A new year of autocross has begun with much of the same results.
Cayman Motorsports Association President Bobby Hulse was all over the track during the group’s first Time Attack race of the year. He would serve as a marshall and get behind the wheel of his Toyota Altezza at the Progressive Loop.
The George Town native showed he has not slowed with age, winning the Unlimited Division with 39.412 seconds being his best time and claiming the Unlimited Battle run in 63.245 seconds. For Hulse, the class victories continue his 2012 form when he placed third in the Unlimited Street Class.
Another driver in midseason form last Saturday was Aaron Haylock in his Honda Civic EG. Haylock won the Street class with 43.384 seconds being his best time. In 2012, Haylock ran his Civic to second place in the street segment of the Two Wheel Drive category and third place in the battle portion of that grouping.
Association secretary Nikko Miller followed Hulse’s lead by marshalling and racing a Mitsubishi Mirage. Miller would win the Street Battle run in 66.749 seconds and place second in the Street class in 43.475 seconds.
Kody Miller used older brother Nikko’s Mirage to place third in Street at 43.789 seconds and third in Street Battle at 71.063 seconds. Father-son duo Gary and Mark Huggins used their Kimmar Distributors Toyota Starlet to finish second and third in Unlimited at 41.509 seconds and 42.200 seconds, respectively.
Other top finishers were Xavier McCoy in a Toyota Altezza (second in Street Battle at 70.862 seconds), Michael Weatherford in a Subaru Impreza RA (second in Unlimited Battle at 71.231 seconds) and Wayne Kirkconnell in his Automotive Art carbon fibre Nissan 350Z (third in Unlimited Battle at 72.992 seconds).
In all, 13 drivers took part. Many were autocross veterans making returns after significant layoffs such as Alchrist Bodden in a Mazda Miata and Brian “Neil” Dilbert in a Honda Civic EK.
The crowd favourite was arguably Nicholas Lee of Island Opportunities Cayman Limited, who ran the Liquid Nitro-sponsored 125cc Italia go-kart. Lee said he raced the go-kart in an attempt to increase buzz and growth in the sport.
“I used to race in Miami and I’m hoping to grow the sport here,” Lee said. “Go-kart racing is a huge foundation for racers. All of the best drivers, in Formula One, NASCAR, etc started out in karts.
“To be clear, Liquid Nitro is a herbal energy drink that’s new in Cayman. It’s a product under Island Opportunities, which started out selling ice cream like Haagen Dazs.”
The next Time Attack race is slated for 24 March.
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