The biggest motor sport competition within the Caribbean
Every year, during the month of June, one of the biggest events in Barbados takes place, Sol Rally Barbados, the biggest motor sport competition within the Caribbean. Men and women, from all over the world, not only fly in their cars, but also their family and friends to enjoy this spectacular event.
Broadcasted from ESPN, this event is viewed in 120 million homes world wide each year, and that number keeps getting bigger every time. BBD$ 900,000 is spent on this car rally each year, and it only takes place over the short period of two weekends.
The first weekend consists of getting the drivers, along with their cars ready. The drivers must go through an intense process of making sure everything is in good order with their vehicles, this is called scrutineering, which takes place this year in May. The cars are weighed and put into different “classes” depending on the size of the engine and the horse power that each car has. That same weekend the first highly anticipated event takes place, ‘King of the Hill.’ This is a speed event during the day and into night that indicates the start to Rally Barbados each year. The excitement kicks into gear.
Paul Bird taking a corner. Photo credit: Rawle Culbard
After the weekend passes, a week of relaxing begins and this is what the foreign drivers enjoy the most, going to the beach, attending a fish fry at the garage in which the cars are stored and playing their annual, friendly cricket match on the beach between the local drivers and the foreign drivers.
As the week comes to an end the drivers get ready to get behind the wheel once again and the spectators, yet again crowd the roads in their numbers. After setting up tents, packing coolers, cooking food, parking trucks and mixing a drink to start off the day at seven in the morning, the sound of an engine revving up is heard and the 20 thousand spectators all stop for one reason. The cars.
That Saturday and Sunday are the biggest events occurring. Between the music, the smell of great food and burning rubber in the air, all mixed in with a few rums, Rally Barbados, not only grows to become more and more of a success, but also continues to bring everyone together.
The crowd always goes wild as cars take the bends with skill. Photo credit: Rawle Culbard
After two weekends of hard work and fun, the prize giving takes place at a local bar called “The Boatyard”, on the Monday after the last weekend. Prizes are given out and results are revealed but that is all soon forgotten as the night goes on, while everyone together reminisces over the two weeks that just passed by.
At the end of the night, tears are shed as people leave one by one, as this event not only brings great drivers into the country but brings great people together and builds friendships. Waiting for what feels like an eternity to come around again, Rally Barbados never lets down; never disappoints.
Until next year, when we do this all over again; Rally Barbados.
Allan Mackay. Photo credit: Rawle Culbard
