The Tribune

LONG before the checkered flag is waved and some of the world’s fastest, hottest cars blur past, Bahamas Speed Week’s economic impact is gearing up with nearly a dozen local businesses being fuelled by event-related contracts for everything from catering to bleachers, sanitation to logistics.

“We are committed to ensuring that Bahamas Speed Week extends beyond recreation to the creation of spin-off economic benefits for the country and for local businesses,” said Jimmie Lowe, Speed Week president.

“We’re still three months out and we can identify a number of companies that are already benefitting or will benefit during the week of Speed Week activities.”

Set for November 24 - December 2, Bahamas Speed Week 2012 kicks off with a concert at Arawak Cay on Saturday evening followed by a Miss Speed Week Pageant Sunday.

Some 60 classic racing and sports cars, including several belonging to local drivers, will participate in time trials, an island tour at speeds of over 100 miles per hour and a hill climb at Fort Charlotte, as well as other activities and exhibitions throughout the week.

The event, once the supreme highlight of Nassau’s social calendar, was revived last year after a 46-year hiatus and this year’s plans are far more ambitious.

For Alexandra Maillis-Lynch, whose company, Alexandra’s, is providing all catering and co-ordination services for the VIP Paddock Club, Speed Week has spawned new equipment, office space rental and given birth to a related business – event management with a high-end twist.

“Speed Week is an exciting project that I hope keeps growing and growing, spilling over into other areas,” said Mrs Maillis-Lynch, who expects to have a staff of more than 30 working during the event.

As a direct result of Speed Week, she rented office space in historic Nassau, purchased new equipment, and most significantly, started a related business in high-end event management.

“I like major projects like this,” she said. “I find it thrilling.”

Crispin Cleare, whose company C Cube Seating, has the contract for bleachers to seat up to 5,000 spectators, a media platform and more than 25,000 square feet of tenting, said he’ll have about two dozen workers on site throughout the event.

“It is definitely keeping my doors open in terms of generating revenue,” said Mr Cleare. “I highly compliment Speed Week and their entire management team for believing in Bahamians and granting so many Bahamian businesses the opportunity to prove that Bahamians can do good work. This shows confidence in the Bahamian people as so many other companies and productions would out-source service companies instead.”

Mr Cleare has signed a three-year contract with Speed Week.

Another contractor, Danny Ferguson, is returning for a second year with expanded logistics responsibilities.

“All I have to do,” he chuckles, “is create a city within Arawak Cay.”

He knows it’s serious business.

Ferguson is the go-to guy for everything from police co-ordination to circles of tires, provided by Battery & Tyre, Centreville.

He co-ordinates with the Ministry of the Environment, with the Ministry of Works for site improvements, paving, landscaping, lighting.

He will be responsible for the track, the banners, the circuit, for human safety and for the security of rare cars, some of which are priceless.

Arawak Cay vendors such as Dwight Armbrister have been fixing up and looking forward.

Mr Armbrister has added a full wraparound deck to his restaurant, Dwight’s Place.

He’s employed painters for weeks on end, has begun work on a second floor and last year, completely remodelled, re-furnished and air-conditioned in anticipation of Speed Week.

Other vendors such as Scott Saunders are making shirts, caps and other logo products.