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- Jul 25, 2017
- 3 min read
“Make hay while the sun shines" is an old saying that's considered a proverb. it teaches us to expedite everything we do because we are the only one thinking, and time waits for no one...
I was at the receiving end of this admonition a few days ago when someone told me about Black Knights Motors - a rival group with similar objectives in motor sport business.
Well, its not the first time I am hearing about them. I had waved it away early this year when my friend Ibrahim Lawal told me he stumbled on their letter to F.C.D.A. authorities requesting for an allocation of land. I had tried the same thing with 3 previous F.C.D.A. administrations. First in 2007 - 2008 with Alh. Aliyu Madibos Umars' administration, then in 2008 - 2010 with Alh. Muhammed Adamu Alier where I was not even able to submit my request. And again in 2011 - 2015 under Alhaji. Bala Mohammed. In all occasions, my project proposal was received with excitement. I was invited to a meeting with a Permanent Secretary during Alhaji Madibos time this was at the prompting of the then Hon. Minister for National Planning. Dr. Shamssuddeen Usman. in all occasions, I was turned down. So I didn't pay too much attention to the "Black Knights" thinking they are years behind me.
Or so I thought. I watched a video on Instagram on a mobile device showing a lone go Kart racing through a narrow tight track in Abuja. Wow! Someone appears to have beaten me to it. I had to go see it for myself the very next day. To my utter surprise, the track is almost complete but they are yet to start operations. Though I was not quite charmed as to the quality and scale of their operation, they had some things going for them.
1. They were smirk in the middle of town
2. They had apparently finished their construction
3. They had assembled their Karts
4. They appear to have whipped up a small following online
Well that's where it ends, the cons were a lot more apparent
1. Very small scale - they sit on a very steep and narrow concession, probably leased
2. The track was not professionally designed - leading to several problems
3. Narrow track (Same width throughout)
4. Narrow turns dangerously perched on high ground would surely lead to accidents
5. No barriers, even spectators can touch a driver as he rides by
6. No Grand Stand for spectators -
7. Go Karting is a dangerous business, to mix track and spectators in the same place is a recipe for disaster
8. No systems to track driver time. This tells me they are not serous and may just want to offer thrill leisure rides as opposed to our racing circuit plan.
I could go on and on. But lets give them the credit. They are very likely to open the Go Karting market in Abuja and may well corner the market before we open for business.
I tried to find out who or what entity was behind the whole outfit. My enquiries revealed that the owner was Nigerian, Northern Male. Heavily affiliated to the street racing club - Black Knights. but this outfit was called "Space Bird" Integrated Nigeria Ltd. The sky is wide enough for all birds of the air. Congratulations Space Birds.
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