by Russell Palipane

Fun, great fun. Oh yeah the fun component includes a few ingredients. Among them, taking pride of place is the thrill factor, one believes.

What comes next? Me; I am not absolutely certain. Spills? I guess so.

Do spills mean, the flow of blood? Rivers of blood?

There’s more than enough blood flowing in this little planet of ours. Do we need to see it flow on the race-track too, in this case, the Caltex Supercross 2001.

I thank the ALMIGHTY, that there was no flowing of rivers of blood at this year’s event, held at Diyatalawa, on Saturday, April 21.

For the record, this event was organised by the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa, in association with the Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders.

It was sponsored by Caltex Lubricants Lanka Limited.

This piece of ‘writing’ is not a conventional report of the event, which was first held in 1993.

Your’s truly is not going to talk of winners, those who were placed second and third, and the also ‘rans’.

This is meant as a tribute to great driving and riding skills.

The ‘Super Fox’, by virtue of his win in the Open Cars event, was Aravinda Premadasa. Well done Aravinda, and congratulations!

In the Motorcycles Open event, Udesh Wedisinghe was fortunate to win, due to the tangle between Atushi Tanabe and Nalin Perera, who thrilled the crowd in somewhat contrasting styles.

However, hats off to Udesh. He was a physically sick guy that day, running a very high temperature. He was virtually dead on his feet, hot and shaking, when yours truly bumped into him.

Tanabe - the Japanese - called ‘Jappa’, on account of his nationality, was a class above the rest. His skill and dare-devilry thrilled and warmed the hearts of the thousands of spectators. In the events where he and Nalin Perera were pitted against each other, Tanabe’s power was a 250 cc engine, while Perera had 400 cc to play with.

This is not an exercise to belittle Nalin Perera. He is a versatile racer-who was last year’s top biker. Nalin is a two-in-one. He drove and rode, in great fashion. On that score, he was ahead of Tanabe. But he was not endowed with Tanabe’s panache.

He is not to be faulted for that. It was a case of Tanabe being more gifted in a particular aspect, while Perera was gifted in others.

Now, to the evergreen Yoga Perera. He was a treat. He drove a cute Caltex Morke 1340 cc in the Group I and M Cars category. He did not win the event, but his driving was fascinating, to say the least.

Finally, a couple of lines about Caltex Supercross 2001.

This writer for one, and many others too, have no complaints. The Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa and SLARDAR conducted the Supercross in an exemplary manner. It was a spot on job.

Finally, a bouquet to the main sponsors, Lanka Lubricants Ltd. - makers of Caltex. They were extremely hospitable, not demanding and overbearing.

All in all, an healthy mix of fun, good organising and sponsors acting in a non-nauseating manner.

More of the above, please.