Finlayson Has His Work Cut Out
"No way I was missing Rally Carnival"
says Flying Scotsman
Barbados Rally Carnival regular Graeme Finlayson was looking
forward to a few days' holiday before the start of the sixth
running of the annual event . . . but that will be the last
thing on his mind when he arrives in the island in 10 days'
time. Before he can compete in the Vaucluse Raceway International
RallySprint (May 27) and Rally Barbados 2006 (June 3/4), he
has to finish building his new rally car!
The Scotsman has become a popular figure among local rally
fans following his regular appearances in the lightweight
motorcycle-engined Fluke sports car, which he brought to Barbados
for the past four years. As he reports, however, this year
he has something different: "I had an offer for the car
that I really couldn't refuse and, after five years, it was
time to try something new, anyway. A shame, but I was starting
to feel the need for a roof and some door bars - I could never
take my eyes off the telegraph poles in the Fluke!"
There is a long-term project in the pipeline, described
by Finlayson as "a real beast, but a good 12 months away";
never happy if not competing, however, the former kart racer
bought a Peugeot 205, which would have fitted into the Production
3 category in Barbados. It was not quick enough, however:
"I couldn't face the thought of pottering around at relatively
sedate speeds in Barbados with a front-wheel-drive car (no
matter how pretty it was) so I got hold of a rear-wheel-drive
205 in January."
Work has been continuing since then; what Finlayson believes
is a former grasstrack race car now has 2-litre 220 horsepower
Vauxhall engine, ultra-light flywheel, a proper clutch, some
big brakes and a six-speed Quaife sequential gearbox. But
there are many other things it hasn't got!
As Finlayson explains: "There is no way we were going
to miss Rally Carnival but the flipside, thanx to being let
down by specialists, external mechanics and suppliers is that
we're going to have a bit of work to do in Barbados, as the
car is arriving only partially finished. We will be testing
and shaking down for the first time once we arrive. The car
should certainly be fun, and at least we'll have a roof, some
protection from the elements and a bit more room."
Co-driver for Rally Barbados will be Finlayson's close friend
Martin Atwell, who campaigned a Westfield sports car similar
to the Fluke a few seasons ago; Atwell, who comes from a Bajan
family steeped in motor sport, will drive the Peugeot at the
RallySprint, so Finlayson gets at least some rest: "As
I won't be getting much holiday this year, I'd like to have
just the one weekend relaxing on what might be the only chance
of this year!"
Another British driver returning for Rally Carnival is Simon
Wallis, the only European driver to have been classified in
the overall results of Rally Barbados for the past three years
. . . and he will be driving the fourth different car with
the fourth different co-driver in four years! Wallis, who
has previously brought three different Vauxhall Astras to
the island, isn't bringing a car at all this year!
Instead, he will be driving the Modified 7 Peugeot 205GTi
campaigned in recent seasons by Peugeot preparation wizard
Simon Gillmore and his son Anthony; and Wallis's co-driver
is home-grown, too - on the notes will be Barbados Rally Club
committee member Lindsay Farmer, who last contested the event
two years ago, sitting alongside St Vincent's Steve Ollivierre.
New-look web site for Caribbean's biggest motor sport event
The Rally Barbados web site has been completely redesigned
to keep the many thousands of motor sport fans worldwide who
follow the event better informed. Just go on-line and find
www.rallybarbados.bb for all the latest news and, within the
next few days, the rally schedule and entry list.
The site has been designed by GeoOrbis, a company which
provides satellite imagery, GIS consulting, vehicle tracking,
real estate virtual tours and web site development regionally
and internationally.
"We were thrilled to provide web site design and development
for the Rally Barbados web site. The project manager, designer
and programmer are all hard-core enthusiasts as well as competitors",
says Sean Chandler of GeoOrbis.
"Without disclosing too much, we are working on providing
stage results during the event, in more than one format if
possible. Anyone visiting the site right now can see that
the photos are presented in an unique way, allowing for larger,
brighter photos than ever before."
"We have also made it very easy for the Rally Barbados
committee to update the site by adding regulations, photos,
entry forms, press releases, spectator information and stage
maps." |
