Vernamfield event cut short by rain

Shanique Samuels, Star Writer

Two new records were set at the fifth and final staging of the Nestlé Supligen Drag Race Challenge for this year, which was held at the Vernamfield motor sport facility on Sunday.

The National Drag Racing Circuit (NDRC) event saw its first record of the day established by May Pen's Orville Williams, with the fastest time for a four-cylinder engine of 9.3 seconds. Williams entertained the spectators with a Nissan Pulsar, smashing the previous record of 9.8 seconds.

An executive of the NDRC, Stephen Gunter, said Williams' car has a very fast time for the class.

Later in the day, Adrian McLymont broke the previous NDRC Door Slammer record to set a new best of 8.0 seconds. McLymont set the record driving a turbocharged V8 Ford Mustang, which sped up to 181 miles per hour.

Heavy rain forced the event to be called off at 4:30 p.m. It was an early end to a drag meet, which had promised even more entertainment for the approximately 3,000 motor sport fans who attended.

Gunter said although the day's remaining events were cancelled, spectators should look forward to a bigger and better race series in 2015. "The season is over; the year is finished. there is nothing we can do, but we will find a way to make things bigger and better and satisfy the demand early next year," he said.

Sunday's meet saw a record 136 drivers competing for vital points in the various classes, each seeking the title of 2014 Nestlé Supligen Class Champion. There were nine categories of drivers racing over the quarter-mile distance.

Another NDRC executive, Chris Elliott, explained that drag racing is gathering momentum in Jamaica. "Overall, I think everybody has a positive outlook. Drag racing has been elevated in 2014, and the NDRC intends to take it further in 2015. We have an exciting programme lined up for 2015. We will be back with five races and lots more offerings, which we can't divulge at the moment," Elliott said.