Let me race in the streets, please

This weekend a young man tragically died in the streets of Durban while participating in a legal street race. My heart goes out to the family, friends and fellow street racers of Gert Vorster from Johannesburg. Ironically, Gert clocked the fastest time of the race shortly before he crashed.

Although this is tragic, people must understand that things like this do not happen often at races that are officiated over by Motorsport South Africa (MSA). Just a pity it does not happen more often that municipalities give authorisation for legal races. In my community, people from all walks of life congregate on some Sundays for illegal races on our disused train station. A woman was raped there once. One often sees guns being flashed. Criminal elements often attend. And when the SAPS or metro police arrive, we scamper — not unlike a scene straight out of The Fast and the Furious.

Movies like The Fast and the Furiousmechanese” than me!

If we have races like the Sasol Endurance Race, time trials, Group N, etc, why do street races have to be illegal? Especially given that MSA has already declared itself willing to assist any organised group with regards to security and logistical arrangements for legal races. Why can’t municipal officials see the need for regulating the sport?

What happened to Gert is very unfortunate, but once again, I have not experienced many incidents like that, be it at legal or illegal races. Fact is, these guys incur a lot of expenses to show off their vehicles. Some even bring their entire families with them to the races. But they want to live to race another day. So, the chances they take are calculated and practised carefully.

Speak to any experienced street racer; and you’d hear the same story. The coming to the party of authorities would only enhance a sport that is highly technical, and does not allow for silly mistakes made by opportunists. Even the amateurs are looked at in terms of expertise and know-how.

You want to draw more tourists? You want to get families together? Open some major streets in Cape Town, Jozi, PE, Durbs, etc as a single track for one day in the week, and come back to this blog…Gert