RaceJamaica.com invites you to participate in the second Mug Rally of 2009 on Sunday, July 19, proposed start time is 10:00 a.m.

A mug rally is a navigational rally held on public roads. Speeding is strictly prohibited and speed limits are to be adhered throughout the event. Each team (driver and co-driver also possibly time keeper) will receive route instructions. There will be marshals to enforce that the proper routes are used and also questions to be answered etc as part of the course.

The event is family oriented and is guaranteed good fun.
To ensure everyone is familiar with navigational notes etc. we will also have a training session on Saturday July 4, 2009, beginning at 10:30 AM, at Curphey place in Kingston. it is strongly recommended that all prospective participants attend.

Entry fee per team will be $2500 however you can pre-register online and receive a $500 discount. Online entries for the event are open here: http://www.racejamaica.com/mug-rally-entry-form/. Online entries close on Friday July 17, 2009.

For further questions please email us at mugrally@racejamaica.com so we can keep you updated on the progress of the event as well as additional training sessions and supplementary material.. Additional information when it is finalised will be sent to you and posted on our website www.racejamaica.com

For information on Mug Rally #1 please click here.

After years of dormancy, navigational rallying has been revived in Jamaica. RaceJamaica.com collaborating with some very dedicated race stewards, put on Mug Rally #1, which was held on Sunday March 15th 2009. The day was fun filled with everyone starting from the Boulevard Super Centre in Kingston and (eventually) finishing at Scotchie’s in St. Ann’s Bay. Simultaneously another Mug Rally, organised by the Montego Bay Motoring Club was started in Montego Bay and finished at the same location, east meeting west at Scotchie’s in St. Ann.

A mug rally is a navigational rally held on public roads. Speeding is strictly prohibited and speed limits are to be adhered to throughout the event. Each team (driver and navigator and also possibly a time keeper) received a map and route instructions. The purpose of the rally is to help boost the experience of our local drivers and navigators as well as allowing teams to see the many areas of Jamaica they have never seen before.

The event was very well received and had several attendants at the two navigator training sessions. Not to be outdone, there were new and old faces marshalling for the event. This event introduced over 10 new marshals to the sport, as well as brought back long time marshals who have not participated in many years. Without the marshals this event would not have been possible.

There were two classes of competitors, Rabbits (novices) and Hares (experts). Keith Tennant and Amador Gilman won the Hare class as well as the overall event. Both are mug rally legends and entertained the crowd at the awards ceremony at Scotchie’s with stories of previous events . Second overall and Second in Hare class went to Ibraheem Khan and Norman Bernard. First Place in the Rabbit class went to Angus Gordon and Scott Gordon, who were also third overall. Angus is also a mug rally legend and he came out for this event with his son who was celebrating his 14th birthday. Entry fee: $2500, Lunch: $800, Winning an event at your first attempt as navigator: priceless, and also not a bad birthday present.

The Kingston event started with 15 participants, however only 12 made it to the finish line. The other participants retired in frustration. After speaking with event officials, we understand that because no event like this has been run in over 5 Years, many people are either rusty or experiencing a navigational rally for the first time. The next event should be much more competitive as teams gain more experience.

This event was aimed at reintroducing fun-filled, multi-participants navigational rallies to the Jamaican motoring scene. And not only was it the first event of its kind in over 5 years, but it was also the first motoring event in Jamaica with online registration and promotion.

RaceJamaica.com would like to congratulate all competitors in the rally on a job well done, and we look forward to seeing you at the next event! Also many thanks to our stewards and marshals who played such a big role and who put in the extra time to make this an event a success! Thanks also to the many supporters who encouraged and guided us.

Please enjoy the results, photos and videos below.

The 2009 Motorsports season kicked off today with the Jamaica Karting Association’s Meet #1 at the Palisadoes International Raceway. The Race Jamaica team will be covering all the motorsports news beginning with this, the first meet of the year.

Despite bleak economic outlooks, the 2009 motorsports season looks to be one of the best in years. With renewed efforts from all the Motorsports organizers, this year’s events are being planned more intensely to maximize on entertainment and reduce costs. Look out for the return of several popular drivers such as “Fattaz” on the rally scene and Jeffrey Panton at Dover. Not to mention some well prepared rookies who are going all out for the rally dirt season later in the year.

There will be new events as well, such as the return of “Mug” rallies, where street cars will compete against each other legally on public roads, traversing challenging courses set by the organizers. This event is aimed at training rookies in the art of rally navigation.

The dexterity season is not to be left out either as new prizes and surprises will be used in the 10 events for the year. Specifically the JMMC series will give the chance to compete against Chris “Teach” Mcfarlane for prizes. Expect new venues and new approaches from organizers.

Drag racing is also going to be big this year, following in the footsteps of the “neva satisfied” crew last year, organizers are planning at least 4 events for the year which will be action packed especially with the debut of new, 10 second and under (fast) cars. Last year Jamwest, which is the only local drag strip in operation, had issues with timing equipment, but they have sorted out the bugs as well as improved the facility and are race ready!

Overseas, we are looking to send strong teams to Rally Trinidad and Barbados. Already our friends across the Caribbean are upgrading to help with their defense, but the Jamaican attack has already been planned and is in action. Look for big news and upsets from the regional international rallies this year!