Keynote tribute to island's 50th at Barbados Festival of Speed

 Around 200 children from schools across the parish of St Philip will perform alongside multiple Party Monarch Edwin Yearwood and Double Road March Kings Leadpipe & Saddis, who have joined the line-up for the keynote tribute to the island's 50th Anniversary of Independence during the inaugural Barbados Festival of Speed at Bushy Park on Sunday, May 8.

  With dancers and stilt-walkers adding a distinctly Caribbean flavour, the Clubhouse Straight will be transformed into a huge stage during the lunch break to host a colourful and vibrant celebration of island culture, choreographed specially for the occasion. Yearwood is a hugely-successful award-winning artiste, founder (in 1989) and lead singer of the band Krosfyah, which has toured the world for the past 26 years, while the multi-talented Leadpipe & Saddis are also popularly known for their Youtube Comedy series Porgie & Murda.

  Earlier in the day, the Opening Ceremony will include the Barbados Defence Force Zouva Band and a parade of classic cars and cruiser bikes, escorted by flag girls and kadooment girls. They will make use the entire circuit to launch this exciting new event and prepare island fans and their families for the arrival of three-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton to kick-start the on-track action.

  Bushy Park Circuit Inc Business Development & Marketing Manager Zoe Manning said: "Ever since the idea of the Festival of Speed was first conceptualised, in this important Anniversary year, we planned to make it a family-friendly celebration of what the island and the region has to offer, not just in terms of motoring and motor sport.

  "Elements of Barbadian culture will be all around throughout the day, with a tuk band and folk characters like Mother Sally, Shaggy Bear and the Green Monkey moving through the spectator areas. But culture is about food, too, so the Festival Village will offer an array of Caribbean cuisine and specialties will be on sale including doubles, rotis, salt fish and bakes, fish cakes, jerk rabbit, pickle sea cat, roast breadfruit, wraps, curries, good old hamburgers and hot dogs and much, much more.

  "Finally, during the entire day, for those who want to watch the 'speed' on the track but in a traditional island-style fete atmosphere, the Caesar's Army Party Zone overlooking the quarry will have non-stop DJ music and a non-stop bar."

  Sunday's on-track spectacular will be preceded by Dinner with Lewis in the Bushy Park VIP Suite on the evening of Saturday, May 7. The dinner will also be spiced with cultural elements including hostesses dressed to reflect the island's Crop Over Festival, steel pan music to welcome patrons on arrival and live Caribbean Jazz during dinner. Additionally, the Clubhouse will be decorated and lit to transform the venue into a Bajan kaleidoscope of colour and beauty.

  From a motoring and motor sport perspective, the nine-hour programme at the Barbados Festival of Speed will be packed with a broad cross-section of international action on two and four wheels. In addition to Hamilton, 2011 British Superbike Champion Tommy Hill and multiple British Supersport Champion Stuart Easton, the star turns include Champions of Micro Banger racing from the UK, plus Monster Truck and Stunt Bike stars from the USA and local and regional content, including the Suzuki Challenge Series Swift Cup and SR3 Cup.

  Confirmed today (Friday) is the news that patrons can buy their advanced tickets using the Massy Card at the Bushy Park Circuit Office and Automotive Art Wildey. Gates will open on May 8 at 8.00am, with the Opening Show starting an hour later. From then to the 6.00pm close, there will be something for the whole family to enjoy.

 Starting at Bds $50 (adults) and $25 (seven to 12 years) for General Admission, tickets for BFoS are now available on-line at www.bushyparkbarbados.com and at the Bushy Park Circuit Office, also at Automotive Art Wildey, CS Pharmacy and Sol Redmans, Speightstown, Warrens and Wildey