Sunday morning greeted us with a view of weekend sailboats gently tacking pass our window.
Our original plan was to attend a classic car show, but we missed by one day. However, contacting several of the clubs members, we were able to have a small personal show. Early 50’s Oldsmobile
1943 Ford Deluxe
1968 Buick. Personal car of the auto club’s president
Renee Guitierez, the only chassis builder in Curacao. He can claim to building 80% of the race cars on the island and maintaining the other 20%
There was a significant delay due to the heat, above 150 degrees, of the track at the 3pm start time. Water was spread over the track and allowed to dry before the track was cool enough for safety.
Jeff Dobbins was observed by his wife Cindi making the most productive use of his time during the delay.
The huge bracket race contested over 100 cars vying for the largest purse in the Caribbean.
This Mazda ZX3 was able to return after hitting the wall during Friday’s qualifying.
The cooler evening air allowed the bracket race to complete two rounds before the Pro Modified cars ran
Alex, the son of my Curacao Tourist Board guide, got a bit out of shape on almost every burnout but always seemed to be in control and make safe runs.
Several Top Sportsman class cars were competing in the bracket race
The car of chassis builder Guiterierz advanced into the later rounds of the race
The Sunday sunset provided us with a spectacular sky
Driving into the Curacao sunset had to be a wonderful experience
The Top Gun class (Pro Modifieds) was rather anticlimactic when the Venezuela entry had engine problems and could not make the eliminations. The class then became a best two out of three between Musi and Dobbins. Dobbins broke another drive shaft on the launch on the first race and gave the match to Musi.
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SATURDAY NOTEBOOK -
Friday’s Curacao Tourist Board guided tour found us driving around the west end of the island to view several of the popular beaches. On the short drive, we passed the salt flats where slaves used to trap water in flat areas to allow the sun to evaporate the water then collect the salt for the Dutch. Today the flooded flats are inhabited by many different forms of wild life. The flamingo is the most noticeable.
One of the most photographed beaches on the island. This is the beach most often seen on travel brochures. 3 The beaches were sparsely populated on Saturday since most of the residents were down town celebrating the Netherland Queen’s birthday.
This is the western most point of the island
One of the more populous forms of wild life on the island is the iguana, an apparently docile reptile. I managed to get help holding some.
Our lunch stop on Saturday was at a restaurant that featured open air windows with bird feeders to allow birds to visit just inches away.
It would be difficult to have a more pleasant setting for a meal
The sea is more violent on the north side of the island where waves crash into the volcanic rocks
Under the cliff at this location, it is possible to view waves crashing into a large cave. Not for the faint hearted. 10
From this vantage point it is easy to experience the awesome power of the sea.
Viewing the power of the waves gives you a new perspective on the destructive capacity of the recent Tsunami in Japan.
On the island, several classic cars are restored, but this 1939 Chevrolet is not among that group. 13
The International Drag fest continues with qualifying and bracket elimination.
Taking a day off yesterday, Pat Musi posted a 6.59 to temporarily take the top position in Pro Modified
Although the field is not that large in Pro Modified, the power and speed excited another overflow Saturday night crowd.
Jeff Dobbins, who suffers a broken driveshaft on Thursday night and had to have new parts shipped from the USA. The new parts did not arrive until about 9pm Saturday night, leaving Dobbins one shot at qualifying. Dobbins made the most of his one attempt, grabbing the top spot with a 6.56. Final eliminations begin at 3pm on Sunday.
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FRIDAY NOTEBOOK -
Friday’s tour courtesy of the Curacao Tourist Board took us to an Aloe Vera plant. One of the few products actually produced on the island. Almost everything else is imported.
Many acres are devoted to the Aloe plant.
After the Aloe plant, we got a chance to visit an Ostrich farm. The owner was originally from South Africa and imported the birds to begin the business about 15 years ago
Everyone had a chance to feed the birds, but not all were happy about it. Without a pan of food, the birds completely ignored anyone standing next to the fence.
