City firm on no-racing policy
FOR decades Durban car enthusiasts have been calling for the eThekwini Municipality to provide them with a designated race track so they can race legally but, to date, nothing has been done.
Using the racers’ plight as a backdrop, Priyen Chetty, a masters student in architecture at UKZN, has designed a multi-purpose motorsport facility as part of his dissertation.
Chetty, 30, of Asherville in Overport, completed the dissertation in November and will graduate next month.
He said from his research, not enough was been done to facilitate the growing car culture in the city and that this led to illegal drag racing and accidents.
“Since childhood, I was fascinated by cars, from racing to vehicle modifications. But as I got older, I realised participating or even watching street racing was not safe. I witnessed a group of young men being involved in an accident and violent fights and arguments. I then decided not to attend the races anymore.”
Chetty, however, remains adamant that Durban’s car culture could be used as a tourism hook and to empower budding motor mechanics.
“For my research, I visited a few spots, which are used for illegal racing, and found they were uncontrolled and unsafe.”
From his observations and interaction with racers, Chetty found that the uncontrolled environment led to violence, accidents and the consumption of alcohol in public spaces.
“The racers welcomed having a proper facility. Some said it would curb violence and accidents. They race on the street because there is no other place for them to go. My design was based on two case studies, the Shukela Training Centre in Mount Edgecombe and the Dezzi Raceway in Port Shepstone.”
He said he used the architectural designs of both spaces and incorporated them into one – creating the facility.
“The facility includes a race track, a vehicle modification centre, a technical training centre to teach youth about motor mechanics, as well as a museum dedicated to South African racers.
“The aim is for the facility to be self-sustaining, so there will not be an entrance fee. However, an income would be generated from renting spaces to car shops, food outlets, and other stalls. Car shows can also be hosted at the track.”
Chetty said the only other facility like THE Umgeni Road stretch, Northern Drive in Phoenix, the M19 near Reservoir Hills, Sparks Road in Overport, the backstretch in Springfield Park along Inanda Road, Chris Hani (North Coast) Road between the N2 and Rinaldo Road, and behind the King Shaka International Airport. this was Hennessey Performance in the US.
“One can also draw a contrast to Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, which is a huge tourist attraction. Instead of the municipality looking at drag racing as something that is bad, it needs to be looked at in a way that is beneficial.”
He said the extended parking area at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, near the swimming pool, should be considered for development. CAR fanatics believe an architectural student’s idea to develop a multipurpose racing facility in Durban would help curb illegal street racing.
However, a spokesperson for the eThekwini Municipality said the city had no plans to introduce a drag racing track and would prosecute those caught street racing.
Kas Moodley, the chairman of KZN Motor Racing, said they have been communicating with the municipality about a designated racing area, but nothing had materialised.
“At one time, Virginia Airport was earmarked as a possible spot, but due to objections from the community and other role players, it never happened. Now we are using the Dundee Airport to host races.”
Moodley said the area near the Moses Mabhida Stadium was perfect as other racing events hosted by the city, including the Top Gear shows, were held in the vicinity.
“With the daily traffic, things like the noise levels will not be an issue. It is also perfect because it is a central point.” His concern, he said, was safety. “To avoid accidents, we cannot have just anyone off the road coming to race. Vehicles would need to be checked before a race and some education on safety needs to be taught to racers.”
Racers, who declined to be named, say the city is sidelining them.
“Racing is a sport just like Formula One or soccer, but we are not being allowed to explore our hobbies. If a facility is opened, I would gladly use it,” said a racer from Chatsworth.
The administration clerk, 23, who has spent more than R50000 modifying his VW Golf 1, said he did not mind paying a fee to race legally.
A Phoenix racer, 25, said: “Nobody is seeing the benefits of having a facility. It would create jobs and develop tourism. People have one-track minds and have labelled racing ‘bad’ without giving it a try.”
A Newlands East racer, 28, said: “If space is provided and racers are still going for the illegal drags, then the police can arrest and prosecute them. But doing it now when there is nothing for us, is not right.”
City spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said that in order to clamp down on drag racing, the metro police had met stakeholders with a view to planning joint operations. This, he said, could lead to prosecutions for contravening the National Road Traffic Act.
“The act states that any unauthorised racing sport is a contravention of Regulation 317 (2) of the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996, and people caught racing illegally will be arrested and will have to appear before a magistrate. The vehicle used in the commission of the offence may also be suspended and impounded.”
He said the metro police attended to serious and frightening cases involving motor vehicle collisions with youngsters driving or riding as passengers in modified vehicles.
“This illegal sport is also endangering other innocent road users’ lives. Currently, the metro police are made aware of such illegal events when they receive complaints from residents.”