Usain Bolt (left) strikes the 'to the world' pose with José Roman, managing director of Nissan Latin America and the Caribbean, at the Usain Bolt Track, UWI, Mona, yesterday after Bolt officially received a custom-built, gold-coloured Nissan GT-R. - Norman Grindley/ Chief Photographer
Mel Cooke, Gleaner WriterYesterday afternoon, Usain Bolt came to the Mona Bowl, University of the West Indies (UWI), in a black Nissan GT-R. Less than two hours later, he left in a gold-coloured one, grinning.
The handover took place beside the track named for Bolt and his stamp is also on the new vehicle, as 'Bolt Spec' is written on the back, indicating Nissan's director of excitement had a hand in the vehicle's design.
He did, but although Bolt knew all about the car - he put in a request after Nissan did a special real gold trim GT-R to be auctioned late last year in support of the Usain Bolt Foundation - he was still bowled over.
After Nissan Latin America and Caribbean Managing Director José Roman handed him the keys at the podium set up close to the car, Bolt sighed and asked rhetorically "What can I say? I've been waiting a long time."
He caught himself and said, "Good afternoon."
"I remember the first time they came up with the idea and I said I don't know how you are going to pull it off," Bolt said. He recalled going to Nissan's Japan head-quarters, seeing the gold-trim car which has since been auctioned and thinking, "I will have to get one of those."
"I will drive as slow as possible, as the car will take me, but I will enjoy it," Bolt said.
There was some laughter, what with memories of two motor vehicle accidents with the double world record holder and six-time Olympic champion at the wheel. The first was in April 2009 when his BMW M3 overturned on Highway 2000. Then last June, a BMW he was driving slammed into guard rails on South Odeon Avenue in St Andrew.
Inspiring nissan
Roman said Bolt has had a major influence on Nissan, inspiring its 'Number One Mindset' attitude. "It (Latin America and the Caribbean) is a part of the world where Nissan is doing great things," Roman said.
The red covering over the car was removed by several children clad in Usain Bolt Foundation T-shirts and Bolt spoke of the foundation's work, including providing facilities for a basic school in his Trelawny community. After the speeches and fielding questions, getting into the car with Roman and then back out, as well as taking a peek at the engine, Bolt still had time for the youngsters. With one foot in the car, he signed the T-shirts of the children who crowded around him until the wrap command was given and he was finally able to drive the Nissan GT-R away.
And although initially Bolt said he would be driving the gold-coloured Nissan GT-R "a lot", later in the handover ceremony, Bolt said, "For me, this is for special occasions. I have a black one, so I will use that one for moving about."
melville.cooke@gleanerjm.com