SATURDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER, 2015
Councils in race to permit drag strips Proposal for drag strip in Howick may spur promise for one in City ALWYN VILJOEN DRAG racers, spinners, drifters and even advanced driver trainers are all cautiously optimistic about plans for a worldclass venue where they can host their activities in the Midlands. This after The Witness business editor Edward West recently report ed a proposal by the Howick Mid lands Chamber of Commerce and In dustry to develop a drag strip and race track at the current strip for glid ers between Mpopomeni and Mid mar Dam, about 20 km out of Pieter maritzburg. West said the investments by en trepreneurs to open new tracks at Marburg, Msinga and Empangeni in recent times showed the need for rac ing space in KZN, but he cautioned there was only a narrow window for Howick to attract the large market of motor racers and driver trainers to the scenic landing strip next to Mpo pomeni. He said while Pietermaritzburg’s council has long dragged its feet on allocating the promised Masons’ Mill next to Edendale to the city’s rac ers, this new threat from Howick could change the situation overnight. “It is now a race between councils to permit and support a race track for their racers,” said West.
X marks the old glider strip outside Howick near Midmad Dam, where the town’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry proposes to develop a drag strip to host car events. PHOTO: MAPS.GOOGLE Race track brings big business In Pietermaritzburg race organiser at the Hesketh track and specialist auto parts seller Desmond Govenden said he was both pleased and excited about the plans for a 2km stretch of tarmac and a skid pan. “I have raced various codes in my time and due to my business at DY Performance I’m in constant contact with all kinds of motoring enthusi asts. I can vouch for them all in saying this plan is long overdue in the KZN. Govenden said the province has many avid racers and motoring tun
ing and modification companies “who are basically screaming” for a proper venue for tests as well as com petitions. “The old adage of ‘win Sunday, sell on Monday’ applies. We just need a venue.” Govenden also quantified the kind of cashflow the racers can steer to wards Howick. “There are hundreds of racers in and around KZN that commute to the Gauteng province as well as the Western Cape to partici pate in events pertaining to racing. “For an average racer commuting to Gauteng to participate in a drag
race, or drift race, the costs involved can average R20 000 just to compete in a oneday event. This excludes the cost of preparing the actual race car for the race!” He added the proposed venue does not have to be limited to one or two codes of motorsport, but could host weekly driver training and car shows too. “If run properly, this venue will generate large amounts of income,” he said. Driver trainer and group opera tions director of the Johannesburg based MasterDrive, Gary Clackwor thy, said if a large skidpan was added to the track, he could bring driver training business there next week. “We offer regular advanced truck driver training in KZN, using Toyo ta’s skidpan and track at Eston — but Toyota gets precedence to test vehi cles, which plays havoc with our schedules. We are very eager for a venue where we can set up a base,” said Clackworthy. The fastest female drag racer in KZN, Jayshree “Sweetie” Sookdahoo said a legal race venue would also help enormously to remove the illegal ra ces that happen weekly in both How ick and Pietermaritzburg. “All the guys just want a venue,” she said. She added it won’t be just the boys who will go racing, as she will also show them a thing or two in her Audi.
VW SCRAMBLES TO CONTAIN SENSOR FALLOUT VOLKSWAGEN in U.S. had the un fortunate task of launching the 2016 Volkswagen Passat as the company scrambles to control the fallout from its cheating emmision sensors. VW CEO in the U.S., Michael Horn, said before the unveiling: “Our company was dishonest, with EPA, the California Air Resources Board, and with [the public],” he said. “In my German words, we totally screwed up.” “We must fix those cars [to] pre vent this from ever happening again and make things right,” he continued, “with the government, the public, customers, employees, and our deal ers.” “This [dishonesty] is completely inconsistent with our core values, which include… responsibility,” he added. “It goes totally against what we believe is right.” Horn did not take questions after the event. Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice De partment has opened an investiga tion into VW’s admission that it cheated on the emissions tests, which could add criminal proceedings to the challenges faced by VW. — WR.
RACING AT HESKETH DY Perfomance is hosting a track day from 8 am to 4 pm at the Hesketh race track in Hayfields, Piet ermaritzburg on October 17. Children under 12 enter free to spectate, adults pay only R20. Drivers however pay R400 per car to test their driving skills around the historic track. As usual, no racing will be allowed between any two cars to ensure safery on the treelined track, but drivers will get to explore the limits of their own skills in their own time. Entries close on October 5 and organiser Desmond Govenden again expects a full field, so enter while there is a slot. Register on dyperfomance.co.za, or contact Govenden on 083 641 0356.
