This past weekend, Border motorsport enthusiasts were treated to a heart-pounding spectacle at the local stock car oval as East London driver Johan Visagie sped towards the chequered flag to claim first place in the 1660 stock car challenge.
This win marks the first local title winner for the 1660 challenge.
Annually the race brings together skilled drivers from various towns and this year more than 62 drivers from East London, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein and George took to the track.
Established in 2016, the event has been growing consistently and is often dominated by racers from Gqeberha. However, this year, Border sought to break this stranglehold.
Third place for the 1660 challenge went to fellow East London racer, Percy Noah.
Visagie and Noah take home cash prizes and higher national rankings for the rest of the stock car racing season, which runs from January to December and is currently on round four of the Border league.
In addition to the 1660 challenge, the event also encompassed the Hotrods, heavy metals, 2.1s, junior B and A, V8s and 1660B.
East London drivers walked away with first and second place in the heavy metals group, first and second place in the Hotrods race, third place in 2.1s and first and second place for juniors.
Border Stock Cars Association representative Shanbra Holloway said the event showcased the best racers nationally and was the best event ever held at the local oval track.
She said: “Top notch performances were given by every driver throughout the event.
“Visagie is a very good driver with a strong car. We are proud to say that even though we had cars from throughout the country, an East London driver won.
“We are beyond proud of our junior B class. We do think that even though these kids are young, they are going places. Although there was mishaps and accidents throughout the night, the sportsmanship in this class is unbelievable.”
Gqeberha driver Zanco Els, who competed for the first time in 1660 challenge this year, said the East London stock car oval provides an excellent platform to test a driver’s skill because of its small size and the impact this has on the accelerated speed of the driving.
The East London oval’s dirt track requires extreme racing proficiency because the moisture pulls through the ground and the track surfaces changes throughout the night, giving local drivers who can read the track a better footing for the race.
Els said: “I always wanted to race on this track in East London especially in the 1660 challenge because its extremely fast and if you are able to hold your own in the 1660 group then that’s a true testament to your skill as a driver and to the technical proficiency of the car.”
As the season progresses, Border racers are practising for the remainder of the local league and competing towards regional and national colours.
Holloway said: “Stockcar racing is not just a sport, it becomes a way of life.
“You meet people at the track that become like family, your kids learn so much especially if they race, you learn discipline and patience and when to give a little more, we become one big family, and the passion we have amongst us is phenomenal, the lengths some of us will go for the sport.
“There will always be politics, as there is in any other sport, but at the end of the day we all have a common goal and that is to enjoy our sport, progress in our sport and put on the best show we can for our spectators at each event.”
