Future mechanics on track - Powell donates $200,000 to students
Published:Sunday | October 21, 2012 | 12:00 AM
Jamaica's former 100-metre world record holder Asafa Powell can now add mechanic to his already impressive resume. On Friday the LIME brand ambassador toured the Jamaica German Automotive School (JAGAS) on Maxfield Avenue, St Andrew, making 12 scholarship donations totalling $200,000 to level-three students.
"Cars are things I love, so whatever I love I want to make a career from. Seeing that a lot of kids love cars and may not get the opportunity and privilege to enjoy these things because of a lack of funding, I thought it best to make a donation to a school that deals primarily with automobiles," Powell told Automotives. "Anywhere that deals with cars holds a special place in my heart and it is important to educate the individuals of the school."
Powell, an avid car enthusiast, who has a net worth of US$6.5 million is known for his ability to consistently break the 10-second barrier in the competition, but would have chosen to become a mechanic had his career in athletics floundered.
"I know enough about cars and there is still a lot to be learnt but I have worked on all my cars," he said. During the LIME-sponsored tour of the institution, it was announced that Powell would be assessed and later given certification in mechanics.
While not having a specific preference for German-made vehicles, owning both German and Japanese cars, he choice brands are "Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, BMW, Honda and Nissan".
Powell recently took to the drag strip at Vernamfield, Clarendon, in his 1000 hp Nissan Skyline, in an event dubbed the Vernamfield Rebirth. He was elated with the driving experience, although he did not win any races.
"It was an exciting experience and there were a lot of people there excited about racing. I didn't win any races, but I had the baddest car there and people still loved it," joked Powell, who also said he was thinking about getting into race driving whenever he retires from sprinting. He also said he would do studies in the field of mechanics to know all there is about automobiles.
The trio of top level-three students at JAGAS will also benefit from six months of browse and talk and will each receive a computer courtesy of LIME.
- C.B.