12 Aug 2014

Speed junkies and car enthusiasts alike swamped the town of Lobatse on August 9 for the drag city round two “No holds barred last car standing” adrenalin pumping 400 metres car and bikes racing spectacle.

Dating back to 1913 in Goltry, Okla in the United States of America and a creation of one Wally Parks who had a penchant and fascination for cars, this type of motor spot has become a craze for many Batswana.

The slow build up coupled with a low vibe that hung over Lobatse ponds almost deceived this reporter and his team to pronounce the extravaganza a flop. It was not to be so as at noon, people, both young and old started milling enthusiastically into the place. 

Friends and families alike filled the place. They brought with them beverages of sorts and even camping chairs, their countenances said it all; they were all geared up for the good times. 

Lobatse Town Council, a stakeholder together with event organisers; Spin City had all the necessary logistics worked out. For instance they brought on board Med Rescue, the Fire Brigade and the Botswana Police in the event something happened.

The town council public relations officer, Poloka Kabomo said on the sidelines of the activities that the council had put together a show to remember.

“A lot of misconceptions about the town of Lobatse will be demystified by the end of today,” she said in reference to the commonly held notion that Lobatse has gone to sleep. 

Also, she said the event presented the business community chance to sell and show case their products and establish networks with potential customers.

The event organiser and the brainchild behind Drag City race, Joe Kengere said the event which pitted Batswana drivers against their South African counterparts presents speed enthusiasts a rare opportunity to speed their cars without limits.

“The event in a way curtail illegal racing with is not safe to the drivers and public,” he said giving Lobatse Town Council a pat at the back for being a reliable and supportive partner over the years. 

He said the fact that the facility that they use belongs to the council says it all.

Mr Kengere also seized the moment to drum up support and invite interested parties to come on board and help his association construct a race track that would comprise among others, a skid pan, which is a segment where advanced drivers training will be conducted. 

The facility, he said will also ensure both driver and spectator safety and would boast world best practice.

The moment that everybody awaited with baited breath finally arrived and the cloud covering added much needed impetus to the excitement; the screeching and burning of tyres that sent chocking smoke into the atmosphere, the revving of the cars as they thunder bolted through the 400 metres mesmerized the packed arena.

An assortment of cars with their various engine capacities and makes; from sport cars to none sport cars; German and Japanese made cars and many others fired in all cylinders to win the hearts of the crowd.

The Audis, BMW’S, Mercedes Benzes, Toyotas, Golfs, Subarus all had their engine capacities checked.

To put icing on the cake, the Yamaha bikes were pitted against the fastest cars to the appreciation of the elated crowd.

Lucky Tebejane, from South Africa had everybody talking as he and his team showcased a 1987, X1-9 Fiat which carried a Toyota Corolla Twin-Cab 1.6 capacity engine.

The car, stream lined in shape won a place in the hearts of spectators with its lightning speed and its smoke spitting every 100 metres.

It was such a wonder to watch together with Audi RS 3.

One of the racers, Terrence Pillay only had praises for the event organisers and the crowd that cheered drivers on.

He said however that care should be taken next time to ensure that spectators stay a little further from the race track to avoid accidents.

Ten-year-old Botsogo Puso of Lobatse, the event is all that he cherishes and the Fiat did it for him and his friends who had their faces beaming with sheer euphoria. ENDS