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| King of this and other hills, Dezzi Gutzeit watches RK Motion's 500 Nm Seat Cupra 1,9 TDIflash past under the new gantry. |
THE Dezzi Raceway in Marburg between Port Shepstone and Margate
will host its first quarter-mile drag race on June 27 and 28, sanctioned by
Motorsport South Africa.
Wheels was invited to
witness as a select group of drivers in cars tuned by KZN’s top tuning companies
tested the track and new timing equipment.
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| DY Tuning's Desmon Govenden |
Desmond Govenden of DY Tuning in Pietermaritzburg, who will be the
commentator at the drag racing at the end of July, said this track is a racers’
heaven with lovely cambered bends and great horizon chicanes, as well as the
beautiful main straight of 850 metres.
“It is guaranteed to put a smile on any motor enthusiast’s face.
There is adequate space for spectators to view the track as well as the proper
safety measures and facilities for the drivers. A huge thank you to GAS magazine and Dezzi Raceway and we look
forward to having many exciting, adrenaline-filled racedays at this venue.
“The aim of a drag race is to cross that 400 metre finish line at
the fasted possible time with the least amount of wheelspin as well as winning
the race.”
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| Faiz Mansur can like to spin at 200 km/h on his Fireblade. |
After the tests, Faiz Mansur, who rode a Honda Fireblade, told
Wheels he will have to change his
tyres, as he was still spinning when he flashed past the clocks at over
200 km/h.
Sam Cuthbert, who drove RK Motion’s 200 kW, 500 Nm Seat Cupra 1,9
TDI, explained the philosophy of drag racing to Wheels, saying it provides a great platform for the mechanics,
tuners and performance parts suppliers to put “the pudding in the proving” of
their abilities, as it were.
“It is about proving the technology. We drove this Cupra to the
track, changed the tyres, raced it, and I get about 30 km to a litre, meaning I
drive from the coast to Jo’burg on half a tank.”
Govenden said some of the aspects the drivers tested and checked
where:
• The surface at the start line for traction
purposes. This came out tops with great grip being achieved and this can only
get better as time goes along with more cars laying down more rubber on the
surface.
• The width of the track was also checked and is
totally adequate for a drag race.
• The run-off as well as braking/stopping
distance proved to be totally sufficient and the return road via the bottom loop
of the track helps cool your car down.
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| Next! This Golf sports a rumbling 1,8 Audi FSI. |
