Sheldon Bissessar broke the South Dakota dragstrip track record with a 7.2-second conservative shakedown pass in his Spitzer dragster on Saturday afternoon at the GMRSC’s 1320 Showdown International Drag Race Meet. It was his only run down Guyana’s quarter-mile for the weekend. Fellow Trini drivers Miguel Pustam and Kervin Rebeiro also completed initial test passes into Sunday, but an hours-long rainstorm stopped the entire meet. Mere moments before the track was soaked, Team Mohamed’s Clint Satterfield reclaimed the track record for Guyana with a near-perfect 7.0-second run in their Pro Mod Mustang. After the rains, Kervin Rebiero led the Trini return salvo. After a powerful launch, he skidded off the track on his run, and slowly rolled onto the hood. He was unhurt and the car damage was only cosmetic, but the window had closed for any further runs. 

Arriving on Thursday 18th, the Party Time Racing Team (PTRT), alongside Team ‘D’ Science represented Trinidad and Tobago at last weekend’s 1320 Showdown International Drag Race meet in Guyana. The shipping containers were transported to the track and off-loaded near the pit area on Thursday night with the assistance of Sammy’s Multilift, Junior Sammy Guyana and CIACS, who made their containers available.

The cars were unpacked on Friday and parked in the pit area as the teams got to work on setting up their work areas and preparing the cars.

Teams from Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname were invited to race at the event. 

The event proved fruitful with Sheldon Bissessar breaking the 7.5-second record set by Team Mohamed’s ‘Godzilla’ (white GTR) at the dragstrip. The new 7.2-second mark was set by Bissessar 0.3 seconds faster on Saturday afternoon on his only pass for the weekend.

The new 7.2-second mark was set by Bissessar 0.3 seconds faster on Saturday afternoon on his only pass for the weekend.

While Team Mohamed’s had been prepping and testing all week long, with extra emphasis being given to the left lane, Bissessar chose the right lane for his initial passes, leaving spectators and competitors bewildered given the level of difficulty seen from all other drivers up to that point.

Where most others faltered, Sheldon made the run look easy, although he did mention that “It was a serious driving job to keep the car straight on this track”. 

While the track’s surface was well prepared, the transition from concrete to asphalt at the 60’ mark, as well as the undulation of the land itself proved to be the main challenge for all high powered vehicles at the meet, especially the Pro Mod from top rivals Team Mohamed’s.

...the transition from concrete to asphalt at the 60’ mark, as well as the undulation of the land itself proved to be the main challenge for all high powered vehicles...

On race day (Sunday) however, as the qualifying session was closed, the clouds loomed and the skies grew dark prompting Team Mohamed’s to bring all three GTRs and the Pro Mod Mustang out for immediate single car passes. As the last GTR returned on the right lane (there is no dedicated return lane as yet, slower cars use the circuit and return through a pit area) the Pro Mod was already doing its burnout and staging for a record attempt.

...the skies grew dark prompting Team Mohamed’s to bring all three GTRs and the Pro Mod Mustang out for immediate single car passes.

With a thunderous roar the car launched down the track and this time Satterfield remained fully committed, cracking off a new record-setting 7.036-second run as he pulled the ‘chutes. Needless to say, the crowds went wild, having endured the prospect of losing the record overnight and now seen for themselves that such a high powered vehicle could stay straight at this raceway. It was no easy feat as Clint Satterfield remarked “I have never had to work so hard to go this fast at a track”.

...Satterfield remained fully committed, cracking off a new record-setting 7.036-second run as he pulled the ‘chutes.

The stage was now set for Trinidad’s reply but as the teams started their engines and headed for the staging lanes, the rains came pouring down, prompting a hasty retreat into the start line pits. Visibility was poor as the weather system became a full blown storm, lasting for over three hours.

When the rains subsided it was discovered that the rains also glitched the timing system, so the 16- and 15-second classes ran their competition ladders via hand drop. The left lane’s timer was eventually restored, but the right lane’s sensor was inoperable despite the installation of all available replacement parts. 

...the rains also glitched the timing system, so the 16- and 15-second classes ran their competition ladders via hand drop.

The track was then given a drying session courtesy Team Mohamed’s, which allowed the 14-second class to run safely, and soon the request was made to re-prep the track surface with track bite compound for the faster cars including the trio from Trinidad and Tobago. However after a lengthy debate with Team Mohamed’s staff that inadvertently consumed much of the remaining runtime, a basic track prep was eventually performed (at the request of Mr. Mohamed).

Kervin went out first, laying down a lovely burnout. But on what would be the evening’s final pass, he launched hard then skidded off the track (water that collected in his car’s oil drip pan during the rains splashed onto the track), dropped into the grass, and slowly rolled onto the hood.


Thankfully no one was hurt. This brought an end to the weekend’s racing. 

Overall Results

Driver Name	Vehicle	Country	Bracket/Category
Phillip Archer	Toyota AE91	Guyana	16-second Winner
Peter Deen	Toyota Glanza	Guyana	15-second Winner
Ravi Singh	Toyota Starlet	Guyana	14-second Winner
Reeyaz Hamid	Toyota Verossa	Guyana	13-second Winner
Romeo Singh	Toyota Glanza	Guyana	12-second Winner
Denzel Hopkinson	Toyota Supra	Guyana	11-second Winner
Seshe Redjinder	Toyota Altezza	Suriname	10-second Joint Winner (tie)
Sahadeo Ramsewack	Toyota Verossa	Guyana	10-second Joint Winner (tie)
Hans Yzer	Pontiac Firebird	Suriname	9-second Winner
Kervin Rebeiro	Mazda RX-7 (1JZ Toyota engine)	Trinidad & Tobago	8-second Winner
Clint Satterfield	Ford Mustang Pro Mod	Guyana	7-second Winner
Mark Menezes	Kawasaki	Guyana	1000cc Motorcycle Winner

 *7–12 Seconds - Results were based on fastest qualifying times

Special Trophies:

Driver Name	Vehicle	Country	Category
Clint Satterfield	Ford Mustang Pro Mod	Guyana	Overall Track Record - South Dakota Dragstrip (7.036)
Navin Lalbiharie	BMW Motorcycle	Suriname	Fastest Bike Time - (8.446)
Kervin Rebeiro	Mazda RX-7 (1JZ Toyota engine)	Trinidad & Tobago	Fastest Reaction Time of the Meet

The T&T team went on to do a bit of touring in and around Georgetown and across the Demerara bridge to enjoy some local sights, sounds, food and beverages. Along the way, they met fans and were also greeted by Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Mr. Vishal Ambedkar, who extended his hospitality. The team and local motorsport ASN– TTASA, would like to thank all the GMR&SC officials and marshalls, Team Mohamed’s and other organisers and sponsors for hosting this event, preparing the track, and for all courtesies extended. They would also like to thank all the sponsors that made it possible for the racecars, the team and support personnel to make the trip over to Guyana to represent Trinidad and Tobago. Should the Guyanese race teams wish to race at Wallerfield, Trinidad, assurances have been given that the track will also be well prepared by TTASA to allow the fastest cars in the region to run safely.

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Event and Vlog Videos:
Pre-Event: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg8IIUlDAqK/
Day 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/ChfAMKXjtgd/
Day 2, Part 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/ChkSSsxDfjx/
Breaking the Record: https://www.instagram.com/p/Chf7gQqDTL7/