Written By: Kayra Williams on Feb 26th, 2010
It was a day for lovers of cars and speed, and for those simply looking for something out of the ordinary to do over Independence weekend. On February 21 and 22, all roads led to Vieux Fort for the much anticipated Drag Wars.
Anyone arriving to the old airport strip would have noticed a major transformation at the Base. The new uplifted track on the
Kakabef was impressive. Professionalism shone though; from the newly added bleachers that lined the track, to the full colour LED screens that enabled the audience to watch racers after they left the starting line, all the way to the fenced in track that made crossing in between races a thing of the past.
One of the event organizers, Neil Beepat, said this year things were, “a little more organized as far as the pit area was concerned.”
Local and regional car racers hit the track to find out who was the best of the best.
“We had a bit more control,” he explained. “We had extra police officers, about 31 in all, including traffic officers and SSU. This year we had close to 40 foreign cars taking part in the event.”
Racers from Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent, Grenada and St Lucia all formed part of the event. Four-time drag champ, Gregory Walter Cross, made a surprise appearance at the event. Cross, using a borrowed stock motorcycle, was able to run his best time ever, 10.0 seconds, on the St Lucia tracks. The four-time Jamaican Drag Racing Champion called the Base, “a gold mine.”
Over the two days, impressive times were set by Jodi Ali from Trinidad sporting a Toyota Supra, 8.9 seconds, Grenadian Allan Mc Intire; Ford Mustang, 9.8 seconds and Gordon Rooks from Trinidad; 1300 horse power Toyota Supra, 8.9 seconds, all in open class events. In the 11 second category Matrello Knights from St Vincent finished his race with a commendable 10.6 seconds.
At the record-breaking attendance event over the weekend ‘Chaos’ was the name on everyone’s lips. People wanted to see what the St Lucian car had to offer and the Toyota Supra, with a V8 Chevy engine did not disappoint.
Something of a miracle considering the car’s engine had blown the week before the event. Although driver Neil Beepat’s mechanic went to great lengths, traveling to the States, then back to get a new engine, the engine did not reach the island as promised on the Thursday before the event.
In a move of sheer determination, the car’s mechanic used parts from three blown engines and pieced together a new engine.
A makeshift engine that led Chaos, driven by Tobagonian Mervyn Bonnett, to a phenomenal 9.6 finishing time in the open class division on the second day; the third fastest time ran in the event, and the best time for a St Lucian car.
The star of the show was a St Lucian car under the name Chaos which got the best time of all local cars.
The star of the show was a St Lucian car under the name Chaos which got the best time of all local cars.
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