Racers to march for land

(From left) Sade Crowe, Nazleigh Henry, Shanté Easthorpe,
Demi-Leigh Long and Shezlynne Henry, all from Woodlands.

PETROLHEADS in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, are planning to ditch their cars for an old-fashioned march to remind the Msunduzi council of the huge public need for a safe place to race.

Wheels last year reported on Msunduzi Municipality’s aim to provide the thousands of drifters, spinners, rally drivers and fans in KZN’s capital with a venue where they can host the many late night events currently taking place illegally on the city’s streets.

While there has been a little development since then, the gears have been grinding very slowly and one of the town’s foremost drifters, Kurt Volmink, feels the town fathers and mothers now need reminding of exaclty how big and urgent “the hunger” is for a safe place to race.

Wheels witnessed this hunger first-hand last Sunday morning when we arrived at Mason’s Mill for what was supposed to be a bit of tyre-burning fun with a few fellow drifters.

But word got out and as the morning went on, the little gathering of petrolheads turned into an impromtu mass event where two independent head counts tallied more than 3 200 spectators on the banks of the old bus depot.

The crew of Bradley Turbo Racing came from Durban to challenge the local okes, bringing 150 fans with him.

The Thrill Seekers crew with Kurt Volmink.

There was even a social media TV crew, Thrill Seekers from River Horse Valley, who interviewed the fans and filmed the likes of teenager Sandile Bhengu, who had walked in from Imbali and showed how he can imitate car sounds.

With free entry, no crowd control, no public toilets, no ambulances and only a few fire extinguishers, Volmink was a worried man as the crowd grew and grew.

The drifters quickly marshalled to keep the fans away from the pits and out of the way from their stunts and then proceeded to give all their ribald fans the show they had braved the 32° Celsius day for. As they performed their daredevilry, the banks resounded with catcalls, as well as applause in genuine appreciation for the more difficult front-wheel drive stunts.

Volmink told Wheels the huge attendance on Sunday has now inspired him to arrange a march during March with fellow drifters.

“Our aim is to hand a petition to the Msunduzi Municipality to speed up the allocation of Mason’s Mill for petrolheads to stage safe events.

These crazy drifters are just some of the okes who'll benefit
from a permanent racing venue in KZN.

He stressed it was not just “us okes who do stunt drifting”, but all petrolheads who would be able to use the area in the old quarry, including “the extreme 4x4 blokes, the guys who spin, the drag racers and the rally drivers”.

“Sunday’s crowd shows the council the city needs a venue like this and if the petrolheads know it is their area, we will get together to turn this into a safe mecca for motorsport and advanced driver training in KZN.

“It will be a coup for the city, but we need someone to cut the red tape now!” said Volmink.