Skydivers for New Kingston go-cart meet

by Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter

THE Red Bull Air Force team is scheduled to arrive in the island on Friday, for Sunday's massive go-kart extravaganza in New Kingston.

"The guys who will be arriving are five of the best skydivers in the world," said Mitch Watson, one of Red Bull's senior Caribbean-based managers.

Reports are that the skydivers are all members of the United States Parachute Association, D-Licensed and Pro Rate. The D-license is the highest rating available and signifies expert skydiving skills. Pro Rating is a special endorsement in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which signifies that the jumpers are qualified to perform demonstration jumps for audiences, and that they understand and will follow a set of rules designed to ensure spectator and jumper safety. All of the jumpers have at least 10,000 skydives and all hold national or world championship titles.

"We will be chartering Heli-Tours and the guys will be jumping from 5,000 feet in the sky and land on Knutsford Boulevard," said Watson.

Aerial demonstration

He said they will be in an aerial demonstration team that performs at outdoor events across the US, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. The show piece will include skydiving, BASE jumping, paragliding, hang gliding, and ultra lights.

The streets of New Kingston will reverberate to the sound and power of engines, as over 60 kart drivers of all ages will take over Knutsford Boulevard.

The engines will start roaring on Sunday, August 27 at 7:00 am for the first practice, and will continue with qualifiers until the final race at 4:30 p.m., when the winners from all three categories, Junior, Master and Senior, will compete against each other to determine Jamaica's 'Ultimate Driver'.

The final race has been adapted into a new category, created just for Red Bull Smoking Streets, and will include the best 20 drivers of the day regardless of age, weight and engine size. The 'Ultimate' winner will get the chance to travel to Brazil for the last race of the Formula 1 circuit on October 22.

The track will run along Knutsford Boulevard, from National Commercial Bank (NCB) and the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) buildings to Barbados Avenue, and will keep a racing design with multiple curves.