Racers clash at Speed Invasion Weekend
By Ryan Haas
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis- Drag racing is fast validating its hype as the most exciting sporting and entertainment activity in the Federation and this weekend’s three-day racing event, dubbed the Speed Invasion Weekend was definitely proof of the growing fanaticism.
With nearly 4000 spectators flooding Nevis’ St. James Raceway, the largest ever contingent of regional racers turning up and a brand new lighting system installed, the November 28-30 event held an equal promise of great success and great defeat for the Nevis Drag Racing Association (NDRA).
Fans cheered on their favorite local car and bike racers and enjoyed the high level of competition between the foreigners as well.
Vaughn Anslyn, President of the NDRA said that even though there were hiccups during the course of the weekend, he viewed it as an overall success for the association that bodes well for the future of motorsports in the Federation.
“It was a very successful event for us. We had over fifty cars and bikes from other islands on top of our racers from St. Kitts and Nevis.
“The more events we hold, the more we improve the logistics for the competitions and I think that showed this weekend. We have definitely learned from our mistakes in the past and I think we have improved on those.” 
Among those areas Anslyn said showed the most improvement this weekend were the security and flow of traffic problems that caused long waits to enter the raceway during the first two events.
A second upgrade was the introduction of a high tech timing system designed to prevent inaccurate race results. Though a professional lighting system may seem a step in the right direction, many racers complained about it being too sensitive and costing them their races in the elimination rounds.
“A lot of the problem was arising from an education of the lighting system. Many of these guys don’t have much experience with lighting systems, so there were cars rolling back off of the starting line and tripping the sensors. In the future we plan to have test runs on the weekends so guys can practice with the lighting system more.”
~~Adz:Left~~Anslyn also said that the NDRA would be considering having a separate day for the bikers because “they were becoming frustrated with the car drivers and the car drivers were frustrated with them all weekend”.
With a nearly equal number of cars and bikes arriving at the Nevis track from Antigua, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and St. Kitts, tempers occasionally flared between the racers, and no place was this more prevalent than in the overcrowded pit area.
“We are definitely going to be issuing badges for the pit area at our next event and make sure that no one other than the racers, their crew and the press are allowed down there for everyone’s safety.”
Other safety features of the track, such as the forty foot sand pit at the end, fulfilled their duties to the fullest extent, Anslyn explained, despite arguments from racers that the strip was too short.
“Some of the drag cars should have been shutting down halfway down the track, but they didn’t want to back off because of the competition or whatever, and that’s the reason for the sandpit. The cars that went in there only made it ten feet before sinking into the sand and preventing any damage.”
The President said his team of officials will be closely analysing the successes and shortcomings of the Speed Invasion Weekend as they continue to build on what is quickly becoming the leading sport/entertainment event in the federation of St. Kitts-Nevis.
Click Here For More Photos
