The Formula 1 Fans in the Cayman Islands were faster than a Ferrari at the starting grid to help a worthy cause whilst watching the first grand prix of the season, the Australian.
About 70 fans congregated at the new home of the racing fan group at the Lone Star Bar & Grill on West Bay Road on Sunday morning. The club gathers to watch the time-delayed televised race without previously looking up the result.
There was excitement, drama and an unexpected winner with the Lotus-Renault triumph by former world champion Kimi Raikkönen.
This year, the local club has chosen six local charities to support with their $2 entry fee and other donations. Meals On Wheels was the first recipients and will benefit from three more races.
The fan club raised $600 in cash as well as nonperishable food and donated household items. The food collected was worth about $350 and will go into at least 10 elderly clients’ homes.
The other charities chosen are the Cayman Islands Humane Society, the Cancer Society, the Pines Retirement Home, Cayman HospiceCare and the National Council of Voluntary Organisations, each of which will receive money raised from three races and other donations.
The Melbourne race was totally absorbing, with an outcome that was utterly unpredictable by pundits.
Red Bull with triple world champion Sebastian Vettel is the season’s favourite, but Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso is expected to be his closest rival. Lewis Hamilton has moved from McLaren to Mercedes and expectations are high for him, too.
Alonso was second in Melbourne, Vettel took third ahead of Ferrari’s Felipe Massa and Hamilton.
One of the local club’s founding members and sponsors is Danny Roach.
“All race fans love to see a competitive season and we had another one.
“Many of our group show their allegiances by wearing or bringing team shirts, flags, hats and even cow bells,” he said. “Several teams have a proper chance at winning the championship this year.”
Another member of the group, Zulu, is easily recognised by his Red Bull Racing gear. Roach joked: “Zulu must be praising Ferrari and especially their top driver Alonso, who has a faster car who made better use of his tyres.”
Beulah McField, director of Meals On Wheels, said they really need a second vehicle to deliver the food.
She said she was grateful for the donations.
“The $200 in cash donations for our kitchen will provide 50 hot meals,” she said. “We also need grocery items for our food bank deliveries to our elderly clients.”
Nonperishable food such as canned vegetables, fish, meats and condensed milk are the most valued donations. There is also need for bread, crackers, cookies, powered drinks and toiletries.
The racing fan group has expressed an interest in approaching local rental car and leasing agencies on behalf of the Meals On Wheels to solicit donations of a month’s car rental from each to improve the organisation’s ability to serve elderly and housebound clients. Roach suggested that the gas stations and fuel suppliers could also help with some gas for the Meals On Wheels delivery van.
The $2 donation to watch the race enters attendees in a free raffle with prizes.
Roach said: “We had five winners of door prizes which were two gift cards from Automotive Art, Jose Cuervo Tequila from Cayman Distributors and a return air flight to the Sister Islands from Cayman Airways.”
The next Formula 1 Fans of the Cayman Islands meet is for the Malaysian Grand Prix, this Sunday 24 March at the Lone Star from 9am.
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