Drag racers in fresh call for legal venue
Ethekwini Municipality promises crackdown
DRAG racing enthusiasts have revved-up fresh calls to the ethekwini Municipality to provide a legal drag racing facility to curb carnage on public roads caused by illegal racers.
But the move hit a dead end as the city said “no” and instead promised to apply the brakes to street racers.
Illegal drag racing has been a persistent problem on Durban streets, causing extensive damage to people and property, injuries and straining police resources.
Police again had to zoom into action recently when a Chatsworth father, Kuban Pather, was badly assaulted by young drag racers for allegedly “disturbing” their race.
Assault charges were brought against his alleged attacker and the case has gone to court.
The petrolheads’ push for a legal drag strip was fuelled by a racing event, to be jointly hosted by Gas Magazine and KZN Drag Racing, at Dezzi Raceway in Port Shepstone next weekend (March 25-26).
“We need more of these events if we want to stop the mayhem on our roads,” said avid motorsport fan Kovilan Pillay, a member of “Yogan’s Trix” motor racing club.
Pillay, 39, of Reservoir Hills, said: “Illegal drag racing is childish and inconsiderate”
“I’ve been involved in motorsport for about 20 years and my team and I have always expressed a need for speed at official events.
“Our policy has always been 100% legal, 100% safe’,” said Pillay.
Another Durban resident, who asked not to be named, said he had raced illegally on Durban’s street races over the past eight years, but preferred racing in a controlled environment.
“Street racers have been branded troublemakers and our reputation as ‘baddies’ got worse after a motorist was badly assaulted in Springfield Park.
“But there are not enough events in which we can race our high-powered cars,” he said.
“In the past we had to drive to places like Mtubatuba and Isithebe. Now we go to Port Shepstone for races,” he said.
“Those of us who can afford it, usually spend the weekend in those towns, but what about racers who can’t? They have nowhere to go and public roads become their playground.”
He claimed illegal racers were mainly inexperienced youngsters, who were reckless and disregarded the rules of the road.
“If the authorities want to clean up the streets, we need drag racing events at least once a month.
“Police will try to curb illegal racing and they might deter us for a week or two, but we will always find an alternative place to race.
“Why doesn’t the city not use the runway at the old airport as a drag racing venue?
“They’ll easily get a 1.5km drag strip, which is about five lanes wide and the city would make money from events held there.
“Motorsport is big business and there are many enthusiasts. This is a way to tap that market.”
Darren Lewis of KZN Drag Racing agreed regular events helped reduce illegal street racing and clean up the sport’s image.
“Holding more events encourages people to race professionally. We’re not promising illegal racing will stop. Many love to race on streets.
“But more people want to watch competitive racing or participate in a safe and professional environment,” Lewis said.
Unfortunately for Lewis and others, city spokesperson Tozi Mthethwa confirmed there were “no plans to introduce a drag racing track”.
“To clamp down on drag racing, the metro police unit is meeting major stakeholders with a view to planning joint operations that could lead to prosecutions for perpetrators, who could be fined R2 500,” Mthethwa said.
She confirmed police had attended to some serious and frightening cases involving collisions with youngsters in modified vehicles.
“This illegal sport is endangering the lives of innocent road users.”