A new bike for Basil - Star Auto, Stewart's Auto Sales deliver Motor Show prize

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

Last Monday afternoon, Basil Watson happily retold both sides of the telephone conversation in which he was told that he had won a 2015 Honda CBF-150 Invicta motorcycle at the recent Automobile Dealers Association (ADA) Motor Show 2014. The brand new motorcycle, contributed by Stewart's Auto Sales, was given away by The Gleaner Company as part of the promotion for The STAR's new Auto feature, which appears in the Wednesday Star.

"Sherilla (Gordon, marketing officer at The Gleaner Company Ltd) asked me how I was. I told her I was excellent. She said, 'I am about to make you even better'," Watson said. "She said I had won the bike. It was a nice surprise."

And she did, telling Watson that he had won the new motorcycle, which had been on display at the National Arena during the ADA Motor Show 2014. The draw for the prize was held on the last day, Sunday, November 30, while Watson was not at the venue.

He was still exuberant on Monday afternoon when the motorcycle was officially presented at Stewart's Motor Sales' South Camp Road offices, where the Honda motorcycle dealership is housed. As was the case at the National Arena, The Gleaner Company's manager of Business Development and Marketing, Nordia Craig, ADA chairman Kent LaCroix and Gordon were there, but now a very happy Watson was in the picture.

One in a thousand chances

Watson was one of nearly 1,000 persons who submitted an entry for the prize. "When I went (to the National Arena), I saw it," he said, then, made his way to the Gleaner's booth and made the submission.

LaCroix said he enjoyed working with the team on the giveaway and it appeared to "have gone quite well. It was unusual in terms of having a bike as a giveaway".

The 2015 Honda CBF-150 Invicta is at the mid-range of the dealership's Honda motorcycle line-up.

Watson, who is the general manager at Confectionery and Snacks Ja Ltd, which does Sunshine snacks and Charles chocolates, among other products has ridden a motorcycle before but has not owned one. "I guess I have a more efficient way to get around," Watson said.

A regular at the ADA Motor Show, which is held every two years, Watson said, "It is a good, well-put-on show." He intends to keep abreast of what is happening with motor vehicles. "A car is an investment. Some years you are buying, some years you are not. It is good to see what is happening," Watson said.

"I believe in supporting good events. For it to continue, you have to support it. It was a quality production."