To top off 2019, Killarney pulled another awesome event out of the bag with StreetFest on 28 December.
Hosted in partnership with the City of Cape Town, the fest pulled thousands of koppe from far and wide to witness this annual gathering of modified four cylinders, howling sixes and 8-cylinder behemoths.
The Deputy Mayor of Cape Town, Ian Neilson, welcomed the thousands of spectators lining both sides of the strip, saying that Cape Town, the Events Capital of Africa, was proud to host big motorsport events that cater as much to grassroots enthusiasts as professional race crews.
Of course, there was something for everyone in the celebration of car culture, drag racers from afar, Drifting, and IASCA soundoff, a show 'n shine boasting some of our kwaaiest karre, and a bunch of aftermarket goodies.
BEAUTY: Ford Mustang won its class in the Show 'n Shine competition. Picture: Dave Abrahams.
The quarter-mile drag strip, however, was the centre of attention as the county’s top drivers pitted their wits and their builds against one another for boasting rights. And it’s the launch that is so crucial in this game, as the combination of precision car control and relaying the brute drive force to the tar without too much slippage is what wins or loses many of these races.
The fastest time of the day was set by Ralph Kumbier driving Shaheen Barmania’s twin-turbo Lumina, better known as Suspect.
This car has transitioned from an 800 metre beast into a super quick 9.356 second quarter-miler, and Bobby is keen to find out just what has been tweaked, as Suspect just seem to be getting better and better
Shaun Zurich recorded a 9.483 second pass at 230.94km/h, a mere tenth of a second behind, in his Honda Civic, reputedly the fastest normally aspirated front-wheel drive car in Africa. That was more than enough to earn him top honours in Class OA, well ahead of Hennie Watkins Corolla (11.173 seconds) and Lyle Africa in a Honda CRX at 11.195 seconds.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: Around 6000 mense at the Killarney event. Picture: Dave Abrahams.
Third overall was Rudy Roode in an all-wheel drive Golf Mk2, with a blistering 9.831 second pass, just two hundredths of a second faster than Yures Naidoo from Durban, the fastest lady in an Audi TTRS. That’s the top three in under the 10 second magic marker. What a day.
Featured cabbie Tiaan van der Merwe’s Fireball, a 1970s Escort with a seven-litre crate engine straight out of Indianapolis, just missed his stated target of breaking into the nines with a 10.449 second run.
This being his first visit to the coast, and the Ford being a thoroughbred dragster, all motor through and through with no forced induction or other assistance, let’s see what happens next time.
Moeneeb Parker in a Nissan Champ took Class 4A at 11.573 seconds, while Class 4S went to Shaun Dziire from Jozi in a SuperBoss running 11.814 seconds. Class 6S went to Herman Mostert’s 2JZ-powered Corolla and his amazing 9.501 second run.
Of course, it’s the two-wheelers that set the absolute fastest runs, with Reece Robertson leading the charge on his Suzuki GSX-R1000 with a best run of 8.684 seconds at 254.78km/h , a simply blistering run. He is the only person into the eights at Street Fest, with Edson aLmeida and Irvine Bruinders coming in at 9.150 and 9.453 seconds respectively, both riding BMW S1000RRs.
SMOKE AND ALL: Jannie Bezuidenhout’s Mk1 Golf. Picture: Dave Abrahams.
Fourth was 16-year-old Stephen Lottering from Port Elizabeth, with a very creditable 9.528 second pass on a brand-new Kawasaki ZX-10R.
Top quad rider was Kyle Johannes on a Yamaha Banshee, who caused a stir when he laid down the only sub 12 second run of the day on a quad at 11.967 seconds.