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Sports Correspondent
THE Bulawayo Motoring Club (BMC) is holding their second round of the Main Circuit National Drag Championships at Breedon Everard tomorrow.
All eyes will be on Darren Winterboer of Bulawayo who is making a comeback with his racing car, the Barons BMW. Spectators will be kept on the edge of their seats as Winterboer takes on Hararre’s Ian Howden who will be driving his championship winning Subaru.
The Winterboer and Howden duel will certainly set alight the racing circuit as both gun for more points which will determine the champion at the end of the year.
The legendary Gary Kirk, five times winner of the Three-Hour Endurance Race and several championships will be out to make his presence felt.
Richard Robinson and Brett Cameroon all of Harare are among the top contenders in this event and will give both Kirk and Winterboer a good run for their money.
Bulawayo’s Phil and Julian van Vuuren, Darren Pragji and many others are hopping to impress in front of home spectators as fireworks will
explode at the circuit.
BMC’s Zane Shah with his Toyota Conquest is another driver who is expected to do well.
The presence of Harare drivers who will bring with them years of experience on the racing circuit will result in fierce battles as they try to out sprint their counterparts from Bulawayo.
The standings of the national championship will stay unknown until the end of the year which makes this race the more exciting as anyone can be in with a chance.
At the end of the year the driver with the most points is crowned Zimbabwe national champion which makes tomorrow’s event intense and will keep the spectators in suspense as drivers negotiate sharp corners and curves while in full flight.
Legendary biker Fuzzy Walker has done well so far as has Ian Gutherless.
Dave Marsburg should not be counted out as he has proved time and again that he is a force to be reckoned with, together with Kevin Jansen.
Stan ‘‘Black Man’’ Mupundu who made his debut this year will cherish this opportunity to gauge his strength against the best in the business.
Mupundu who rides a Yamaha 1000cc which is one of the best motor bikes around has the fighting spirit and passion and is certainly a future bet.
A number of new riders will be fancying their chances but will not have it easy as experience will come in handy when the going gets tough.
Gutherless who was instrumental in developing the bike series has stated that:
“It is not only the big boys who win but also the smaller guys. It is a championship and is not won or lost in the first corner but it takes skill to race the full series.’’
Shah echoed Gutherless’ sentiments by saying it is not about being the fastest to win the series.
‘‘A lot of those that ride bikes might be thinking that you have to be the fastest and best to be part of this but it is not true. The way the points system works may even see the slowest but most consistent rider winning the championship,’’ said Shah.
‘‘Every racer has to undergo training, licensing and medicals before they can compete in any event. Therefore racing becomes a passion that sees beyond a race, creed and colour as all racers become one big and happy family.
Although a racer’s common goal is to win the trophy at the end we however need to keep racing alive for future generations. One day our children may join clubs in their towns and race just as their parents are doing now.’’
Online Reporter