I would like to think that everyone's first encounter with cars or motorsport was a street race or sanctioned drag race. Yes we've all heard the words, "let's settle it on the blacktop" or "take it on the 1/4 mile" and there could be a thousand other phrases that people use but all relating to a couple of seconds behind the wheel, pushing all your ponies across the finish line. I'll be honest, nothing else in South Africa can compare to the joy and excitement of Tarlton Raceway but i'll say this, it feels good to support the local Cape Town racers when they prepare to do battle with the Blacktop at Killarney Raceway.
The burnout equation, mad power + drivetrain = torque steer. Mathematically incorrect but hey, we always have to find ways of making things fun on race day. I was very surprised when I saw this car express it's power with some good angle as most of the time the cars I see go sideways are drift cars.
its always good to experiment yes, but sometimes a mistake does happen that results in being decent enough and be filed under the "arty" category. I didn't quite get all the details in, apparently this beemer was sporting a 2JZ powerplant... Didn't sound like it though.
Ladies and gents... Wade Erasmus. Wades story is something of a need for speed. I met Wade somewhere in 2012 at a Datsun/Nissan meet, since then I've come to know him as a person aswell as a racer. Even though his running his 2 litre on the regional grid, what matters is that his times are recorded by MSA, the governing body here in South Africa. I remember talking to Wade after this race and something that he said really intrigued me. his words were along the lines of "even if my times don't improve but stay fairly constant I know for a fact that my driving skill has improved", such a statement deserves the respect of the listener.
It was scorching on the day. Junaid aka Race Master J, showing me that he too is an engineer, in the field of providing shade. You must understand, for media guys to resort to such limits, there must be a good reason. Shooting cars, baking in the sun and still that Colgate smile... heat = #speedhunterproblems.
Franky taking the one-handed lazy approach. Not too sure If he was trying to show Junaid that his umbrella was bigger. All jokes aside I think the heat got to Franky already. Lean on barrier, check. One handed shot, check. Taking photo of Gallo while his burning in the sun, double check. Im sure if I had to ask him about this one handed shot he'd say "I only need my index finger", which is actually true.
They say smoking is bad... but not as painful as little hot rubber bullets in your face. I tell myself that I'm going to be more cautious and do the whole safe distance thing but honestly, If I'm not upclose, there is no fun. Yes I come home feel hurt but knowing that you got the shot is a definite achievement.
I find it very difficult to shoot motorbikes, maybe a few times a year I can but not very often. being on a bike and taking photos of it are 2 different things, I'd prefer being on it. However the riders do look really cool in their gear and all padded up ready for the crotch rocket race. Looking into the eyes of a rider you don't see fear, only confidence confidence and determination.
Bikes are fast yes, they just don't look as good as cars in my photos... Maybe there is something wrong with me. The burnouts are pretty cool but the sound starts off nice but too much of that whine gets a bit irritating. I don't even know what brand of motorbike that is, but I'm going to guess Suzuki or Yamaha.
A more familiar sight sight to the scene of a drag race. good ole american muscle...Yes I know it's a chev and I'm a mopar guy but it makes for a good photo, and the color is very eye catching. Decent set of slicks on and we good to go.
Just Had to get a shot of this. Where the burnout happen the blacktop is covered in a layer of...wait for it...RUBBER!!! It's a familiar kind of weirdness that runs through me when cars line up in pre-stage ready for the green light.
Drag racing legend, Willie Nel and his chevy. Earlier in the day I went to the pits to look around the cars and I happened to do a nice walk around of this car. I will have to say this is a drag car with the cleanest engine bay ever. Everything is shiny and looks like it came out of the showroom a minute ago. Just from one little walk around I can tell you that Willie takes care of his car, so much so that it is cared for on a level that is legendary...
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Uncle Phil (middle) making sure everything goes as planned and things are in order. You really got to hand it to the organisers and race officials. It takes alot of responsibility to do what they do, and also to put up with us media people running around wanting to get the good stuff. I must admit, I wasn't my old self on the day. I stayed alot more in the safe zone than in the painful places...However i was almost attacked by a VW golf even while standing in an area well away from harms way, the speedhunter was almost hunted by the speed.
The twin-turbo chevy of Ralph Kumbier. This car is absolutely mental on the drag strip and we just love seeing those rolling burnouts that he does. while in pre stage I managed to snap a photo of Ralph looking at the tree waiting for the green to go.
The man on the mic, we know him, we love him, Zaid Kriel better known as Uncle Figo in the motorsport world. On a serious note, drags at killarney would be very boring without him, and I will say it online, he creates the atmosphere.
Caught in the act, Ralph doing one of his signature rolling burnouts, for a small car he really does a decent one too. The last time I was caught in burnout smoke, Race Master J gave it a rather fitting caption of which Uncle Figo just had to bring up during the day and over the mic system. "Gallo in the mist", but its just a little tire smoke.
Chevy on the run, After catching that green light, Ralph popped it in 1st and just blasted down the 1/4 mile, and the car looks good too. Has the whole drag thing going on. The wheelie bars, cowl induction hood, as a purist i woul've prefered a supercharger but I guess moving with the times turbos offer a bigger punch. I haven't seen Willie vs Ralph, that would be a nice race.
A story within a story. Before posting this upload I posted a teaser pic online because I know the honda community here in SA are like secretly inter-connected with each other some how, anyway my reason for doing this was i wanted to know a little bit about the car, I would suppose that is the driver standing by the car. Some background on the car, apparently it's running a K24 motor which if I can remember is the Accord Type-S motor. and as you can see it's not exactly subtle in its approach.
I have been a long time drag racing fan spawning back to the NHRA series I watched on TV. I'm baffled by the fact that I still cant get used to the idea of a FWD car doing a burnout it just looks funny. My initial thoughts were Ah, okay so you have big tires but what can you do?
Green, and it took about 12 secs before I got a heavy slap from reality and my eyes nearly popped out of my head. For his 1st time out after the build he was posting consistent 12's. This car, even being FWD, just felt different to any other Honda I've seen race in CT.
I know the Honda fans are going to love this one, the Honda taking the win by a holeshot. This little CRX was very impressive on the day. However The pairing of the races somehow didn't seem equal, felt more like a heads up, bring what you got, don't run home and cry if you lose kind of scenario. No matter what your engine capacity or the size of your ego, one thing is for sure...WHEN THE CLUTCH DROPS, THE BULLSHIT STOPS.
