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Effectively the raging debate of the week is not taking place in Parliament it's not around SONA and it's got even less to do with Nkandla. It's all about vehicle modifications.
In an attempt to curb illegal drag racing, the provincial traffic and metro are going to start curbing on what they deem to be illegal modifications.
Now this is a subject that I DO have a background in and a vast number of man-hours of study and investigation. I've spent months understanding the culture and the criminals that hide within it, understanding what makes the community tick. I've spent many long hours and days in discussions with highly intelligent racers on what they want and why - and I've locked up many a young brash teenager with a badly modified death trap.
I try to maintain an open mind however and ask that if you're reading this - you do the same. Whether you're a racer, modder or hater - just bear with me and see if we find any logic in the matter at all.
Firstly, street racing is illegal. Dangerous and illegal - whether it's in a backyard modified 1983 ford escort or a brand new out of the box chevy lumina. Plain and simple. I've heard all the arguments about how dreadful the set-up is at Killarney and the fact remains that it's illegal and has no place on our roads - period.
I've been the poor sod that's had to knock on parents doors to tell them that their youngsters aren't coming home because they were killed in drag accidents. I've walked the scenes more than enough times to understand what happened and how and seen the unintentional tragedy - and yes, illegal mods have played a role in many on them. Wheels touching the arches in a corner, a blowout that becomes fatal because the suspension was dropped below the clearance of a deflated tyre etc.
The debate remains however, is the city trying to stop modding completely? And will it have any effect?
The car-modding industry is pretty big in Cape Town and I've seen some superbly done cars where owners have spent a fortune on them - and I've seen some backyard mechanic jobs that should never be allowed on the road. So what exactly is the City trying to say here?
Despite some sensationalist journalism, it's really quite simple.
The city is enforcing that if a vehicle is modified in terms of suspension, wheels, exhaust etc. it must be done by someone who is suitably qualified to do so. Now nobody who has pride in his wheels should have a problem with this at all. It'll keep the reputation of racing clean and get the loose cannons off of the road.
While many people out there have the skill to drop a suspension, a properly accredited engineering works would understand the effect that the drop would have on other inter-connected components of the vehicle and the ripple effect as well as the influence on handling and safety.
That person would then ensure that the mod is carried out in such a way as not to impede the safety of the vehicle on the road or place the occupants at undue risk. Yes, there are guys out there with skills - but it's not enough. They have to have the theoretical smarts too - and if they have that then they'll be certified/ accredited. No problem.
Will this curb illegal street racing? Personally I don't think so. I do think it will draw attention to the car-scene and create an opportunity for the savvy and enlightened mod-guys to get onto the city and meet with them to discuss legal events etc.
So why won't it stop or curb the illegal racing? Simple - it doesn't go to the heart of the problem. The heart of the problem is that there is no real facility for street-racing around Cape Town and that needs to be addressed. Yes, I've seen the track days at Killarney and I've seen how some people just can't resist the temptation after a track day to have a quick dice down Koeberg Road on the way home - there's always one idiot who spoils it for everyone.
No, Link Road, Modderdam and Sacks will never be alternatives. A proper purpouse built area is what is required - and it's not the City's responsibility to find and create that. It's the responsibility of the racing community to come up with plans and present them and keep refining and presenting them until they get one that works for everyone.
Proper solutions to the illegal street racing include block-ins, proper surveillance, well run road blocks, traffic control and fair enforcement. Sorry racing guys - but you can't choose which laws you do and don't want to follow. Street racing is irresponsible and illegal end of the story.
There are ways to curb it and to weed out the guys with stolen cars and car parts lurking in the crowds. Yes there are guys that blatantly sit at hook-ups pinting away a few beers and smoking really sweet smelling stuff and then STILL get behind the wheel to show what they can do on a quarter mile - and they belong in jail. End of the story.
The conclusion is simple. City of Cape Town needs a realistic, studied and pragmatic approach to curb street racing in Cape Town once and for all. They also need dialogue with the responsible racing crowd to engage and find a proper facility for them where it can be turned into a money generator for the city and an outlet for the fans.
Safety precautions and all. It's time for the two parties to sit in intelligent debate and to sideline the weekend-warriors with their badly modified crocks that belong on a junk heap and not on the road.
