In the boardroom and behind the steering wheel of his Honda Civic, Mohamed Roshandin played an integral dual role in Guyana retaining the coveted Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) country trophy.
The Group 2 ace driver and executive committee member of the GMR&SC and the CMRA was tasked with his executive duties and helping team Guyana bring home the bacon and he did not disappoint.
Roshandin, the daredevil and the mechanical engineer is thankful that his exploits on and off the circuit were successful.
“It’s difficult being a member of the GMR&SC, executive committee on the board of the CMRA as a technical advisor and a competitor at the same time but it all paid off,” the soft-spoken speedster said yesterday.
With Roshandin’s help, Team Guyana amassed 541 points during the course of the three legs (Barbados, Trinidad, Guyana) which allowed the prized piece of silverware to remain in the Land of Many Waters.
Barbados placed second overall on 482 points followed by Trinidad (400) and Jamaica (151).
Roshandin (111 points) piloted his machine to a second place overall finish in the Group 2 CMRC. Barbados’ Mark Thompson (133 points) was first while Trinidad’s Mark Gill finished third (73 points).
Guyana could not have retained the title without Roshandin, a fact he admitted.
“After the creation of the CMRA there was a need to have common rules that governed all the Caribbean countries. Group 4 had already been formalized over the years but the Group 2 class as of 2014 has taken a new step towards having a 2000cc group 2 class.
I saw the need for Guyana to subscribe to this class in order to capture the CMRC/CMRA country championship and not leave all the strain on our Group 4 competitors to bring home the title.”
Roshandin, better known as Shairaz, admitted that the task was not as smooth as the surfaces he goes 100+ miles an hour on.
“July 6th was the start of the championship in Barbados where I competed with a 1600cc motor in my Honda civic. My car was heavily overweight for the class by 300 pounds, nevertheless I managed to have a second place podium finish in race two. The first race I got fourth but in the final race of the day the engine broke in the third lap.”
After that a series of unfortunate events unfolded.
“I upgraded my engine for the August 24th Trinidad leg to an 1800cc which now sees the car at only 200 pounds overweight. In the first race I led the field for three laps and then broke the gearbox in the third lap but I still managed to finish in second place.”
After replacing the gearbox and missing the second race, Roshandin started at the back of some 18 cars but he persevered and after three laps he was already in third but another mechanical failure forced him to retire in that race .
“My ace mechanic and brother, Shahab Roshandin managed to tie all the loose ends and put in his little tricks to getting my machine to its best performance for our Guyana leg. With his determination and the almighty blessings we managed to get the job done.”
Roshandin then secured his first win for Team Guyana, placed third in the second race after regrettably changing his tires with the anticipation of rain. In the final Group 2 race however, Roshandin was waving the checkered flag again.
The speed demon will be hoping for similar or better exploits when the CMRC continues next February in Jamaica. (Emmerson Campbell)
