MARCH SAFARI OPENS MUD DOGS SEASON
Organisers encouraged by response to practice event
Following the success of the recent Practice Safari, the Barbados Rally Club's (BRC) Mud Dogs Safari Championship gets under way for real on Saturday, March 7, with the March Safari, for which entries are now open.
More than 30 crews turned out for the Practice Safari, which impressed and surprised BRC Assistant Competition Secretary Leslie Alleyne in equal measure: "I was amazed when I drove into the Clay Target Club and saw the number of people who were there - we had 34 vehicles entered, with a total of 91 people spread between them.
"The most encouraging thing was that around 75 to 80 per cent of the entry list were people coming out to compete for the first time. This was a phenomenal turn-out, and I hope that we will able to encourage a good percentage of these folks to consider entering our events throughout 2009."
Entries for the March Safari are now open at two locations until noon on Tuesday, March 3: Autozone Inc (436-2886), Fontabelle, St Michael and Flyin' Fish Sports Wear (420-7064), #7 Newton Industrial Estate, Christ Church. The Briefing Meeting will be held on the same day, at 7.00pm at the Barbados Clay Target Shooting Association (BCTSA) Club House, Searles, Christ Church. Alleyne commented: "I would ask all Mud Dogs enthusiasts to please make a special effort to attend the Briefing Meeting as there will be a lot of new information announced pertaining to the 2009 season."
The March Safari is slated to start at 2.01pm from Windward Cricket Club and finish at the (BCTSA) Club House at approximately 10.30pm. The route has been set by Alleyne and Chris O'Neal using the Tulip navigation system for the bulk of the route, but with small amounts of both the BRC and Straight Line systems.
'Mud Dogs' was the new identity created for the BRC's 4x4 section at the beginning of last season, and Alleyne believes the turn-out for the Practice Safari was evidence of its success: "I think this is testimony to the level of popularity that we were able to generate around Barbados in 2008, and I see this as a positive sign for the months ahead. The name 'Mud Dogs' was conceived to create a fun and modern identity for our sport, and one which embodies the spirit of our members . . . and the conditions in which we compete."
The BRC Mud Dogs Safari Championship will comprise seven events, four off-road navigational rallies run under the Safari title and three challenge events known as MudFests; trophies will be awarded at each event. As before, the four Safaris will include separate Championships for Navigator and Driver, with additional special awards including highest-placed novice and female; for the MudFests, there will be one championship rewarding the highest-placed drivers.
2009 BRC Mud Dogs Safari Championship
Qualifying rounds:
Mar 7 - Mud Dogs March Safari
Apr 5 - Mud Dogs April MudFest
May 1 - Mud Dogs May Day MudFest
Jun 27/28 - Mud Dogs Shelbury June Safari
Aug 23 - Mud Dogs August MudFest
Sep 13 - Mud Dogs September Safari
Nov 8 - Mud Dogs November Safari
For further information, robin@bradfax.com
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