Drag Fest 2014

Willemstad, Curacao

Happy New Year to all of our race fans out there!

After having endured a year without any racing events I am excited to inform that the F.A.C. will once again organize the traditional "Dia di La Reina" drag races this year. Though it will be called by another name it looks as if this Drag Fest will be the largest drag racing event in the Caribbean for 2014.

Kick off:
At the end of March, 2014, the organizers will hold a series of mini auto shows around the island. One will be held each week for a total of four. A variety of local drag race cars will be on display.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014:

A large auto show will be held on the Brion Plein, which is considered the center of Willemstad and the St. Anna Bay and sits at the cross road of the island (see photo on the right).

place where most of the official celebrations are held. Since the site allows for it, a great deal of the visiting drag race cars (foreign) as well as the local ones will be on display. The spectator turnout will be massive since the location is on the

Wednesday, April 30, 2014:
The official test day will take place at the Curaçao International Raceway at Ronde Klip. The session will run into the night where the elapsed times will drop considerably.

Thursday and Friday, May 1, 2, 2014:
First and second (final) day of races, all existing classes. The F.A.C. will also introduce the Top Sportsman class (NHRA - ADRL) running 6.00 - 8.50, this is essentially a fast bracket race.

Possibly attending from Holland

As a attraction, the organizers have invited several foreign cars to participate in the race. Some will be exhibitions whilst others will be racing in their respective classes.
- exhibition: from The Netherlands, two "MPM oil sponsored Nostalgia class Funny Cars" have been invited. I believe these compete in the Pro-Mod class back in Holland (see photo),
- Also from The Netherlands, four to six drag race cars have gotten invitations to attend, including Curaçao native Clemson Lourens,
- from Colombia, two cars have been invited from Bogota and two from Baranquilla,

Attending from Venezuela.

- from Grenada, four cars have been invited,
- from Trinidad, no less than 10-16 cars have been invited,
- from Venezuela, a couple have been invited. The "modified" Zapato Grande (green Ford Mustang) is already on the island as it arrived in early December 2013 (see photo),
- Santo Domingo, cars have been invited but don't have a number,
- St. Maarten, cars have been invited but don't have a number,

Cars and fans of neighboring islands of Aruba and Bonaire will certainly find their way to Curaçao where they will attempt to collect the majority of trophies.

The event organizer, the F.A.C., reiterated on various occasions that it would not outright cover all the expenses for the foreign cars to race during the event, though it would offer to the foreign invites a package deal (probably brokered through various event sponsors) so as to reduce the actual cost of getting the cars and crew to the venue. He wants to be clear on this to avoid any misrepresentations.

A big shout out goes out to the event sponsors!

So mark your calendars and start booking your airline tickets, because I personally guarantee that the racing is going to be "hard, fast, and full of action". Of course, I can only speak for myself, but as my father used to instruct:  "It doesn't matter how you cross the finish line, just that you cross it first". So King Kong IV, and the rest.... you've been warned. Best to bring your A-game to this party!

For more information about the 2014 Drag Fest, please click here.

Thanks for reading and check back for updates along with possible corrections.

Sources: Roc Korsou 88, "Den Staging Lanes", Mr. John Anthony, with Mr. Frank Brandao (FAC), Wikipedia,
Photo credit: USA Today, sports.mpmoil.nl, unknown.