Namibians flock to support local dragsters

Spectators and supporters flocked to the Tony Rust Raceway to support their favourite dragsters in action this past weekend.

Drag racing has its origin in the late 1930s, when a bunch of youngsters with nothing to do used the California desert to race each other in cars with big engines.

It later became a sport and racers challenged each other over a quarter of a mile.

Today, the sport has become a crowd puller.

Race cars are getting faster, and tracks are better prepared for such events.

Tracks are sprayed with a compound called ‘track bite’ – a custom-formulated synthetic resin to give vehicles better traction at the start.

Races took place over a quarter mile (0,4km) since the cars in the 1930s were not as fast as today, and it also allowed spectators to witness entire races.

Apart from custom-built cars like those of Xico Coetzee, Richie Slamet and team Van der Merwe, several privateers entered the race.

One of the Van der Merwe Porsche team members says they are excited to see the sport slowly grow and return to what it used to be in Namibia.

Organiser and former dragster Deon Diergaardt expressed his satisfaction about the entire event.

He said the 27 entries they received for the event was the best so far this year.

“Well-prepared cars, Zico’s car, and young Richer Slamet with his all-wheel drive Sabre are well prepared. We will see good times today,” Diergaardt said.

Competition was fierce and the dragsters exceeded all expectations during the event.

The top four places belonged to Coetzee in his Corolla 2JZ with a time of 9,627 seconds, and again his Toyota 1600, with a time of 11,069 seconds.

Grant Knowles in a Golf 7R clocked in at 11,573 seconds, and Geraldine Botha was the first woman driver in fourth place, with a time of 12,247 seconds, also in a Golf R7.

OSH-Med international, supported by M+Z Motors, reported no incidents on the day.

According to international regulations, all motorsport events must have a fully trained and equipped medical team on site.

M+Z was also the main sponsor for the event.

The next event will be announced soon.