Motor sports enthusiasm impresses Minister Koya
T he Penrite Car Show held at the Handicraft Centre Carpark in Suva did not fail to impress the Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Faiyaz Siddiq Koya. A motor enthusiast and a biker himself, Mr Koya made himself available for the evening to see for himself what the motorists here have been able to achieve.
“This is great – so wonderful. It is nice to see so many talented guys around the country who enjoy so much what they do with their cars,” he said. “What they do to a normal car, it is about being creative too. We have a lot of people around the country who love this.” Mr Koya said the car shows seem to be growing every year – both in terms of participation and spectators.
“I see all these wonderful vehicles around that have been done by the owners themselves,” he said. “They obviously buy them and get it in but they do a lot of work on the vehicles themselves.” He acknowledged the efforts of both the elder generation with the likes of champion racer, Ravindra Nath as well the younger generation. “Some of the younger guys here are so creative – from the engine to other modifications they have done to their cars - it is just phenomenal,” he said.
“Me personally I love it and it is so great that so many Fijians are involved in such things and it is the younger generation who are passionate about this.”
Economic benefits
It is not only about passion but the larger economic benefits which spin out of this, Mr Koya emphasised.
“This is great and great pass-time to spruce up your day,” he said. “But the economic benefits goes from the car dealers to people bringing in specific parts, the specialist tyres, the specialist fuel and other specialist parts that people use in their cars.
“Therefore, it is a good sign for the economy whether Fijians do this as a pass-time or as an interest. “They can spend money on it and in turn in the economy. It is better than being out on the streets doing nothing.”
Positive response
Meanwhile, the response from both the spectators and the participants was very positive.
Entrants spent thousands of dollars building their show cars and drove down from the Western Division to participate as entrants and spectators.