The crusty officials at Motorsport South Africa (MSA) have finally and formally stopped looking down their noses at drag racing to create a "social drag racing class".
Operating under a Drag Racing Commission, the new class aims to get illegal street racers to race their road cars at safer, controlled environments.
Individual drivers will need to buy an annual license for the car from MSA, at a cost of R200 for the whole year and pay the usual entry fee to the organisers of MSA-sanctioned drags, as well as indemnify MSA from any damages in a form.
In return, MSA said in a statement it will create a national street legal drag log, which will be published via social media and will encompass the combined points of all SLD events held throughout the year at official MSA-sanctioned events.
In return, MSA said in a statement it will create a national street legal drag log, which will be published via social media and will encompass the combined points of all SLD events held throughout the year at official MSA-sanctioned events.
In the statement, MSA al but gushes: "Clubs will be able to run their own club logs and will also be able to join forces with other clubs to run inter-club series. Drivers’ positions on the various logs will then determine the level ‘bragging rights’ they are able to enjoy!"
MSA trusts "this new initiative will not only create a more structured approach to so-called ‘street racing’ but also lead to safer public roads, which is in all of our interests" drag racers say it is too little too late.
Drag racers' reaction could be summarised as "finally, recognition!", and "but what about insurance?". And as for the supposed bragging rights, they are fine on their own massive whats app groups, thanks.
