Frater ready for drag strip

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

Sprinter Michael Frater has had one of the more unusual seasons that a track and field athlete could anticipate.

He captained Jamaica's successful team to the 2012 Olympics in London, England, doubled up as athlete and administrator by winning the third vice-president position of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) - and, a few days ago, cut ties with long-time club MVP. Add to that his 8.9 split on the world record-setting Jamaican men's 4x100-metre team in London.

Today, though, Frater's high-speed thrills and rush are not on an eight-lane track with narrow white lanes but the tarmac at JamWest, Little London, Westmoreland. It will not be Frater's first time shifting gears at a frenetic pace in the few seconds from the light changes to the finish line, but it will be the first in this Honda Civic.

Automotives spoke to Frater on Friday as he was about to leave Kingston for Westmoreland, ahead of qualifying yesterday. He said that he has been drag racing since 2006 and, on his last outing, was knocked out in the semi-finals. While he has competed in the 11-second class, Frater is not sure where he will be in this new car.

However, he is positive about the feeling he will get. "I am a sprinter, so it is just the feeling of going down the track at about 130 miles per hour. It is a big rush for me and something I enjoy doing," Frater said. He has never had any on-track mishaps, although he is aware that, like any sport, accidents can happen and takes the required precautions.

The car preceded Frater to Little London and he makes it clear that he is not involved in preparing it for race day. "I have a mechanic who does all of that for me. I am not going to fool anybody I am a mechanic," he said. He learned to drive on a manual transmission car at about 12 years old.

Although it is prepared to drag, Frater points out that his Honda Civic is street legal. "In-between races it is on the road. I am not the kind of person who has a car just for racing," he said.

Comparing sprinting and drag racing, Frater said "It is the same thing. You don't have room for many mistakes. It is just an adrenaline rush that someone has to experience to get the full effect," he said. "It is just an adrenaline rush. You have to be able to use the 10 seconds for the necessary things."

When the light at the drag strip changes, Frater said, he cannot wait to get moving. However, moving into circuit racing is not on the cards. "I like it, but I am not ready for that yet. Drag racing is my passion," Frater said.