2014 Drag Fest results

The 2014 Int'l Drag Fest, held in Curaçao May 1-3, 2014, was a resounding success . The three day event saw great racing up on the plateau at Ronde Klip, with participants from as far away as the Netherlands. After a year of no drag racing on the island, the fans came out in droves, to the delight of the organizers and event sponsors.

The first official event was a meet-and-greet car show held at the beautiful Bionplein right on the entrance of our majestic St. Annabaai. The international participants got a warm welcome and everybody enjoyed the evening. To watch some photos of this event, click here.

The race director for this 3 day race was American Gary Rost, out of the PBIR and the PDRA. Funny thing is that it was Gary who signed off on my drag racing license. It's a small world after all.

With a few exception for oil downs and accidents, all three day of races went smooth and without a hitch. The fans enjoyed themselves watching the drivers battle it out on the track. The class winners and first runner up's were:

Pro Comp:

Pro Comp - Alex Rozier

1. Alex Rozier, Don Chema (Curacao)
2. Ronald Rosini, Black max (Curacao)

Super Comp Bike 8.90:
1. Urney martina, Merite Racing (Curacao)
2. Francis Kock, P-Nuts Racing (Aruba)

Super Gas 9.90:
1. Virgil Henriquez, Mr. Holley II (Curacao)
2. Jerry Trappenberg, Orkan (Curacao)



Berginie Naar

ET Bracket No Box:
1. Senthley Martina, Diablito (Curacao)
2. Timothy Boekhoudt, Bad Habit sneaky Tuning (Curacao)

Top Sportsman:
1. Abel Burgos, Blackout (USA)
2. Virgil Henriquez, Mr. Johns (Curacao)

Import Class:
1. Senthley Martina, Diablito (Curacao)

Clemson Lourens

2. Eldron "Toto" Jansen, Little Son (Cur)

Quick 32 Bike:
1. Juralden Merite, Merite Racing (Cur)
2. Jenny Martis, Still Baling Racing (Cur)

Super Comp 8.90:
1. Alex Rozier, Don Chema (Curacao)
2. Jerry Trappenberg, Orkan (Curacao)

Sport Man Bike:

Extreme Import - Raffik

1. Xiovany "Wiwi" Regales (Curacao)
2. Richard Every, P-Nuts Racing (Aruba)

Krioyo Outlaw Bike:
1. Shanigan Paula, Paula Racing (Cur)
2. Charly Anasagastie, Angelo Power (Netherlands)

Extreme Import:
1. Abel Burgos, Blackout (USA)
2. Alexis Santiago, Raffik (Curacao)


Super Mod Stock A - D. Namour

Krioyo Bracket:
1. Virgil Henriquez, Mr. Holley II (Curacao)
2. Emilio Ortiz, Don't Panic Dragster (Aruba)

Super Modified Stock A:
1. Johannes de Boer, Mr Holley IV (Cur)
2. Danilo Namour, Zapato Grande II (Venezuela)


Top Gun category:
Piss'd off Pete had transmission problems on the first day of competition. The remaining car, King Kong IV, driven by the legendary Pat Musi and owned by Frank Brandao, made some very good passes, with low et of the race, some 6.49 seconds. On the last night, the event organizer matched King Kong IV vs Ramon van der Weurf with "Wild'r at Heart". The former won both races, but the Nostalgia Funny car put up a nice effort in the last race going 6.98. To watch the video, please click here.

Luckily there were just two racing accident during the 3 day event. Rider Steven Soeterboek fell of his bike going more than 190 mph. Richel Cannister suffered what appeared to be mechanical failure at the top end, sending his Opel GT "My Dream" hard into the right wall. To watch a video of this incident, click here.
There was also an incredible save by Osman Osman driving Baloul in the Super Mod Stock A class. Click here for the video. One can hear the fans applauding the driver on as he struggles to keep it from the retaining walls.

A first, if I'm not mistaken, were the two drag racing back-up-girls who got both grandstands on their feet as they did their thing. Definitely something to consider going forward. See the two pictures on the right.

On behalf of the racers and fans, I'd like to thank the sponsors for making this drag race event possible: Dunlop, Curacao Tourist Board, Gomez Shipping, KFC, AVF Paints, Monster Energy drink, Licores Maduro, Alcolado Glacial, Fun Miles, Curoil, MCB and Subway.

Thanks for reading.

Photo credit: Drag Action Curacao.