MUD FEST SEASON ENDER A NAIL BITER
Castrol Summer Mud Fest almost ends in a draw
The 2009 Mud Fest season ended with competition so tight, it almost took a tie breaker to declare the winner, at the Castrol Summer Mud Fest, staged Sunday August 23.
After an intense day of battling challenges, enduring vehicular problems and also braving the heat, Tfphill Juman and Matthew Caine narrowly edged out Jason Croney and Nick King to nab the title, King of the Mud.
Keeping the crowd on hand engaged for the day, the two teams along with 11 others gave spectators their money’s worth, as both classes - the General and Big Tyre -had too close to call finishes and several ties across the board.
In the end, the team of Juman and Caine, in their super modified, Sleep Rite Ltd. Suzuki Samurai won with 488 penalties and one DNF (Did Not Finish) versus Croney’s 488 and two DNFs.
Darrin White, one of the event’s organisers said there could not have been a better end to the season, despite the low entries which actually worked in the club’s favour.
“Sunday was the best Mud Fest so far despite what we consider a low entry, there were quality entries, all the competitors were experienced, and the vehicles well prepared, so that made for a smooth event.”
Juman and Caine, in the only four-wheel steering vehicle in the competition, and Croney and King, in a modified Suzuki Vitara, were neck and neck throughout the day. At the halfway point, Juman had the lead, but that quickly ended when Croney gained on him only to lose his grip after sustaining damage to his vehicle. Juman again took the lead before relinquishing it to Croney, eventually ending the day in a tie for points. Both teams competed in the Big Tyre class.
The competition was also keen in the classes, as David Brewster and Terry Mason took the General Class in their Champion Wrecker/ Marks Auto Spares Suzuki Samurai, just six points ahead of Brian Collymore and Adrian Jackson, also in a Suzuki Samurai. Brewster, whose vehicle sustained mechanic damage during completion, refused to give up, eventually earning him the top spot in his class as well as the respect of those who knew the challenges he faced on Sunday, prompting White to say: “ (David) Brewster’s attitude must be commended.”
Hadley Greene paired with Adrian Crane and David St. Hill with Ian Grimes, both in the Big Tyre class also tied for an overall fourth place finish, showing just how tight the competition was.
Thirteen teams were vying for top spots over 10 courses but in the end, only eight finished the event, which saw crowd favourite Ben Norris in his super modified Tom Cat, Land Rover, bow out after he sustained damage to his vehicle, and defending Mud Fest champion Rodney “Ramma” Mason, failing to start, also due to mechanical problems.
The competitors put on a good showing, providing much entertainment for those gathered at the club’s Pot House headquarters.
The second run of the-much-anticipated mud pit got the better of nine of the 11 who attempted the challenge. In the end, it might have been this course which cost Croney, who was in it to win the title, the top spot as this is where he earned his first DNF, breaking an axle, while Juman made it through was ease.
The Tank Trap was also another crowd pleaser. Here driver and spotter worked as a team, as the angles of the course required the spoter to direct the driver from outside of the vehicle, if there was any hope of conquering the tough terrain.
Other thrilling courses included the tractor pull; the tyre pit, and the rock pit which provided much entertainment for spectators, who were keen to place verbal wagers on their picks for each course.
White says the two events this season, the first to be staged at Pot House, went well; looking to next season he said despite the fun and extreme nature of the sport, they may scale back from the three mud fests that were planned for this year, and go for two Mud Fest events, maximum, for next year.
Juman and Caine will have to wait a little while longer, so see if Sunday’s win was enough to earn them the crown of overall King of the Mud for the 2009 season.
Mud Fest is staged by the Mud Dogs, the 4x4 arm of the Barbados Rally Club, this motor sport season saw two events take place. Last year’s King of the Mud, Dave Lowe did not compete this season, leaving the field wide open for a new champion.
Results:
General/Small Tyre:
David Brewster/ Terry Mason 214;
Brian Collymore/Adrian Jackman 208;
Russell Williams/Kemar Drakes 158;
Collin Goodman/Armando Matthews 152;
Nicolas Lorde/ Kyle Proverbs 138.
Big Tyre:
Tfphill Juman/Matthew Caine 256;
Jason Croney/Nick King 256;
Edson Arthur/Renata Roett 238;
Anthony King/Dave Sealy 228;
David St. Hill/Ian Grimes 198.
Overall:
Tfphill Juman/Matthew Caine 488, 1 DNF
Jason Croney/Nick King 488, 2 DNF
Edson Arthur/Renata Roett 438
Hadley Greene/ Adrian Crane and David St. Hill/ Ian Grimes 394.
Prepared by Ann-Marie Bailey
