The car sport known as “spinning” has received a R5-million boost from government in South Africa.
Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, recently announced that the multi-million-rand injection will contribute towards an ongoing effort to promote the niche sport.
South Africa’s next big thing
McKenzie and the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture are attempting to cultivate spinning into one of South Africa’s next big sports alongside rugby or cricket.
The funding boost will therefore be used to improve infrastructure and safety at spinning facilities across the country, as well as develop new spinning venues, as per a report by the SABC.
In addition, the money is being put towards “development cars” that will be made available to aspiring spinning drivers who cannot afford a vehicle of their own.
Mario Francis, a representative of the Spinning Fraternity, said that the injection will greatly assist in growing the sport.
He explained that spinning is not a cheap undertaking, requiring an upfront investment for the cars themselves as well as continued maintenance for the engines and other mechanical components.
At present, only a few institutions support the activity, which is regulated by Motorsport South Africa and is only permitted in controlled arenas.
One organization that does support the local phenomenon is Red Bull, as the energy drink company has hosted the Shay’ iMoto spinning competition since 2019.
However, more businesses are starting to get involved with spinning, as mobile network provider Cell C recently declared that it will be organizing its own car spinning championship to promote the sport.
Credit: Craig Kolesky / Red Bull Content Pool
Creating an avenue for South Africa’s youth
One of the big reasons why the current Sports Minister is pushing for spinning is that he believes it can be used as a way to entertain and support the youth in gang-ridden parts of South Africa.
Spinning emerged in Soweto 30 years ago during the Apartheid regime and has since become a full-blown sport that attracts massive audiences.
Simply put, spinning is a uniquely South African take on the motorsport idea of drifting where drivers perform incredible burnouts while passengers hang out the windows or perform daring stunts around the moving car.
It’s more than just a freestyling exercise, too, as the Red Bull Shay’ iMoto event requires competitors to follow a routine around key markers like barrels and parking bays, all within a specific time limit.
Due to its risky nature, spinning is illegal if performed on public roads and is only permitted inside of designated zones.
The appeal of spinning is that it is relatively affordable and down to earth compared to circuit racing, as just about anyone can get involved so long as they have a rear-wheel-drive car, regardless of its age or power stats.
Developing spinning from a niche culture into a widely recognized part of South Africa’s sports-centric culture will help to create a new avenue for careers and fame, making it an aspiration for the nation’s youth and keeping them out of court, said McKenzie.
Headline image credit: Tyrone Bradley/Red Bull Content Pool
Loading ...
