Wallerfield
re-opened!!! AutoSport themselves tested and tuned
an event that could possibly be the future of "Gangster
Drags".
After
much deliberation, Wallerfield was finally opened
once more for street class drag racing. With permission
from Wallerfield land owners Evolving TecKnologies
and Enterprise Development Company Ltd, formerly
PIDCOTT, AutoSport Promotions Limited staged the
event successfully.
From our end here at TriniTuner we understand that
alot is being done by various bodies concerning
the future of Motorsport in T&T. Especially
since the Wallerfield area has been ear-marked by
the government for development of a university and
business park.
Most of these discussions between Evolving TecKnologies,
the Ministry of Sport and the various mo-sport bodies
remain private and confidential. We are not privy
to any details at this time but we can speculate
that the two options being discussed may be either
for the further development of the southern track
(circuit track), since the northern track (drag
strip) is definitely part of the business parks
plan, OR an entirely new location all together,
perhaps somewhere central. Both options will require
alot of funding from all involved.
We
do understand that safety and security are at the
top of everyone's list and with this in mind it
was imperative that Sunday street car racing, more
popularly known as Gangster Drags will no longer
be allowed by the land owners to continue in its
usual haphazard manner.
With this ultimatum AutoSport Promotions used its
access to the track to allow street cars to run
in an unofficial event with the use of their timing
system for a small fee.
Another formed group, the Sunday Racers Association,
have also been working hard to get their use of
the track and just two days before this event it
was decided that they would work with AutoSport.
They managed to negotiate a few deals in favour
of the street car racers.
There
is no doubt that AutoSport must be very happy about
this situation since Gangster Drags has been a proverbial
thorn in its side. Now the enormous crowds that
once took to the tracks for free will have to turn
to ASPL if they want to race again - this time around
with proper safety procedures and for a fee - $10
for entry and $30 for racers. This however is a
fantastic deal considering the effort it takes to
stage an event like this and with the added use
of the timing system, Fire Services, Ambulance,
Police, other facilities and staff.
ASPL competition drivers also used this day to
test their vehicles as well in leu of the upcomming
offical drag meet at the end of September.
All in all it is good to see the progression of
street class racing from its "gangster"
beginnings and it is always great to see facilities
put in place to help keep racing off the streets
and always on the tracks...
