The Breakers Speedway saga has a new and surprising chapter.
After seemingly closing for good last December, the 1/8 mile race track is not only functional but set to host a meet this weekend, 19-20 May. Putting on the event will be Joe Cool Racing and NAPA.
Breakers Speedway owner Robert Campbell still owns the land and explained how the track remains in existence.
“I own the track as the deal fell through for people to build a solar wind farm,” Campbell said. “Two companies put a bid to purchase the property, pending Caribbean Utilities Company certification/approval for the farm. CUC turned down the companies and their bids and both groups pulled out.
“Another company wanted to get in but with the bad publicity of late they’re not coming in. They’re waiting for the economy to stabilize. The property is still for sale. It’s 53 acres and selling for $2.8 million.”
Breakers held what was supposed to be its final meet last December titled ‘End of Days.’ Put on by the Cayman Islands Drag Racing Association, which still remains intact, the event saw some 500 spectators and 43 racers. Interestingly, the group is hosting a gathering on Thursday to celebrate their efforts last year.
Campbell will not be having a hand in this weekend’s meet, only giving approval for Joe Myrie of Joe Cool Racing to stage an event. Myrie, 59, is no stranger to the sport, having reportedly raced for some 30 years. He dates his involvement to the days when racing took place at Bobby Thompson Way in George Town and at High Rock in East End.
Myrie, a West Bay resident, spoke about his reasoning for putting on a drag race now.
“There are people looking to buy the track and they’re looking to see what event can be put on,” Myrie said. “If it’s good they will keep the track going. I started drag racing in 1970 in Spotts. I consider myself the founder of drag racing in Cayman as we used to use Bobby Thompson as the first legal site, with High Rock being second and Breakers being the third site.
“We’ve already done two test and tune sessions at Breakers. It’s been awhile that nothing has happened at Breakers.”
This weekend’s meet is slated to feature a test and tune session on Saturday evening, 19 May. The actual race, which will feature bracket racing, is expected to get going from 2pm on Sunday, 20 May, with admission being $5 at the gate, $10 for pit passes and drivers paying a $40 race fee.
Breakers first opened its doors in October 2006 and is Cayman’s only drag racing venue. With its closure last year, that segment of local motorsports ended, leaving autocross and treks to compete overseas as the only options.
There has been rumour of another drag racing facility being built at High Rock in East End. Three years ago, the Cayman Hot Rod Association had planned to develop a National Hot Rod Association-certified 1/4 mile track. It originally wanted the track finished by mid-2009. However, there has been no official word from the Cayman group about any progress on the development.
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I hope this is the start of a new era for motorsports in Cayman. Young people obsessed with cars need a outlet or else they take to the roads and kill or injure themselves or others. I remember the sundays at High Rock, for a young guy, nothing was better than seeing a turbo japanese sportscar lining up against american muscle. The sounds, the smell of high octane race fuel, the anticipation and the celebrating when your guy won. Ahhh bring those days back please.