War declared between Namibian, South African dragsters

The Tony Rust Raceway will be the battleground for the Race Wars between Namibia and South Africa (SA) on 3 May.

Bradley Ferreira from Big Boy Racing says this battle is long overdue, with the last event having been held about eight years ago.

“The day of reckoning is nearing,” he says, adding that this cross border race will see some of the fastest dragsters from both countries.

South African drag racers like Theo Knipe and Leo Pretoruis will take on local drag racers Xico Coetzee, Waldo Beukes, Willie van der Merwe and Micheal ‘Mad Mike’ van Zyl. Van Zyl is well-known when it comes to circuit racing and is a regular on the podium in the Clubmans class D category.

Top Revs has it on good faith that Coetzee will enter four cars, including his two Toyotas, nicknamed Taxi and Uber.

Both are trademarks of Coetzee.

He in June last year stunned the crowd with his box shaped 2JZ Toyota Corolla (Uber) with a time of 9.63 seconds. The question on every supporter’s mind is whether he will improve on that.

“And it’s always good to bring in competition from across the border, not only for the local competitors, but also to provide supporters and spectators with a spectacle,” Ferreira says.

The SA cars line up are as follows: Datsun GX powered by a 2J Turbo, Toyota Corolla KE70 powered by a Twin Cam 16V Turbo, VW MK1 powered by a 16V ABF turbo motor, the Speed and Sound Opel Kadett 200TS (has raced in Namibia before) and an Audi TT RS’s (tuned).

So far, McAllen Husselman is the only entry in the motorbike class.

Ferreira hopes more drag racers will enter this event, as many have previously made a name for themselves on these tracks.

Drag racing boasts a long and rich history, with its origins traced back to around 1930, though some place its rise after World War II, in the 1940s. Regardless of the start, the sport’s popularity is undeniable.

The word ‘drag’ is still debatable, as the word has many meanings, but regardless the origin, we all know that these monsters competing over a quarter of mile ‘drags’ a lot of spectators.

Wesbank is a partner of the event, while the Windhoek Motor Club will make their facilities available.