St. Maarten’s commissioner of sports, Frans Richardson is most encouraged about prospects for a proposed drag race strip for St. Maarten, after attending an international drag fest held over the weekend on Curacao.
Commissioner Richardson had traveled to Curacao to personally lend his support to the St. Maarten team participating in the event, which attracted tens of thousand of drag race enthusiasts.
Represented by the St. Maarten Drag Racing Association, St. Maarten had been invited to attend the event by the ‘Fundashon Autosport Curacao’.
"Such events can mean a whole lot for revenues and should be seen within the framework of sports tourism" says Commissioner Richardson.
St. Maarten took part in the event with 4 race cars and 3 bikes. The participation of St. Maarten was made possible through the St. Maarten tourism bureau.
Other participating teams came from Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, St. Eustatius, Venezuela and the U.S.A.
The event was staged at the Curacao International Raceway which boasts a track located on a plateau which is 50 meters above sea level. The 1/4 mile drag strip has a track width of 62 feet with concrete guardrails.
The track is owned by Fundashon Autosport Curaçao (FAC), a non-profit foundation.
Commissioner Richardson supports the ongoing initiatives of local drag race enthusiasts and says that he looks forward to the day when St. Maarten can start promoting motor sport activities, by organizing races and other events.
On photo: Commissioner Richardson lending his support to the St. Maarten team of racers at the International drag fest 2010, held in Curacao.