In an attempt to curb illegal drag racing, the provincial traffic and metro are going to start curbing on what they deem to be illegal modifications.
Now this is a subject that I DO have a background in and a vast number of man-hours of study and investigation. I've spent months understanding the culture and the criminals that hide within it, understanding what makes the community tick. I've spent many long hours and days in discussions with highly intelligent racers on what they want and why - and I've locked up many a young brash teenager with a badly modified death trap.
I try to maintain an open mind however and ask that if you're reading this - you do the same. Whether you're a racer, modder or hater - just bear with me and see if we find any logic in the matter at all.
Firstly, street racing is illegal. Dangerous and illegal - whether it's in a backyard modified 1983 ford escort or a brand new out of the box chevy lumina. Plain and simple. I've heard all the arguments about how dreadful the set-up is at Killarney and the fact remains that it's illegal and has no place on our roads - period.
I've been the poor sod that's had to knock on parents doors to tell them that their youngsters aren't coming home because they were killed in drag accidents. I've walked the scenes more than enough times to understand what happened and how and seen the unintentional tragedy - and yes, illegal mods have played a role in many on them. Wheels touching the arches in a corner, a blowout that becomes fatal because the suspension was dropped below the clearance of a deflated tyre etc.
The debate remains however, is the city trying to stop modding completely? And will it have any effect?
The car-modding industry is pretty big in Cape Town and I've seen some superbly done cars where owners have spent a fortune on them - and I've seen some backyard mechanic jobs that should never be allowed on the road. So what exactly is the City trying to say here?
Despite some sensationalist journalism, it's really quite simple.
The city is enforcing that if a vehicle is modified in terms of suspension, wheels, exhaust etc. it must be done by someone who is suitably qualified to do so. Now nobody who has pride in his wheels should have a problem with this at all. It'll keep the reputation of racing clean and get the loose cannons off of the road.
While many people out there have the skill to drop a suspension, a properly accredited engineering works would understand the effect that the drop would have on other inter-connected components of the vehicle and the ripple effect as well as the influence on handling and safety.
That person would then ensure that the mod is carried out in such a way as not to impede the safety of the vehicle on the road or place the occupants at undue risk. Yes, there are guys out there with skills - but it's not enough. They have to have the theoretical smarts too - and if they have that then they'll be certified/ accredited. No problem.
Will this curb illegal street racing? Personally I don't think so. I do think it will draw attention to the car-scene and create an opportunity for the savvy and enlightened mod-guys to get onto the city and meet with them to discuss legal events etc.
So why won't it stop or curb the illegal racing? Simple - it doesn't go to the heart of the problem. The heart of the problem is that there is no real facility for street-racing around Cape Town and that needs to be addressed. Yes, I've seen the track days at Killarney and I've seen how some people just can't resist the temptation after a track day to have a quick dice down Koeberg Road on the way home - there's always one idiot who spoils it for everyone.
No, Link Road, Modderdam and Sacks will never be alternatives. A proper purpouse built area is what is required - and it's not the City's responsibility to find and create that. It's the responsibility of the racing community to come up with plans and present them and keep refining and presenting them until they get one that works for everyone.
Proper solutions to the illegal street racing include block-ins, proper surveillance, well run road blocks, traffic control and fair enforcement. Sorry racing guys - but you can't choose which laws you do and don't want to follow. Street racing is irresponsible and illegal end of the story.
There are ways to curb it and to weed out the guys with stolen cars and car parts lurking in the crowds. Yes there are guys that blatantly sit at hook-ups pinting away a few beers and smoking really sweet smelling stuff and then STILL get behind the wheel to show what they can do on a quarter mile - and they belong in jail. End of the story.
The conclusion is simple. City of Cape Town needs a realistic, studied and pragmatic approach to curb street racing in Cape Town once and for all. They also need dialogue with the responsible racing crowd to engage and find a proper facility for them where it can be turned into a money generator for the city and an outlet for the fans.
Safety precautions and all. It's time for the two parties to sit in intelligent debate and to sideline the weekend-warriors with their badly modified crocks that belong on a junk heap and not on the road.
