouraged to join us on a regular basis.”
Hunte is one of a number of former winners of the June Rally (1986, with Phil Tallboys) listed for action this weekend – he will navigate for Armstrong in a Toyota Land Cruiser; others include Wayne Clarke, one of only three navigators to win four times, twice with Don Hunte (1991 and ’93) and twice with Chris Armstrong (2000 & 01), with whom he is entered again on Sunday.
John Sealy won the June Rally as both navigator (with Bill Mallalieu in 1967) and driver (Mallalieu again, in 1978) – he drives his Land Rover Defender, with new navigator Lisa Roett; Derek Gill is another with wins from both sides of the vehicle, his in the more recent four-wheel-drive events, as navigator with Peter Bradshaw in 2002 and driver with Kevyn Yearwood in 2005 – he will drive his Suzuki Jimny with 2006 Champion Navigator Andrew Croney.
Bradshaw set Sunday’s route, assisted by Kirk King - they promise an event which is not only challenging navigationally, but also for the drivers; it will use approximately 70 per cent Tulip and 30 per cent BRC navigation.
Champion Navigator and Driver of 2005 Neil Barnard and Barry Gale are also entered, in a Mitsubishi L200, while Farmer and regular navigator Megan Blades will be swapping sides in their Suzuki Samurai; add in regular top 10 finishers Christopher Beckley/Warren Gollop (Mitsubishi Pajero), Chris Choat Jr/Justin Inniss (Range Rover 'Special'), Justin Cuke/Jeremy Croney (Suzuki Samurai), Paul Marshall/Ian Hutson (Mitsubishi L200) and Michael Ward/Willie Hinds (Jeep Wrangler) and a very competitive day is in store.
The first crew will set off from Toyo Tires dealer McEnearney Quality Inc’s premises in Wildey, St Michael, at 8:01am; the first route will end with a stop-over in the vicinity of Hampton, St Philip, with the Safari scheduled to finish at around 4.30pm at the BCTSA Clubhouse at Searles, Christchurch.

Toyo Tires February Safari, February 11
2007 BRC Safari Championship – round 1

Provisional entry list (at Friday, February 9)
Pro class
1 Sean Gibbs/Timothy Wells (Boardwalk Realty Toyota Hilux)
3 Megan Blades/Lindsay Farmer (Rallynut.com Suzuki Samurai)
7 Michael Ward/Willie Hinds (Jeep Wrangler)
8 Stewart Gill/Bruce Wilkie (Suzuki Samurai)
9 Barry Gale/Neil Barnard (Nishikoi Fish Foods Mitsubishi L200)
10 John Sealy/Lisa Roett (Land Rover Defender)
11 Doug Armstrong/Hallam Hunte (Toyota Land Cruiser)
12 Justin Cuke/Jeremy Croney (Simpson Motors/JCB Excavators/Yokahama Tyres Suzuki Samurai)
13 Mark Western/Robin Hinds (Yardman/Kar Parts Store Suzuki Samurai)
14 Derek Gill/Andrew Croney (Suzuki Jimny)
15 Paul Marshall/Ian Hutson (Mitsubishi L200)
21 Noel Edwards/Jason Downey (Western Union Suzuki Vitara)
26 Bruce Skeete/Peter Wilkie (Rent-Equip Isuzu D-Max)
30 Chris Armstrong/Wayne Clarke (Suzuki Samurai)
31 Christopher Beckley/Warren Gollop (Essco/Gumball Mitsubishi Pajero)
33 Brett Barber/Warrick Eastmond (Biddy's Information Centre/First Step Realty/McEnearney Quality Inc Diahatsu Feroza)
34 Colin Goodman/Darrin White (Suzuki Samurai)

Novice class
2 Anthony King/Dave Sealy (Dynamic Limo/D & W Rentals & Taxi Service Toyota Hilux)
4 Renne Mings/Edson Arthur (Suzuki Samurai)
5 Christian Duncan/Robert King (Suzuki Samurai)
6 Mark Phillips/Dean Springer (Eastern Veterinary Clinic Suzuki Samurai)
16 Chris Choat Jr/Justin Inniss (Ontrac Systems Inc/Ace Engineering Range Rover 'Special')
17 Rory Gray/Dane McConney (Land Rover)
18 Rodney Mason/Wendell Skeete (Mitsubishi Pajero)
19 Hadley Green/tba (Hunte Auto Toyota Hilux)
20 Ryan Corbin/Dustin Edwards (Toyota Hilux)
22 Chris King/Tricia King (Suzuki Samurai)
23 Daryl Clarke/Marva Clarke (Suzuki Samurai)
24 Gregory Dickenson/Anna-Maria Dickenson (Toyota Hilux)
25 Tfrhill Juman/Russell Wilson (Suzuki Samurai)
27 Anthony Seale-Mayers/Clarence Grant (Simpson Motors Suzuki Samurai)
28 Ervin Thompson/Glyne Bedford (Mitsubishi L200)
29 Adrian Sinckler/Ansley Edey (Suzuki Samurai)
32 Sean Mottley/Kreigg Yearwood (Suzuki Vitara)
35 Barry Braithwaite/Anthony Eastmond (Suzuki Samurai)
36 Dave Lowe/Alan Roach (Suzuki Samurai)

For further information, robin@bradfax.com