South Dakota Race Meet…

Oct 27, 2008 Sports

The two drivers representing Motor Trend, Dawalu ‘Afo’ Harper (left) and Motilall ‘Kevin’ Deodat pose with their machines.

Motor Trend drivers plan to clean up Rookie category

Motor racing fans on the Coast of Demerara are putting their money on two rookie drivers who they are confident will do their community proud come next Sunday at the South Dakota Circuit.

Dawalu ‘Afo’ Harper and Motilall ‘Kevin’ Deodat representing the motor trend auto sales and spares team, will both be piloting two Toyota starlet EP-71 and they too are confident of at least taking the checkered flag in the rookie category at the final race meet for the year.

The two cars are both powered by 4E turbo charged engines and from the few practice sessions so far, the two drivers have shown that they are forces to be reckoned with.

While Harper is new to the circuit, Kevin has had a few creditable performances after taking over from his bigger brother Ravi, who is now the head mechanic for the up and coming team.

Speaking with this newspaper last Friday while adding some finishing touches to his car, Harper exuded confidence despite his lack of experience on the track.

He told this newspaper that he started driving from as early as 10-years old and since then has developed a love for speed.

‘Afo’ as he is popularly known throughout the East Coast of Demerara would usually show off among his friends his dexterity skills and from time to time had to elude the police while participating in illegal drag racing.

He has also done some drag racing in Barbados, his mother home country.
Some several persons saw that he had the potential to take his skills to the real circuit and compete with the other recognized dare devils.

“I really love the speed and my mechanic encouraged me to go for it on the track. I have very good chances of bringing in a checkered flag or at least no less that third,” said Harper who operates the Kinshasa Bakery at Golden Grove on the East Coast of Demerara.

He said that he has all the support of East Coast residents from Ann’s Grove to Buxton who he assured will be traveling up to Timehri to see him perform.

But whether he can transfer his road driving skills to the track is left to be seen. His mechanic Ravi Deodat is confident that his charge will do well. “Already during our trials we have been doing some competitive timings,” the mechanic Ravi Deodat said.

Eighteen-year old Motilall Deodat has been on the circuit before and managed to finish a credible third in the only race he participated in last year, although his car had developed engine problems.

As a matter of fact in that race, he had a comfortable lead until he was forced to slow down because of the problem. He is very confident that this time around his starlet will do the trick.

“I’ve been practicing and my times are very good, so I feel that the others will have to do something special to beat me,” the young driver told this newspaper. According to mechanic Ravi Deodat, both cars are doing very competitive times, running very close to the best time in the rookie category.

“With some more fine tuning, come race day they should be up there with the best. There is no problem with the drivers. Both of them have the skills. I can’t complain about them,” he said.

He said that he personally drove one of the cars on the South Dakota Circuit and is fully aware of what it can do.

The two rookies are calling on all race fans to be at the South Dakota Circuit to see what they are capable of.
Both drivers have expressed thanks to all of their sponsors and have pledged to ensure that they get good mileage for the faith that has been place in them.

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