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Special
Book Review
The
Bahamas Speed Weeks
By Terry O'Neil
Veloce Publishing
www.veloce.co.uk
ISBN 1-84584-018-6 / UPC 636847-04018-5
£55.00 UK /
$99.95 USA
Review by
Harlington L. Hanna Jr.
Hannaian Investment Research & Publishing
www.hannaian.com
The Bahamas Speed
Weeks of the fifties and sixties were a special
treat for many in the auto racing fraternity. In
addition, for local residents of Nassau Bahamas the
races provided a close up view of some of the
greatest cars and drivers in the world. As a young
high school student in the Bahamas it was a special
time each year that I and my fellow students looked
forward to because the sounds and atmosphere of the
events drifted into our classrooms. Our high school
The Government High School was built right at the
end of the first major curve on the circuit and as
students we took every opportunity to stand behind
the fence at the curve and watch these famous cars
and drivers maneuver what we now know was called
British Colonial Loop.
Terry O'Niel's
coverage of these races brings back not only
memorable events, but many of the excellent
pictures in the book document the historical time
and atmosphere.
Anyone remotely
interested or touched by these races and events
will be well served to keep this book close at hand
in their library, or historical collections. The
pictures alone are worth a close review from a
historical perspective. My friends and I for
example can view the emergence of our then new high
school building beginning in the 1961 races. The
school appears in several of O'Neil's pictures at
the end of the first curve, and even the fence that
we stood behind to view the races is clearly
visible. At any minute while reading the book I
expected to see students from our school in their
telltale blue and white uniforms.
For the true race
enthusiast, which some of us have become, the
detailed accounts listed in the book are
invaluable. Many of us who were there and viewed
the races did not have a full understanding of much
of what was actually happening behind the scenes.
Now with this book the true stories are being told
and we can understand more clearly what we once
only contemplated or watched from the outside. The
whole phenomenon now has new and added
meaning.
Having viewed
many of the races, I can attest to the atmosphere
that O'Neil carefully relays to his readers. Those
were indeed special times and special events. As a
current auto racing enthusiast who has kept up with
the racing game I can say unequivocally that
compared to current race weeks and events, the
Bahamas Speed Weeks were indeed magical.
Whether you are a
participant or an investor in the auto racing
industry, or you have an investment in its history,
and particularly in the historical Bahamas Speed
Weeks, you will simultaneously be enthralled and
appreciative of Terry O'Neil's coverage of these
historic events.
If you have any
connection to the Bahamas, or the Caribbean in
general you need to read this book and view the
numerous pictures which O'Neil expertly uses to
tell the story. O'Neil even covers the importance
and role of these events in the development of the
modern Bahamas, making this book a necessity even
for those who may not be directly interested in the
races, but in how they played a role in the
formation of a new nation.
The
Hannaian Awards
Presentations
Martin County Investment Summit
Dr.
H. L. Hanna Jr., Dr. Catherine Wyche-Latimore, and
Steve Deveaux congratulate Garth C. Reeves on
receiving the Hannaian Distinguished Pioneer
Award.
Steve
Deveaux & Dr. H. L. Hanna Jr., CEO of Hannaian
USA, present the Distinguished Pioneer Hannaian
Award to Richard D. Williams. Dan Liftman of
Congressman Alcee Hastings office, and Judge
Felicia Hogan look on.
Rep.
Cooper. Pastor Ralph White of Bloomfield
Ministries, Dr. Helen Hanna, Dr. Hanna, and Mr.
Deveaux pose with Mr. Williams after the
event.
Mr.
Williams poses with more well wishers, Pastor
White, Ambassador Butler, Rep. Cooper, Mr. Deveaux,
Martin County Commissioner Elmira Gainey, Dr.
Hanna, Former WPB City Commissioner Robbie Littles,
Atty. Kim Richardson, Robert Bartlett, Dr. Yvette
Godet, Eric Godet and Dr. Fran Pinder.
Garth
C. Reeves Publisher Emeritus of the Miami Times and
Richard D. Williams Tennis mastermind and father of
Venus & Serena Williams recently received the
Hannaian Award as Distinguished Pioneers in their
respective fields. For many years Reeves led the
prominent Miami based newspaper and many social and
economic causes related to African Americans in the
South Florida area. Richard Williams broke new and
historic ground training and leading his superstar
daughters not only to Tennis stardom but also to
some of the most lucrative contracts in sports
history. Williams was also honored for his devotion
to family values as an exemplary parent and father
to his children and family.
On
receiving the award Williams thrilled the crowd by
relating some of the secrets to his success with
his superstar daughters, and some of the facts
concerning the super multimillion dollar contracts
they have received.
The
Hannaian Awards are given to deserving individuals
who have achieved exemplary excellence in their
chosen endeavors and pioneered the way for others
in adverse circumstances. The Awards are given by
the Hannaian Investment & Publishing Group
(HIPG), one of the most successful groups of
professional investors in the U.S. The group's
members are primarily of African American and
Caribbean heritage. HIPG has recently become noted
for developing a unique system for
non-institutional investors and individuals of
average means to successfully invest in the public
securities markets. Reeves and Williams received
the Awards at the Groups Winter Investment Retreat
in Hutchinson Island Florida, January 13, 2001. The
Martin County Board of County Commissioners, and
the Martin County Business Development Board also
co-sponsored the event.
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