Hotrod World champion takes on SA’s tin-top kings
A noisy, high-speed spectacle with an international flavour will offer great entertainment at the Rock Raceway in Brakpan this Saturday, during its annual Standard Bank Home Corp Speed Weekend Festival.
The occasion will be one of every year’s local oval tar track highlights, when the official Hotrod World Champion visits these shores.
This time around his name is Billy Wood, and he will come from Britain to take on 26 of South Africa’s quickest tin-top racing specialists, all driving Mazda Rotary-powered saloon cars.
For the uniniated, Rotary powered Hotrods weigh in at under 800kg and produce some 200kW, making them violently quick around the 400m oval, all while emitting paint blistering noise and huge exhaust flames.
With drivers from Cape Town, Kwa-Zulu-Natal, Polokwane, the Free State and Gauteng coming to the party, the occasion certainly warrants a trip to the East Rand.
Taking on the world title holder will be local racers like Rudi Myburgh, Jody Viana, Seef Fourie, Okert Brits, Albert Bridges, Lonika Maartens, Tony and Neville Loosemoore, WF Weideman and Andries Du Preez.
Other racing categories will include those for Ninja karts, 125cc karts, Midgets, 1600 Stock Rods, 1660 Modified Saloons, 2L Hotrods, 2L Modified Saloons, National Hotrods, Super Saloons and Formula N
The official action will start on Friday, with practice sessions from 9am to 1.30pm. Qualifying will start at 2pm with racing starting at 7pm.
On Friday, admision will cost only R50 per vehicle, with up to five occupants. The venue gates will open at 8.30am on Saturday, with practice sessions from 9am to 1.30am. Qualifying will start at 1pm and racing at 3pm.
Admission is R80 per adult and R30 for kids between the ages of six and 12. Food and drink will be on sale or take your own, parking is free, plentiful and patrolled. Contact the circuit office on 011740-8315 for more details.