A Toyota Day indeed
NOT even the inclement weather could keep the crowd away for the first-ever Toyota Day at the Falmouth Pier parking lot in Trelawny, recently.
“The rain hurt us a bit, but it’s mostly positive as we’ve learnt what to do next time,” Kevin Murray, event co-organiser, told Auto.
Despite the showers, it was easily the strongest showing of the brand in recent memory as patrons who slowly arrived in bigger numbers as the rain eased in the late evening were spoilt for choice. Several rows of Toyotas were easily available for them to browse, including several key surprises that drew plenty of attention. Models for the brand’s key years of production were supplemented by the newest cars on show from Toyota Jamaica via their western branch.
However, in the end there was clearly only one choice for the Most Outstanding Toyota prize — Montego Bay’s Clive Lawrence in his 2002 Toyota MR-S Spyder. The two-seater convertible made its entrance into the venue holding everyone’s attention with its LED lights, bright yellow colour accented by a neon pink bodykit and rims. Inside the seats had been leather-wrapped to match the exterior as three monitors, two in the headrests, featured the latest music videos.
Lawrence, who’s owned the car four years now, wasn’t surprised by his victory as its completeness seemed to scare away any other entrants.
“I’m elated, but I knew I would win. Toyota Day has been awesome,” he said.
Earning the most attention through the night was the more performance-oriented 1990 Toyota Mark II of Falmouth local Gavin Palmer. His JZ-powered sedan easily captured the accolades of the audience, garnering him the Best Old School Toyota trophy.
“I’ve owned it as long as I can remember. I just repainted it, did a little engine work. It runs 11 seconds down the quarter-mile and yet I can still drive it every day,” Palmer said.
No Toyota Day would be complete without a celebration of the humble Corolla, and the Cleanest ‘Kingfish’ prize went to a rather proud Jamoy Jarrett in his 2003 model.
“Engine is stock. I just put some rims on it since I bought it, and been very happy with it since then,” he explained.
Even though the rain had pushed the schedule way into the night, fans weren’t willing to leave until they got their fill of the event’s other attraction, the drift demonstration. Cleve ‘Cutta Hype’ Ottey took to the massive course set up in the parking lot, having fans on the edge of their seats as he manoeuvred the new Toyota GT86 through the cones in the near darkness.
— Rory Daley