More success for Team Gleaner in Rally Barbados 2024
Forty five years after starting his Rally career in a Mark 1 Ford Escort, twice Scottish Tarmac Champion Robin Hamilton gave his recently completed “new” Mark 1 Escort its toughest test yet in Rally Barbados 2024, from 31 May to 2 June.
Team Gleaner Oils and Gas, so called to avoid confusion with the Jamaica Gleaner, comprised Robin, wife and co – driver Vanessa and support crew Evan Scott of Gleaner.
The Rally has become the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport event. Since first being introduced to the Island by Evan’s parents in 2017, Robin and Vanessa have done Gleaner proud, in a sensational 6R4 (watch out for it in the Mcdonald & Munro Speyside Stages in 2025), a Talbot Sunbeam Ti, a Lotus Sunbeam, and now the Escort, which was also a big hit with the knowledgeable Barbadian crowd.
As well as the UK (from which 21 crews made the long journey by air while their cars were shipped), including competitors from all of Scotland, England and Wales, there was a large presence from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Antigua, Barbuda, St Lucia, Ireland, Jersey, the US and Canada. This was reflected in the demographics of the huge crowds out supporting around the gruelling route.
The crew spread the Gleaner love yet further around the entire island and again won Best in Class. This did not go unnoticed by the very noisy Scots in the crowd! It even led to Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw asking to meet Team Gleaner during the T20 World Cup Match at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, between (current) World Champions England and the mighty Scotland.
At the time of going to print, it is not known yet by what margin Scotland, inspired by Team Gleaner’s heroics, sent the English homeward to think again!
What is known is that Robin is already planning another trip to the Island for next year’s event, this time in a Team Gleaner Saab 96 dating from the 1960s. The locals will never have seen the like…
