Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter
Peter Moodie Jr. (left) and his father, Peter Moodie Sr., discussing strategies for the next race at a go-kart meet at Palesadoes go-Kart track.
Welcome to our new series: Like Father Like Son. Every month, Flair will place the spotlight on a father and son team who share many things in common. Whether it be sports, business, music, agriculture or any other life-long passion, we will take you through the chapters of their lives. Our first father-son pair is the motor racing duo of Peter Moodie Sr. and Jr.
THE CHIP never falls far from the block. This age-old phrase appropriately describes Peter Moodie Jr. and his dad Peter Moodie Sr.
With a heavily bearded face, it's hard to tell how similar the elder Moodie's features are to his son's, but their passion for race cars is identical.
Love for race cars is a long-standing tradition in the Moodie family as Peter Moodie Sr. has followed in the footsteps of his father Garth Moodie.
Now 28 years old, Peter Moodie Jr. has been racing for 10 years having grown up seeing his father in full gear. "I grew up loving it, watching what a car can do - seeing a car go out of control and being in control," noted Moodie Jr. now an electrical technician at his father's company Peter Moodie Auto sports.
Moodie Jr. told Flair he enjoys, "The thrill of the unknown. Can I break in another second? Can I go faster than I did? And I love the feel of success. My aim is always to win; I have a competitive spirit in anything that I do."
His father's sentiments are similar in his love for the sport, "For me (racing) was the single thing I thought I did best and that hasn't changed. It gave me the most reward. I was in control of it. It was initially hard work, but I got through. The reward of winning was the greatest sensation that one can have during those two or three seconds when you've been given the flag. Nothing else can get close, no trophy, no prize, nothing comes close," said Moodie Sr.
He wasn't surprised that his son followed in his footsteps. After all, he had followed in his own father's footsteps and from an early age, young Peter's interest was obvious. "He showed initial interest and he seemed to enjoy it as a sport. He takes pleasure in watching races and just being around cars excites him, Moodie Sr. said."
Apart from his dad, Moodie admires Michael Schumacher seven-time world champion Ferrari F1 driver. "I watched his career and determination, he raced for a team that should not have won."
SPEAKS HIS MIND
About his father, the young racing enthusiast said, "My father speaks his mind and at all times you know what he thinks." Moodie notes that the best piece of advice his father has ever given him was, "Put yourself in the other person's shoe then act."
Moodie's dream was always to become a professional driver. In his short time in the sport, he might well be on his way. He's rated in the top five drivers in Jamaica with nine to 10 wins each year. He has competed internationally in Barbados, London and Florida. Moodie Jr. notes that his experience on the track has also helped him manoeuvre Jamaican roads. "It's sharpened my response on the road. The dangerous drivers are the ones who don't race on the track so they take it out on the road."
The Moodies' fast paced life has an element of danger. "Knowing that at the end of the day you could come out of it alive or not breathing. There is some level of fear and anxiety. But carrying fear into the race makes you slower."
Though Moodie Jr. is able to keep his fears at bay his mother isn't. "Her absence from events is an indication of how she feels about it."
Other things in common
A love for race cars is not all that this father-son duo has in common.
Mr. Moodie Sr. notes that another trait that he and his son share is their "appreciation for the simple life. We have no need or desire to overexpose ourselves, but enjoy life, family, our activities and quality of life." He also admires his son's ability in the art of fabrication (build), which he describes as exceptional. "He possesses a natural ability to teach himself." He's also impressed by Peter's, "adaptation to mechanics, especially in management, computing and tuning - these abilities that I did not see initially."
Both men conclude that their love affair with cars is their all, "Cars are my life, I don't see myself doing anything else," notes Moodie Sr.
