IN an effort to bolster its competitor numbers, the Jamaica Race Drivers Club (JRDC) held its second free track day on September 4 at Dover Raceway in St Ann.

“We had 22 drivers attend the track day,” Leroy Spence, event coordinator, told Auto.

With the first track day taking place earlier this year at JamWest Speedway in Westmoreland, Spence is already planning a third for the upcoming Heroes Day race meet. The track day is open to all, as long as they meet the minimum safety and competency requirements.

“The next track day will focus on race day preparation,” he said.

Spence was also clear about his goals.

“For the active participant currently in Bracket 45, I’d like them to focus on their skills and not their cars. You know, invest in themselves first and not performance parts on eBay,” he explained.

To do this, Spence opted for a dynamic shift, making the track day more about the theories behind speed, with 90 per cent of the time spent in class and 10 per cent actually on the track. The change resulted in very positive feedback as it offered new information to the majority present and refreshed the knowledge base of the B45 veterans there.

“I’m hoping to develop the on-track manners of all that take part with a very driver-centric programme,” he said.

The track days are the breeding ground for the next generation of Jamaican racers as many transition into the B45 group which offers street cars, with the proper safety equipment, the ability to race at Dover on a time- indexed lap of 1 minute 45 seconds. Breaking that lap time results in a penalty for a competitor.

Spence expects the female contingent to grow next year.

“I was impressed that six of our participants were female,” he said.

Out of that number, he expects that two to three of them will join B45 in 2017.

“They were definitely interested, but the logistics of getting all the necessary equipment by the October meet was just not possible.”

— Rory Daley