by Ryan O’Brien
Saint Lucian drivers are getting set to head to Antigua for a drag racing event taking place on Nov. 25 and 26.
The Ministry of Youth Development and Sports through its Alternative Sports Programme in collaboration with Invest Saint Lucia held a launch of the Saint Lucia Drag Racing team and the unveiling of the Invest Saint Lucia Drag Car.
“The inspiration for this project came from a trip I took to witness a motor racing event in Barbados, and how deeply involved both the private and public sectors were,” said Craig Gustave, Alternative Sports Officer in the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports.
Chairman of Invest Saint Lucia, Lyndon Arnold, is of the opinion that the Motor Sports venture is an untapped market that can provide opportunities for not only drivers but also for other services from mechanics and body repair men.
“The mandate of Invest Saint Lucia is to look at investment opportunities here in Saint Lucia and we thought that with this underserved motor sports sector, which globally has a huge impact, would be an excellent opportunity for Saint Lucia to get involved in as a means of diversifying our tourism product,” said Arnold.
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports Mary Wilfred said the ministry stands ready to give institutional support to the Saint Lucia Motor Sports Association and to assist other non-traditional sports.
Three drivers will be representing Saint Lucia at the Legendary Drag 2023 event in Antigua, Edi Le Grand who will be at the controls in the Invest Saint Lucia wrapped Toyota Supra MK4, Johnny Chitolie in a Nissan Skyline R33, and Kent Joseph with another Toyota Supra MK4.
SOURCE: Ministry of Youth & Sports
What a strange idea for economic development in a country that has inadequate and deteriorating road infrastructure.
It is neither a strange nor a new idea. For decades Vieux Fort has had drag racing on the old airstrip called the “Caca Bef (deceased Mike Molinaro, and most recently Nigel Eudoxie and his club). Drag enthusiasts (car and motorcycle) came from neighbouring islands to participate and this was a wonderful sight to see in the Vieux Fort town… untill the advent of the DSH PROJECT!!!
There was no involvement of NDC at the time…but now we see this…
Juxtapose that against the attempted destruction of a horse race track for local horses parallel to the drag strip and tell me…”Why is it that every attempt at uplifting the community of Vieux Fort is aborted (remember the state of the art equipment at the Stadium) and then transplanted to the Castries basin or further north?”
@Anonymous, I fail to see the correlation. Are you suggesting that one activity should not be undertaken unless an unrelated though essential task is completed; one being touristic and promotional and based out of State, the other, infrastructural development and locally based?
I was unaware of the history of racing there. However, it does seem odd that resources would be devoted to maintaining a race track for entertainment while the essential roads supporting all of the economic activity on the island deteriorate. But maybe the track is a completely private endeavor and, as such, maintained with private money.
GREETINGS AND WELL SAID @ANONYMOUS, ALSO WHO ARE THE DRIVERS AND WHO TAUGHT THEM TO DRAG RACE, WHOS CARS ARE IN THAT RACE. THER ARE ALOT OF WHOS.
I believe it is about time that this sector had to be tapped into. Too many countries of this world are into motor sports and we are lagging behind with an unofficial meet which is held sometimes only once a year. We need to take it to a professional level so we as a nation can influence other drivers to visit this island to participate in this sport. Tap into it I say.