– Overseas-based Guyanese recounts racing start

GUYANESE youngsters are making waves across the Americas and in Europe but some of the older folks are following suit as well. One former resident of Bee Hive on the East Coast of Demerara continues to fly the Golden Arrowhead high.

Fifty-year-old, Canadian based Latchman Singh migrated to Canada only last year, and, with his new beginning also decided to venture into new territory when he started his racing career. The Guyanese racer competes in his debut car, a 1994 Honda Civic.
Latchman competes in the Super Street Front Wheel Drive class in the Canadian Sport Compact Series (CSCS) and even recently picked up a second place finish in the latest round.

Speaking to the Pepperpot Magazine, Latchman said, “I started in the same 1994 Honda Civic Hatchback which I’ve grown with and learned to drive. Prior to September 2016, I had no clue how to drive so ever since that day, I’ve been learning.”
Singh believes that he has come a far way circuit-wise having lowered his home track’s class record of one minute 26 seconds to one minute 23 seconds.

“I don’t think that anyone is too old to learn. I think that once you’re willing to put your mind and dedicate your time, you can do wonders,” he said.
“I plan to continue growing in the sport. I really like what I am doing and have done so far but there is still a long way to go. But I am committed to learning as much as I can while I still can,” he added.

Though he has never been to a local circuit racing meet, he is planning an outing on the blacktop of the South Dakota Circuit.
“Me and my Civic plan to come to Guyana next year- probably in March- to make my debut. I think that it would be an interesting change for me and I’m really looking forward to it, should all go well,” he said.

His team includes his two children, as well as Guyanese racer, Daniel Dookie, and his brother, and Latchman says without the support of that strong team, he would be lost.
“Without my team, I would still be struggling to keep the car in tip-top shape after I come off the track in pit lane. They also can see my mistakes on the outside and correct me when I come into pits.

They are always there with liquid ready for me to drink and always checking my oil, tire pressure, brake fluid and much more. They relieve a lot of stress.”
Singh is excited to return home even after such a short time, to show his Guyanese people just how much he has learned.