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| Sunday, 17 April 2005 |
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Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Suranjith and Aravinda Premadasa - the stars at Mahagastota by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent at Mahagastota Father and son duo of Suranjith Premadasa and Aravinda Premadasa stole the limelight at the 71st Mahagastota Speed Hill Climb titled the 'Citroen Auto Finish Mahagastota 2005, organised by the Ceylon Motor Sports Club and jointly sponsored by Motor Marvels (Pvt.) Ltd., CIC, Sri Lanka Insurance and B. P. De Silva's which was worked at Mahagastota last Sunday before a large and enthusiastic crowd. Suranjith Premadasa driving his Premadasa Group Ford Formula in the Modified Formula category clocked the fastest timing of the day - 35.99 seconds with a flawless run. Aravinda Premadasa driving his Premadasa Group sponsored Mitsubishi Evolution 6 with timing of 36.18 seconds clocked the fastest timing for Stock Cars in the event SI-A Cars over 1600 cc and upto 3500 cc. But despite the exploits of the father and son, Rohan de Silva still stands supreme where the course record is concerned when he timed 35.57 seconds at the September 2004 - 70th Anniversary Mahagastota hill climb. This hill climb will also go down in the history as one of the longest hill climbs as it went on till 5 p.m. with the timing equipment giving the organisers endless problems especially during the second run compelling them to give the competitors extra runs when they are not timed. Local king of the two wheelers Shafraz Junaid clocked the fastest timing for motor cycles with a run which took him 38.74 seconds in his Honda CR in the event for mobikes between 125 cc and 250 cc. Shafraz Junaid is the holder of the course record for motor cycles when he timed 37.66 seconds in the same event in 2004 which eclipsed the five year old record of 38.73 seconds set up by Shanaka Ambrose in 1999 in the event for motor cycles over 350 cc. Rohan de silva despite failing to triumph in the modified formula event, won the Standard Formula 1600 cc event with a timing of 40.08 seconds. He could not complete the first run as he ran over the sand bags at the Cemetery corner following a defect in the front suspensions which resulted in the damage to the tie rod. But he got this repair attended to the win this event in the second run. No less than four class records were also lowered at this meet. Rameez Mahamoor who has been regular winner at Mahagastota behind his faithful Suzuki Culture in the event for SL-A Cars between 1050 cc and 1400 cc drove beautifully to time 39.59 second in his first run to lower the record of 39.71 seconds established by Yoga Perera in 2001. Second record to go was by Bajeewa Abeywardena in the Mini One Make event when he clocked 47.81 seconds in his Austin Mini to erase the record of 48.64 seconds set up in September 2005 by W. M. K. Wickremasinghe who finished second this time with a timing of 48.36 seconds and this too broke the earlier record. Third record to be lowered was by Madhushan Manapperuma in the class for SI-S Specials & Ptoto types upto 1600 cc with a timing of 40.32 seconds in his Honda Civic which bettered the record of 40.42 seconds set up by Rajitha Cooke in September 2004 in his Westfield Meg Blade. But he was given a torrid time by young Ishraq Wahab also in a Honda Civic with a timing of 41.04 seconds pushing Dinesh Jayawardena into third place. Shantha Suraweera who had a highly successful meet with two wins, accounted for the fourth record in the Nissan March One Make event with a timing of 48.33 seconds which sliced off a huge ten seconds from the earlier record of 58.9 seconds held by Miss Shehara de Silva. In fact the second and third placed Dhammika Peiris and Prasanna too broke the earlier record. Shantha Suraweera's second win was in the event for cars between 10.0 and 12.0 Kg/BRP in a Subaru Legacy. Sisira Gunasekera despite some good fight by Susantha Gunawardena put up a fine performance to win the Laser/Mazda One Make event upto 1500 cc. Janaka Palliyaguruge from Kandy surprised man by winning the event for cars over 12.0 Kg/BHP with a timing of 47.16 seconds in his Daihatsu Charade closely followed by Mahen Thambiah in a KIA Pride which had a timing of 47.40 seconds with another Kandyan Priyanjith Panabokke in the third slot. Dhammika Peiris who is the holder of two class records at Mahagastota got the better of gutsy Sajjad Zuhair to romp home winner in the event for cars between 8.0 and 10.0 Kg/BRP with a timing of 42.12. Sheran Fernando of Motor Marvels behind his faithful Citroen Saxo which has brought him many records and now running under a different class according to new specifications had to face zome stiff competition before getting the better of Dinesh Jayawardena with a timing of 40.32 seconds which was certainly an improvement of his record breaking timing 40.96 seconds in September 2004 in the 8 to 10.0 Kg/BHP class. Looking slim and fitter Shoran Fernando gave a superb exhibition of driving and change of gears to thrill the crowds. |
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