Spectators At Nevis Island’s Drag Strip
Charlestown, Nevis
September 23, 2008
Over 5000 motor sport enthusiasts from several countries of the Caribbean attended the Inaugural Car and Motorcycle Race at the new St. James Drag Raceway on Nevis, Friday afternoon.
The drag race was the largest ever sporting event to be staged on the island.
The quarter mile race track, believed to be one of the regions finest, had participating cars and motorcycles from Nevis, St.Kitts, the British Virgin Islands and other countries of the region.
The track was built at a cost of $3 Million and official sources say that already there has been a significant return on that investment, as several local vendors, guest house owners, car rental agents , bus drivers, taxi drivers and restaurant owners all enjoyed good business as a result of the well-patronised event.
Many people attending the race were very complimentary of the event:, as they said they loved the afternoon’s activity. Mr. Macneil Rogers, Anguilla’s Minister of Health, said he was very impressed with the facilities, which, as he put it, could bring numerous benefits to the economy of Nevis.
The Hon. Una Clarke, former Representative of Brooklyn, New York in the United States Congress, described the drag race event as “spectacular”.
Mr. Fredrick Morton, General Manager of the Tempo Network visited the race track along with artists, Ziggy Rankin, Mr. King and Machel Mantano who performed the following day at the well attended Tempo show.
Also in attendance was popular radio broadcaster Mr. Magic of Winn FM in St.Kitts who carried a live broadcast of the day’s event.
Organizers of the event made a very special effort to ensure the well being of participants and drivers: a structured first aid area was designated; there were also, two EMS ambulances, one from St Kitts and the other from Nevis; the Red Cross and two fire trucks. These were all on site and ready to be called into action if needed.