The most disturbing thing we have done in a long time was visit the museum of slavery. Curacao was the center of the Dutch slave trade and many artifacts are on display. This image is of the bowels of a slave ship. The Ships had many levels where the slaves were shackled hand and foot for the trip of 8 weeks from Africa. Approximately 12,000,000 slaves were officially accounted for in the 400 years of the trade. That number only accounts for the slaves who actually survived and were sold to a master. When all the ones who died or were killed during the hunt, it is estimated that 50,000,000 human beings died during those 400 years.
After the sickening feeling generated at the slave museum, it was very nice to have lunch overlooking the harbor.
As evening approached we were able to witness a performer practicing his skill of twirling fire before the evening’s performance at the shore.
The drag racing bracket race continued with a huge crowd attending. The pro cars sat out the evening for the most part as this was still test and tune with the qualifying runs scheduled for Saturday.
A new car from Venezuela was making its first runs at this event.
Turbos were again the predominate choice of the imports.
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THURSDAY EVENING NOTEBOOK - WE'RE AT THE DRAGS
Thursday started with a tour of Willemstad, capital of Curacao. The Governor’s residence was the first stop. The residence is part of one of the forts built by the Dutch to protect the island from invasions.
The city of Willemstad surrounds one of the best natural harbors in the Caribbean. Orange is one of the predominate colors since it is the national color of the Netherlands.
Vibrant colors on all of the restored buildings and homes is one of the first things that catches the eye. Folk legend has it the governor in the 1600’s complained that the all the white buildings of his time were hurtful to his eyes and decreed that production of white paint was outlawed and all structures would be other colors. Some three years after his death it was discovered that he and his partners had a paint manufacturing concern in Europe and provided all the imported paint.
“Bridal Cake House” is one of the more elaborate houses that has just been restored. It is obvious how the name was chosen.
Drag Fest got under way with a test and tune and with qualifying and elimination of the local bracket teams. Another elimination will be contested each day for the brackets with the qualifyiung for the pro cars to begin Friday
Jeff Dobbins of Pro Stock fame is driving and tuning a car from Curacao.
The majority of the vehicles to take the track on Thursday were local bracket teams. Several were turbo charged and provided a nice display prior to the launch.
The majority of the vehicles to take the track on Thursday were local bracket teams. Several were turbo charged and provided a nice display prior to the launch.
Pat Musi has a lot of friends in Curacao and helps many teams. He is running a smaller engine clone of the car he runs in the States.
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THURSDAY MORNING NOTEBOOK - GETTING SETTLED IN IS ONLY HALF-THE-FUN
Accepting an invitation from the Curacao Tourism board to photograph the Island and Curacao’s International Drag Fest, I arrived in the evening and got to view the sunset from 37,000 ft. This is the 40th anniversary of drag racing in Curacao and the 15th at the current strip, according to Chernov, the Tourism board member who met me at the airport and escorted me to the Breezes Resort and Spa, voted the best Resort and Spa in the Caribbean by visitors to the island.
Late evening at the resort provided a nice atmosphere and a midnight buffet for the late night visitors before heading to the Royal Tower ocean side suite provided by Curacao.
The first morning provided a great seaside view from the spacious suite.
The full balcony and out door dining area provided and superb view of the diving shack and shore.
I took a short early stroll in the to see what the Resort looked like in the morning light before the expansive breakfast buffet.
The Breakfast buffet, like most of the eating areas is under a thatched roof open air facility.
Your are invited to have your meals away from the buffet and enjoy the pool and seaside breeze.
The open air lobby is unique
The diving shop is just yards away from the many pools and spas.
Swimming in the many pools or in the protected lagoon is a great activity along with many trips available to tour the island, fishing snorkeling can fill up a day… or just sit in the sun a sip one of many drinks available.
In addition to many larger pools there are several smaller more intimate areas.
Breezes Resort and Spa is located seaside and viewing a lot of the marine life is possible along the shore accessable from the resort property