Mzansi Speedway welcomed many local drag racers for its Grand Opening over the weekend, ushering in a new era for the Benoni-based quarter-mile strip.
Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag!
The SouthSide Crew came together at Mzansi Speedway for its inaugural event over the weekend. The facility, which features a quarter mile (402 metres) strip, grandstands and a staging area, is poised to become a hub for grassroots drag motorsport in South Africa and possibly the spiritual successor of the once legendary WesBank Raceway. The Sunday event welcomed dozens to put their street cars out on the strip and see who would be fastest for the day.
Related: Volvo Reinvents The Seatbelt With First Multi-Adaptive Safety Belt For The EX60
Although the freshly laid track surface required a bit of rubbering, participating cars began in earnest to set some blisteringly quick times for the day. According to the event’s brief, only street-legal cars were allowed to participate. Ismael Peck, brainchild behind the venue, told CAR Magazine that this has been a several-year project that has faced immense adversity to get where it is today. A collaborative effort with friends, Peck shares that the land adjacent to Formula K was earmarked and purchased. It was an ideal venue since it is flanked by mine dumps and shielded from residential areas by the highway. Being next to the East Rand karting circuit also makes it familiar quantity in the motorsport world.
Related: Volkswagen Hands Over To SA To Select Locally Produced SUV’s Name
Getting from raw land to a functioning drag strip took three long, gruelling years. “We had to fill what we called the Grand Canyon — a massive gorge running along the side of the strip,” says Peck. “Tons and tons of sand, endless compacting. We moved the strip three times because of old mine shafts under the surface.” To add to the complications, Peck added that the site was plagued by zama zamas (illegal miners) operating en masse. Government forces were eventually convinced to step in, deploying the army to clear the area and fill the holes with concrete. With the security threats gone, construction could finally push forward in earnest.
“This has been my dream,” Peck says. “To build a drag strip, host big races. I’ve done it before, but now, I’m doing it my way.” And by all accounts, the local motorsport faithful are loving every moment of it.
Though the facility wasn’t entirely complete, Peck added that “People were begging me to start running races.” He admits that he evnetually gave in, and teamed up with the familiar Southside Crew for this inaugural event. As with all forms of motorsport, an incident with an M3 which collided with the barriers (without major injury) also showed the safety protocols which the Mzansi Speedway has been built according to, and medics were on-site and responded immediately.
Peck went on to add that videos from the event have been going viral and that it was all his collaborative team could have wished for in their inaugural event. Things aren’t done just yet since the Mzansi Speedway plans on utilising the on-site drift circuit and the future inclusion of a proper racetrack. Peck went on to give gratitude for the team who operate behind the scenes, and have been faultless in bringing Johannesburg a comprehensive and safe motorsport facility.
Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag!
