2023 drag rivals series set to begin at Vernamfield January 28
Published:Tuesday | January 10, 2023 | 1:09 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
Kenneth Timoll, director of Kent Racing, organisers for drag racing in Jamaica, says most of the preparation has already taken place for the first staging of drag rivals for 2023. The two-day meet is set for Vernamfield, Clarendon, on January 28 and 29.
The speed fest which usually attracts a high number of spectators marks the first event of a jam-packed year for drag racing lovers.
“Everything is in place, so far,” Timoll said yesterday. “I met with the parish council to finalise the event permit, so everything is in motion. At Vernamfield, there’s actually not much we can do until we get down to the actual weekend of the event. In terms of our schedule, we are where we should be at this point.”
Drag racing has seen an increase both in events and spectator turnout and according to Timoll, he has already inked a new deal with those in charge of the Vernamfield airstrip which sees them through to the end of this year.
“The Airports Authority of Jamaica has a development plan and they can resume that plan at any time which may affect our schedule but we have signed a new contract that carries us to the end of 2023. It’s renewable at the end of each year. Things are looking good based on the last event, the structure and the safety protocols that we’ve added,” Timoll said.
The experienced racing organiser revealed that as a country the appetite is growing for drag racing events and overseas drivers have already indicated that they would be interested in participating in the April staging of the drag rivals meet.
“Drag rivals has been around in Westmoreland since 2018 and we operated two and a half years before COVID-19 came around and the operations stopped there. While on the break, we were offered the opportunity to reopen at Vernamfield so it has always been the motherland of drag racing in Jamaica and once the competition is good, you’ll get a good spectator turnout as well.
“We have a few cars set to come down from the United States this year, hopefully starting at the April event,” Timoll said.