The Jersey International Motoring Festival is one of the calendar’s highlights, both personally and for the general public.
This year will mark my third entry into Sunday’s super popular Active Arena, 2022 in the smaller IAME Cadet class, and last year’s demonstration mixing my Junior Max with the explosive Gearbox drivers, putting on a show of donuts and burnouts around Victoria Park.
I had one or two close calls with their spinning machines but we showed off some of our driving skills to the large crowds, the significantly smaller size of Karts in relation to cars meaning closer driving action taking place for them.
The circuit, despite short and bone-rattling for karts, is a joy to drive, featuring one slower corner, two faster, flowing ones and another two straight line blasts. It’s unique in comparison to the equivalently unique Sorel Loop, which I have driven at for six years, and great fun to push the limits on. Sorel is far more complex, with a variety of corner shapes and sizes, and usually driven on under maximum pressure conditions whereas the Arena is more of a demonstration.
The Jersey Kart and Motor Club is a small community, fluctuating in popularity, so having Karts on display at the festival is a great way to advertise the club. Karting involves the youngest and oldest of motorsport fanatics unlike anything else, ranging from six year olds in the Bambino Class to intense, absurdly high-revving Historic Karts, it’s a one of a kind sport I am grateful to partake in. I haven’t taken part in Thursday’s Rolling Roadshow before, but again it is a great way to publicise Karting to Islanders.
I have absolutely caught the “Motorsport Bug” like some of my family, particularly about classic four-wheelers, so JIMF is fantastic to be part of and see all of the coolest racing machines.
My favourites include the regularly appearing Metro 6R4, Escorts and Imps, my dad taking part in the Moonlight Sprint in his own Imp back in 2023, among many other 20th century petrol burning demons.
If not racing, I would too be watching the Arena and equally as brilliant Westmount Hill climb as well as exploring the large array of beautiful cars on display, enjoying the atmosphere like many other Islanders will be.