2016 COTY FINALISTS The SA Guild of Motoring Journalists has announced the semifinalist contenders for the 2016 Car of the Year (Coty). The 2016 Coty jury will put the finalists through structured testing procedures in early February, scoring each finalist on its value for money; safety and technology, performance, overall excellence, in terior design and practicality, handling and dynam ics, looks and efficiency. The semifinalists are (in alphabetical order): the Audi TT Coupé, BMW i3, Citroën C4 Cactus, Ford Fusion, Honda HRV, Jaguar XE, Kia Grand Sedona, Kia Sorento, Kia Soul, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Mazda 2 Hatch, MercedesBenz GLE Coupe, Nissan XTrail, Opel Adam, Opel Corsa, Peugeot 308, Ren ault Captur, Suzuki Ciaz, VW Golf SV and the Volvo XC90. — WR.
• Optional - Two-year/unlimited km warranty • 80-point mechanical check • Terms and conditions apply. E & OE • Ownership guaranteed • 7-day exchange plan • Mileage certified • Full service history PRICE MILEAGE COLOUR Polo Vivo 2013 Polo Vivo 1,6 5-Door 22 000 km Blue R129 900 2014 Polo Vivo 1,6 Trendline 5-Door 12 000 km White R145 900 2014 Polo Vivo 1,6 GT 3d 31 000 km Red R129 900 2014 Polo Vivo 1,4 Trendline Sedan 22 000 km Silver R129 900 2013 Polo Vivo 1,4 5-Door 39 000 km Silver R119 900 2013 Polo Vivo 1,4 Tiptronic Sedan 31 000 km Silver R134 900 2013 Polo Vivo 1,6 GT 3d 52 000 km Silver R129 900 Polo
2014 Polo 1,4 Trendline Sedan 2014 Polo 1,4 Trendline Sedan 2015 Polo GP 1,2 TSi Highline 2015 Polo GP 1,2 TSi Comfortline 2014 Polo GP 1,2 TSi Highline 2014 Polo GP 1,2 TSi Trendline 2013 Polo 1,2 TDi B/Motion 2013 Polo 1,4 Trendline
18 000 km 19 000 km 15 000 km 9 000 km 27 000 km 29 000 km 112 000 km 35 000 km
White Silver Black Sunset Red Silver Blue White Pepper Grey
R159 900 R156 900 R219 900 R225 900 R229 900 R169 900 R138 900 R149 900
6 500 km 6 500 km 66 000 km
White Red Red
R269 000 R325 900 R309 900
7 500 km 40 000 km
White White
R399 900 R249 000
90 000 km 500 km 11 000 km 11 000 km 83 000 km
Foil Silver White Black Blue Silver
R185 900 R529 000 R119 900 R289 000 R209 900
White Gold
R439 900 R79 900
Golf
2015 Golf 7 1,4 TSi Comfortline 2015 Golf SV 2,0 TDi DSG 2011 Golf 6 2,0 TSi GTi R DSG Amarok
2015 Amarok Double Cab 2,0 TDi 4x2 132 Kw 2011 Amarok 2,0 TDi D/Cab 90 Kw Other VW
GWagon just keep going up, in power and price All MercedesBenz GClass models now offer up to 16% more power and up to 17% lower fuel consumption, with a third model, the Edition 463, launched. The “entry level” G 350d has improved performance from 155 kW to 180 kW, with the torque up from 540 to 600 Nm and it sells for R1 418 000. The AMG G63 has 20 kW extra with torque of 760 Nm and retails for R2 156 000 while the exclusive Edition 463 costs R2 308 000. The money buys a mostly handassembled vehicle (at Merc’s Magna Steyr plant in Austria) with heated leathers seats front and back, ambient lighting, Merc’s fantastic Harmon/Kardon surround sound system and a long list of interior cladding and colour options. PHOTO: QUIKCPIC
2011 Tiguan 1,4 TSi Trend/Fun 2015 VW Transporter 2,0 Bi TDi Crewbus 2015 Take Up! 2015 VW Beetle 1,4 TSi Sport DSG 2013 Tiguan 1,4 TSi Trend/Fun Other
2015 Isuzu KB300 DTEC Serengeti D/C A/T 16 000 km 2011 Ford Figo 1,4 Ambiente 140 000 km
Mastercars warranty not included in advertised price.
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