The excellent thing about the motorsport of spinning is that it’s easily accessible, it can take place quite safely in built-up areas with proper checks in place, and last but not least, it’s wildly entertaining.
Touching base with the situation for spinners in the Western Cape, Bobby finds that things are much the same with there being loads of fans, new people wanting to enter the game and no dedicated pitch.
But these guys are resourceful, and being a useful part of the community is core to the vibe. Bobby heard about a project that is bringing together Spinners, prominent people in the racing community, and elders in Lentegeur. It’s called Spin Sundays and Bobby spoke to Jonathan Schaffers, aka Johnny 2j, about the initiative.
IN GOOD SPIRIT: Community members assisted with clearing the pitch. Photo: SHAHIEM BELL
Johnny, from Lentegeur himself, is aware of the challenges faced by teenagers growing up in an area of high unemployment. He says: “There is this vacant piece of land where kids hang out and get up to illegal stuff, and we want to create something for them there, something for them to look forward to on the weekends.”
And the organisers are taking the initiative one step further, by getting local business on board to add a much-needed feeding scheme to the Spin-tertainment. They provided a pilot event for the community last Sunday, bringing kwaai karre, milk, bread and fruit plus more to the venue.
SMOKIN' HOT: Abu had Ford fanatics going bos with his Spin-tertainment. Photo: SHAHIEM BELL
Johnny, known on the 800m stretch and recently having built himself a Spin car with a V8 Nissan powerplant under the hood, says: “We have started an NPO that is essentially a feeding scheme to service the areas of Lentegeur and Mont Clare and this will tag onto our Spin meets.
The idea was well received by the community.
Shahiem Bell of TPDZ media, who was asked to join and support the initiative, adds: “We’re hoping to receive assistance from the authorities to advise and assist where they can, to help us make this a home for Spinners and at the same time, a way to give back to the community, young and old, who truly are entertained and also happy knowing that the youngsters now have something to look forward to on weekends.”
BRAVE HEART: Shaheen had the Animal going to its ultimate limit. Photo: SHAHIEM BELL
A resident of Lentegeur, Bashier Klink, who supplied the marquee for the day, says: “The first one was a real success and I’d like to see this carrying on. On any given Sunday you’ll find groups of kids roaming around but when there’s spinning, the streets are empty and everyone is down at the pitch. It’s good for the area.”
It has been the unfortunate lot of spinners in Cape Town that they have no permanent pitch to use, despite many attempts to get the City on board to support this popular sport. Bobby thinks that the negative stigma attached to Spinning is actually a direct result of there not being a pitch, as the guys then have to go illegal to do it. If there was a pitch, that illegal vibe would just disappear overnight.
FILLING TUMMIES: Feeding schemes also took focal point . Photo: SHAHIEM BELL
Johnny says that having a Spinning zone in Lentegeur can also provide job opportunities for the community as vendors of food. The longer term vision is to create a self-sustaining event that can also raise funds for local charities. He adds: “Some of the older community members came up to us after the last Sunday to tell us that the youngsters look up to us and that the initiative is welcome in the community.”
Shahiem adds: “So far we have a few businessmen who have gladly offered to assist wherever they can. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Shaheen Barmania of Suspect Racing, Achmat Carr of Pacific Roadhouse, Nazeem Nelson of Events Paramedics, Bashier Klink of Quality Tents and also Zain Ryland. Similarly important, this couldn’t be possible without the passion to spin from every Spinner that pulls through to entertain these crowds, week in and week out without expecting anything in return.”
ENTERTAINED: Residents, young and old, came out in droves. Photo: SHAHIEM BELL
Spinning means a lot to the passionate drivers and the community. There are heroes to look up to, events to attend instead of too much empty time on youngsters’0 hands, and, adds Johnny “It’s important that we do this safely and legally.”