The Tribune

WITH less than three months to go before the familiar cry of “Gentlemen, start your engines”, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis threw government’s support behind Bahamas Speed Week and pledged to accelerate improvements to the site of the prestigious event at Arawak Cay.

Mr Davis, who is also Minister of Works and Urban Development, met with media, toured the site in a 1970 Jaguar XKE and revealed government’s hopes to widen roads, improve landscaping and help transform the area of West Bay Street known as Fish Fry, where come late November, millions of dollars worth of exotic cars will gather as Bahamas Speed Week 2012 gets set to take off.

“On behalf of my government, I would like to say that we fully support Bahamas Speed Week and recognise the value that Speed Week represents, creating an environment that combines the best of two worlds, attracting high net worth individuals to the island and bringing events right to the centre of Arawak Cay for the benefit of local vendors and Bahamian businesses, creating economic benefit and tremendous international exposure,” said Mr Davis.

“I look around and can see the benefits an event like this will have and see the potential for what it can mean to local business and to the country as a whole.”

Mr Davis arrived in suit and tie, but shed his jacket when invited to ride in a 1970 cranberry red Jaguar XKE with Speed Week President Jimmie Lowe.

“He’s being a great sport,” said Mr Lowe, who watched the Deputy Prime Minister settle down on a hard convertible top folded down for the drive because the passenger seat had been removed as the car is undergoing repairs.

Mr Lowe and other organisers spent more than two years revving up for the first Speed Week Revival in 2011, an event that was a huge success in terms of international attention and coverage, with the legendary Sir Stirling Moss as patron, but failed to ignite enough local interest.

That, said Mr Lowe, was the result of confusing ticket prices.

“This year, all bleacher seats will be $30 – that’s it,” he noted. “We learned from our mistakes last year.”

Mr Lowe and others from the organising team, including Brendan Foulkes, Rosamund Roberts and Danny Ferguson, spent hours with a team from the Ministry of Works prior to the minister’s arrival at Arawak Cay, walking the cay from end to end and identifying specific needs.

“It was like showing them a wish list but all of it has long-term benefits for the cay, not just for Speed Week,” said Mr Lowe.

Already, another major event is being moved to Arawak Cay in January, thanks in part of hoped-for improvements.

Topping the wish list is widening the paving to allow for actual racing instead of time trials.

“We are looking at widening the paving to allow for side-by-side racing and that’s when it gets really exciting,” said Mr Davis, talking to the media as if he were preparing to announce the next series of racing cars.

In addition to the Ministry of Works, other government departments are working to make events like Speed Week a reality, none more so than the Ministry of Tourism.

Director of Sports Tourism Tyrone Sawyer reiterated his ministry’s commitment.

“The Ministry of Tourism has an unflinching commitment to Bahamas Speed Week,” said Mr Sawyer. “It is one of the premier events in the calendar year and we are happy to support it in every way we can.”

From 1954-1966, Nassau Speed Week was the highlight of the social calendar and many of the cars that raced a half century ago returned last year for the revival and reunion.

Sir Stirling Moss’s appearance drew masses of international attention and Speed Week was so hot that it showed up on a huge billboard in New York’s Times Square.

This year’s event runs from November 24 - December 2, kicking off with a concert on Saturday, November 24, followed by a Miss Speed Week competition the following day, with visitors taking the next few days to explore the islands.

Official car events begin Wednesday, November 28 and run through the weekend.

Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes is patron of the Pictet Gala Ball and Auction of Promises, which raises funds for Bahamian charities. That event is set for December 1.