Car racers wait and hope on new location

The car racers had been asked by Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Roger Boynes to look at a list of locations which were suggested by Government for their home since their eviction by E-TECK, the organisation responsible for the construction of the proposed University of Trinidad and Tobago at Wallerfield.

The parties — Government, TTASA and a representative of E-TECK recently met at the office of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs on Abercromby Street Port-of-Spain.

It was agreed that TTASA will visit a number of locations on the recommendations of the Sport and Youth Affairs Ministry, and were told to select a new location for their track.

According to the president of TTASA, Selwyn Persad, his association made the submission of the venue of their choice two weeks ago but they are yet to get a response from government.

Boynes said at the meeting the proposal for the new location would have been taken to Cabinet for approval after which TTASA can start work.

Persad also assured Government that his association will source funding of its own to construct their new home for the sport of motor racing in the very near future.

He said TTASA will only need minimal financial assistance from government for the construction of the facility.

In the meantime the racing fraternity has earned the right to use the Wallerfield facility after they filed a judicial review which was upheld. A hearing has been scheduled for November 11.

The judicial review was filed after the car racers were promised at the beginning of the year that they could use the facility until a new venue was found.

But then came the eviction letter from E-TECK in early September.

Wallerfield has been used for a series of different races such as circuit racing, solo deck racing and drag racing among others.

Efforts to reach Boynes proved futile.