Canadian boost for motorsports By STEPHON NICHOLAS Saturday, February 9 2008
click on pic to zoom in
FAST CARS: Frankie Boodram, ex-national race car champion with portraits of some of his winning cars from his heyday at Speedway Auto Supplies in San ...
FRANKIE BOODRAM, former ace race car driver has invited two Canadian professional drivers to showcase their skills alongside the top locals tomorrow at the Camden Airstrip in Couva.
The Canadians, Danny Haig and Mitch Guimaraes are already in the country and tested their vehicle at the venue on Thursday.
Both drivers are very experienced in the sport of racing and bike racing in particular having been in involved for a combined total of over 30 years.
Boodram, who saw the duo compete at the annual circuit race in Guyana three years ago is of the belief that their presence will provide the necessary boost for the sport locally.
“We need quality racers for motor sport to continue so this is a good opportunity for the local drivers to learn something from these guys,” Boodram said.
The former Caribbean champion lamented the absence of a permanent home for racing and pointed out that their temporary residence in Couva still needs a lot of work in order to be up to standard. He noted that it is his love for the sport that drives him to do what he can to keep the sport alive.
“We have five events planned for this year, we are going to bring some motorcycle stuntmen to perform for the kids as well as some other exciting events,” said the “Godfather of Motor Sports.”
The event on Sunday will start at 2 pm with a number of local racers converging at the Camden Airstrip to compete against Haig and Guimares.
The pair has expressed confidence in their performance tomorrow but does not expect it to be too easy.
“From what we’ve seen it’s going to be some good competition,” Haig said, “We’re going to be racing bikes, cars and anything else they think they can beat us with,” he continued.
Guimaraes is grateful for the chance to race and test their bikes during Canada’s racing off-season and believes that the event will improve the sport in TT.
“Any opportunity that arises to get more bikes is good but we should get the drivers in a controlled environment. Racing on the street is not safe,” he pointed out.
Both drivers are employees of the Frankenstein Performance Cycle in Toronto and recently competed at the Toronto International Motorcycle Show where they placed second in the Sportbike category. Boodram, who is an automotive parts dealer is expecting a good crowd tomorrow and has called on the public to come out and support motor sports.
The staging of the event is costing over $150,000 and is expected to be one of the most premier racing events for the year.
.jpg)
