How spinning is becoming South Africa's fastest growing motorsport

IOL News

4 days ago

ALTHOUGH not mainstream but spinning is becoming the fastest growing sports in South African. | Supplied
Image: Supplied
Words could never really describe the feeling you get when you see a BMW E30 in a roll back burnout which ends up clouding the area around it with smoke.
You can hear the car's engine limiting like it's going to break, and then all of a sudden…it disappears in a cloud of white smoke.
It's not so much a sport but a stirrer of emotions, mainly adrenaline, which permeates throughout the drivers, stuntmen and the spectators alike.
There's no real point structure like the Super Drift series, but rather, spinning is mainly judged by the crowd's applause - which makes it the most interactive motorsport to date.
South Africa can be looked at as a pioneer of the sport, which is now entertaining crowds in Austria (shout out to Samkeliso Thubane). The amount of raw, young talent bubbling to the surface right now in the world of spinning is a breath of fresh air. In many aspects, spinning has also given the youth something to strive toward, given that is achievable to participate in financially.
Aspiring for greatness
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Sam Sam has reached the pinnacle of the sport, according to McKeenan 'Troubles' du Plessis, 33, a Johannesburg spinner from team Japan Auto - who would one day follow in similar footsteps.
Troubles got into the sport at 13-years-old as a stuntman and knew since then that he was destined to be a driver.
A decade later, the colourful spinner drives his own Nissan VQ25 swapped BMW E30. His 'boxshape' has been fitted with a 5-speed BMW gearbox to go with the V6 Nissan power plant and runs on a Spitronics engine management system. The diff's also been welded locked.
'I think immediately after getting into the sport as a youngster, I wanted to drive one day. But I was small and didn't have the money so I became a stuntman just to stay close to the sport and grow as well.
'I used to be a stuntman for a guy named Rogan from Reiger Park Spinners. We competed mainly in Vosloorus, Soweto and Soshanguve. Since then, I think the crowds have really grown, mainly because of social media. There's a lot more attention on the sport now, especially after Sam Sam became a star and went all over the world.
'I think as a spinner, he reached the pinnacle of the sport and we all would like to be like that and go around the world spinning. Things are moving here in South Africa though and I'm sure it will grow the sport,' du Plessis said.
Troubles even got himself a stuntman now - Dillon 'Toppie' Holster. Holster is often holding on to the side of the E30 for the past two years.
"I enjoy hanging out of the car and showing that I fear nothing. The best part about spinning is showing off our skills. Since I started with McKeenan the sport has really grown and I hope one day people can watch it on TV like a real sport," Holster said.
McKeenan du Plessis spinning the Japan Auto BMW E30 at the Gas Motorshow in Durban. McKeenan du Plessis spinning the Japan Auto BMW E30 at the Gas Motorshow in Durban.
Image: Auto Rush
Why so popular?
Unlike drag racing and circuit or drifting, spinning doesn't require a private vault filled with cash to be successful. Do not misunderstand that, however, you do need money to get started but it is possible to develop in the sport with a 'beginner' level car.
More experienced drivers tend to spruce their cars up with more power but that must be accommodated by other modifications to support the power - which is when it starts getting very expensive. Hence, most spinners try keep it as simple possible.
What separates spinning from other motorsports though, is the fact that you do not need too many specialized parts in your vehicle when it comes to the gearbox, suspension or engine.
A drag racing vehicle for instance, needs a custom gearbox, suspension and fuel system or else you are swatting flies with a chopstick. In short, a drag racing vehicle has to be completely rebuilt with aftermarket parts for it to be "win".
Spinning on the other hand, is more about style than about speed. Its about expressing yourself and standing out from your competitors through different tricks, stunts and your stuntman.
Engines on a spin car also undergo a serious amount of pressure but it's the differential that takes the most beating because of the constant locking and unlocking motion. Most spinners have opted to weld the differential at a locked position to keep the wheels spinning more easily.
The cars in the sport are not necessarily the prettiest and that's because they often take a bump or two every now and again.
Drivers do not care so much about the aesthetic appeal of their cars but mainly the engine, gearbox and suspension. The gearbox is not much of a deciding factor when building a spin car and it is possible to "get away" on a budget option although not advised.