Bahamas Speed Week revival is a re run of a glamorous event which took place in Nassau from 1954 to 1966, traditionally in the first week of December when it brought together stars from the USA and Europe in an end of season play off
After years of planning and hoping, car enthusiasts from the Bahamas and around the world received the support they needed to revive the Bahamas Speed week in December 2011, and it returned last year as an annual event in the racing calendar.Trophies were awarded, champagne corks popped and car owners competed. This year a Bocar XP-5, a Cooper Monaco CM/4/59 and a DeLorean DMC 12, among others, sparkled in the Bahamian sunshine, all brought by ship from the UK, the USA, and Europe.
Chief executive of Bayford Oil Group Jonathan Turner carried off the Best Car in Show award for his Jaguar C Type. His is the second name on the magnificent solid silver trophy, the first being Wal-Mart chairman Rob Walton who won the cup last year with a $7-million Maserati 450S .Austrian Andreas Mohringer brought his lovingly preserved1953 red Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Spyder, the only one in the world .Simon Arscott with his 007 style Aston Martin DB5 took several silver cups home to New York.
One of the original competitors in the 1950s, Sir Stirling Moss enjoyed the revival so much last year that he made another appearance at Speed Week this year, driving his with his wife Susie in his red OSCA
There are over 700 Bahamian islands, ranging from tiny uninhabited cays to Great Providence itself, home to Nassau and its glitzy neighbour Paradise Island.
There’s plenty to discover here and Nassau itself is one of the coolest capitals in the region. Not only has it got a 1970s disco number named after it (Funky Nassau) it has connections with the infamous Pirate Blackbeard as well as royalty and is home to Stuart Cove, where Sean Connery learned to scuba dive for his 007 underwater scenes.
The Bahamas were used extensively as locations for Bond films. Much of Casino Royale was filmed on Paradise Island it was no coincidence that the Bahamas Speed Week Concours d’Elegance line up took place in 2012 at the exclusive Lyford Cay Club which just happens to be home to Sir Sean, who obligingly joined the drivers for lunch.  |
| Judith in a Gold Leaf Lotus elan Sprint driven by Lorina mcLoughlin |
