By Iva Wharton
Days before the November 13th GT&T/Seaboard Marine Caribbean Race of Champions Meet, local champion Kevin Jeffrey says that he is confident that his Mitsubishi Evolution 8 nicknamed ‘Bush Cow’ would be ready.
Jeffrey in an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport on Thursday at his Mon Repos workshop said: “We are installing a sequential gear box which I acquired from Stuart Maloney. We are also changing up the sub-frames, doing some work on the extension because the competitors are definitely coming stronger.
Everybody is coming with cars better prepared. So even though we had our car working well we just could not sit back, we got to raise the bar even with everybody.”
Mark Vieira, he said, would be on the circuit with a new car and there is Doug ‘Hollywood’ Gore with the Audi which Jeffrey observed is considered an ‘illegal’ vehicle by Guyana’s standard.
“I don’t know if it is going to be allowed to run in the Caribbean Championship, but just in case for some reason it happens to be participating I want to be ready for it.”
Also there is the possibility that he will be driving the ‘Bush Cow’ without the original engine, which his mechanic Brian Ten Pow said is a little slower than the original one. However, he hopes that it does not affect him on the track.
Jeffrey said he did not compete at the last championship in Barbados, but he is well aware of what the Audi can do. “I went to Barbados as a spectator and for sure his car from last year to now has come on leaps and bounds from then. He is definitely going to destroy the lap record. If I had to estimate the time he is going to do, he is going to be a second quicker than where we were the last meeting that we raced.”
According to Jeffrey they do not lack the capability, but he needs to ensure that everything is in place if he is going to make the time and do it consistently.
“I am putting paddle shift too in order with the sequential box that will allow me to drive the car easier. I will not have to take my hand off the steering wheel to change the gear.
Jeffrey said this is the first time that he is using the sequential box, but stated that this technology is used by the foreign drivers and the Barbadians started using it last year.
“So we were always behind the eight ball, now we are trying to come up with the technology to be on equal terms with them.”
Jeffrey said the car has been in the workshop since July and he has had to dedicate seventy-five percent of the time to make decisions that best suit him as he is the one driving the car.
Jeffrey who is sponsored by Farm Supplies Limited under the brand Doosan Machines said there is nothing like enough sponsorship in motor racing. According to him, every little bit of sponsorship helps. He also acknowledged the support of companies such as Industrial Fabrications Limited, Shiv Auto Body and Automotive who have offered to ensure that his machine is ready.
“After this meeting I am hoping to attract a major sponsor, but I am not really chasing anybody down as I want to make sure the car is ready so that we can justify giving people the right mileage.”
According to Jeffrey, he is not ruling any sponsor out, but said he is aware that Mark Vieira is no longer sponsored by Digicel, adding that he is prepared to sign with any major corporation that will give him the opportunity to carry their brand.
Having the right sponsor in motor racing is very important, according to Jeffrey, as foreign competitors tend to put financial pressure on local drivers. “Like the Audi that is coming it would have cost that guy a quarter million US dollars. On any given weekend we can spend close to $10,000 to $25,000 if we are doing any upgrades as these cars are not cheap. The more technology that you put in it is more money it would cost to run and maintain.”
Technology
One of the disadvantages he said is that a majority of the local mechanics are not up-to-date with the technology so foreigners have to be brought into the country to do tuning, which comes with a price.
“In the class we are running it’s exorbitant and it has reached saturation point for a number of local competitors. Soon if we don’t look at it carefully we are going to run into problems with people not being able to compete because of finance.”
He, however, said that despite the financial constraints motor racing continues to grow. “This is the most expensive sport in Guyana, but every time I look around I see enthusiasm, the popularity, energy, effort and personal money that they put into it. The future looks good for the sport.”
Reflecting on his preparations, he said: “We had a little bit of hiccups getting some parts here. We had some spare parts that came from England and they weren’t fitting. So the guys from INFAM had to do some adjustments to make them fit and a lot of fine things that take the time.”
He said that his mechanic has been working overtime to ensure that the machine is finished. “So by hook or by crook the ‘Cow’ is going to be ready, you all rest assured the ‘Bush Cow’ is going to be ready.”
Jeffrey said that his last meeting was in Jamaica in March, but his car developed some mechanical problems after winning two races.
“We had gear box problems when I was chasing Summerbell down, came back here to race and we did a `lil patchwork on the gear box, but it gave up after qualifying so I did not get to race.”
It was at that point he said that a decision was taken that the right gear box will be used at the next meeting.
Those mishaps, he noted, cannot be afforded since too much of time, energy and effort is put into getting the car ready, so it is only fair that the right parts are used.
Jeffrey said he has been driving the ‘Bush Cow’ for the last three years and does not envisage himself at the wheel of another car on the track. “In a year from now I want to see my son (Kristian Jeffrey) taking over from me, but for me personally I think this car is going to be my last race car until I call it a day.”
He said that it’s difficult to say when he will quit the sport, but he had thought about it on several occasions, which is usually after a rough spell.
“But when you look at guys like Andrew King and Doug Maloney who are senior guys to you and they are still at it. Then I have been doing this for thirty-two years and it is what I enjoy. So once I can be competitive I will keep going.”
His son, he said, might be responsible for his early retirement as he wants to give him his full support.
