Barbados Festival of Speed star turns head into town

The Twister Aerobatics Team, one of the star turns packing the eight-hour schedule for Saturday’s (October 14) Barbados Festival of Speed, will give the island a preview of the action tomorrow (Wednesday), with two spectacular air displays in their 180mph Silence SA1100 aircraft. In their first-ever display in the Americas, they will fly from Bushy Park Barbados to Cave Hill, then back along the south coast at noon and 6.00pm.

  There will also be a chance for the public to meet some of the more down-to-earth International guests who have been arriving in the island over the past few days at a pre-event lime and static display between 4.00pm and 9.00pm at Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall, an easy journey after viewing the twilight aerobatics. The star turns there will include the Sahara Force India F1 Show Car, members of the hugely-popular Dreamers Banger Racing Team, back by popular demand after wowing the crowds at last year’s inaugural Festival of Speed, and the first appearance in the island of Ferrari 458 Italia and Lamborghini Diablo Super Cars.

  The Twister duo will first take off from Bushy Park Barbados at noon, the team performing a number of aerial stunts as they head towards Cave Hill before looping back to St Philip along the south coast; the action resumes at just before 6.00pm, when the team will perform its spectacular pyrotechnic display along the same route. As well as specially-developed pyrotechnic effects streaming from the wingtips, the aircraft also feature high-powered spot-lamps to illuminate the display smoke and coloured LEDs along the aircraft fuselage.

  The Silence Twister is a very nimble and efficient single-seat aircraft, which is unusual among certified aerobatic aircraft in that it can be de-rigged and packed into a trailer for ease of travel by road, or a container to travel by sea. While the Twister Aerobatics Team, which was formed in 2010, has given displays at events across Europe and the Middle East, the Barbados Festival of Speed marks its first trip across the Atlantic.

  The second BFoS, the first event to benefit from the facility’s new all-arena lighting, runs from day into night, starting at 2.00pm. Alongside guest of honour, former World F1 Champion Jenson Button, a wide-ranging programme of motor sport and entertainment has been assembled; in addition to the Banger Racers and Super Cars, the track action will include the final rounds of the Suzuki Challenge Series, Handicap races for the Barbados Karting Association (BKA) and Bushy Park Motor Sports Inc (BPMSI) and straight-line action from the Barbados Association of Dragsters & Drifters (BADD) on the venue’s one-eighth-mile strip.

  During the break between the daylight and night-time activities, there will be a cultural extravaganza, produced by AJA and starring Alison Hinds, Nikita and Marz Ville, along with the Mosaic Steelpan Band, a fire-eater, dancers and stilt walkers. Up on The Hill, behind the traditional spectator area in the north, The Festival Village will be the site of a variety of displays and a broad cross-section of food & beverage booths to suit all tastes.

  BPCI Operations Manager Amy Willis says: “I am really excited about introducing the Twister Aerobatics Team to the island, as they will help us to stage a truly spectacular launch for our all-arena lighting. Saturday promises to be a fun-filled day and night, not just about motor racing but with many forms of entertainment.”

Barbados Festival of Speed – ticketing information

Saturday, October 14, 2.00pm to 10.00pm (gates and ticket booths open 12.30pm)

General Admission - Bds $50; Child (7 to 12) Bds $25. Clubhouse (food and drink on sale) - Bds $150; Child (7 to 12) Bds $75. VIP (food and drink included) - Bds $500; Child (7 to 12) Bds $250. Corporate - Bds $100; Child (7 to 12) Bds $50. Children six and under are free. Hilti Hammer 4 x 4 Zone vehicle pass Bds $100, Cyclone 4 x 4 Zone vehicle pass Bds $100, plus General Admission pass for each occupant

Tickets are now available on-line at www.bushyparkbarbados.com and at the Bushy Park Circuit Office, also at Automotive Art Wildey, CS Pharmacy (Broad Street, Bridgetown) and Sol Speightstown, Warrens and Wildey. Patrons can buy their advanced tickets using the Massy Card at the Bushy Park Circuit Office and Automotive Art Wildey