Richard Roett

Richard Roett had two successful careers, the first as a cyclist, followed by one in motor sports. When Roett was only 15-years-old he won the first-ever road race held by the Barbados Cycling Union. A decade later he went on to represent the island nation in the road race at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. By 1979 he had switched from two wheels to four, starting a career as a rally driver. By the mid-1980s he had won the Dobbie Douglas Trophy for being the fastest driver on the special stages of the rally in Barbados. In the 1990s the Texaco International All-Stage Rally was established on the island, with Roett winning in his class, in addition to placing in the top four overall in five of the first seven editions of the race.

Roett also competed in circuit racing during the same time, with his first start taking place in South Dakota in Guyana in late 1990. Five years later he started in the Automel Tarmac All Stage Rally in Jamaica with the goal of just finishing the race. The rally took its toll on the field, with only six of the 18 starters making it to the end, with Roett and his navigator winning the race. One year later Roett went back to defend his title in Jamaica, but his car was destroyed in a high-speed crash.

In 1997 Roett began racing in a Toyota Celica GT4, finishing fourth in both the Texaco and Jamaica’s Tecmarine International Rally, as well as first in his group in the Club’s Driver’s Championship in both 1997 and 1998. Roett continued to race for a few more years, recording multiple top-three finishes. After his death in November 2002, his start number was retired in his memory.