Records tumbled in 2017 at events staged by the Barbados Association of Dragsters and Drifters (BADD).
“In fact, all records were broken from the first to the last event. The rate of progression of the drivers was phenomenal and speed has gone up,” chairman Jason Downey said while addressing BADD’s annual awards ceremony in the Bushy Park Barbados canteen last Saturday.
Downey told the gathering it augured well for the club and they had been asked to partner with the Bushy Park Circuit Inc. (BPCI) for more activity this year.
“BPCI has asked us to assist them with putting on some monthly activities on Friday nights, similar to a track day, where anyone can bring their vehicle to the track and try their hand at drags or drifting,” the chairman noted.
He said no racing licence or club memberships would be required and spectators would be allowed on the hill.
According to Downey, the move fell in line with that of the late founder John ‘Tiny’ Harrison, who had it in his plans as among the ways of getting the illegal racing of the streets.
He congratulated new champion driver Dan Johnson, the various Time Bracket winners and the general membership of the club.
Damian Riley, driving a Nissan Sunny, took the honours for the best Reaction Time at Launch Control 2 in May last year, while Kevin Griffith grabbed the title in his Suzuki Swift at Launch Control 3 in August.
Suleman “Sol” Esuf, in the ProSales Mitsubishi Evo IX, turned in the fastest time of 126.16 miles per hour at Launch Control in May, while Robert Bishop drove his Speed Shop Mitsubishi Evo VII to the 60 dash with a time of 1.490 seconds at the same event.
Last August, Ahmed Esuf, in a Westfield posted a time of 8.191 seconds at Launch Control 3 which earned him the trophy for normally aspirated engines.
Kevin Griffith, in a turbo-charged Suzuki Swift, took the title among front wheel drive competitors with a time of 8.098 seconds at Launch Control 2. Johnson, in a Westfield Megawatt emerged as king in the rear wheel drive class with a time of 6.462 seconds.
Records continued to tumble at the same event when Esuf came back and drove away with the 4WD title, posting a time of 6.131 seconds at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Evo IX.
Dwayne Browne, in a Nissan Pulsar finished third overall with a total of 309 points. Anthony Mayers, in a well-prepared Honda Civic finished second overall with 337, while Johnson took the coveted champion driver’s title and trophy with a total of 354 points.
Downey said he was expecting a great new season with GoodYear Tyres, Courtesy Garage and Tropical Batteries.
“The future looks very good for the club. Our Access Arrangement with Bushy Park is working well and the loyal fans are being attracted in their numbers to our events and the guys are either putting together, or bringing some potent machines and it augurs well for the coming season,” Downey added.
Pointing out that 2017 was an amazing year, the chairman said he was pleased with the way things had gone, and with acquiring the new digital scoreboards. (TT)
