Car Rallying is something of an obsession here in Barbados. Cars of all different capabilities, categories, sizes, colours and sounds compete in various classes pretty much all year round.
Currently there are two enclosed racecourses in Barbados. One is Bushy Park, a tarmac track which tends not to see as much action as it once did in it’s heyday, but still smaller rally events, as well as go cart events are held there quite regularly.
The second, and newer, racecourse is Vaucluse Raceway. Vaucluse is a dirt track with two separate tracks that cross in the middle, being more state of the art as far as the track goes, but due to the fact that it is dirt, weather plays heavily on the state of the raceway. Other than the tracks, rally events are often held on public roads. Of course, the roads are shut down to traffic and notice of the closure is in the newspaper well in advance.
These roads tend to be out in the country where there are plenty of precarious turns, jumps and dips. These events are known as stages. Anytime there is a stages rally, the road will be lined with adoring fans going to all lengths to get a peak at the cars as they whiz past.
Marshals who are there to ensure everyone’s safety carefully monitor the stages.
Once a year in the last week of May, we have the Barbados Rally Carnival. This is a week of events beginning with a weekend of racing, which runs for two days straight, generally at Vaucluse and continuing with dinners, parties and car showings.
Drivers come from all over the Caribbean and the world to take part in the Rally Carnival. Some of the most famous English drivers make a point of being here every year to test their skills on the tricky roads of our island home. All of the stages across the island are raced at various times, generally more than once, over Saturday and Sunday.
Events start at the crack of dawn and run late into the night, with times being calculated and accumulated for those few who actually make it, crisis free, through the two days of harsh racing. If you are a true rally fan or have any interest in car racing however small, come to Barbados and witness rallying at its best.
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