society

Nov. 8, 2021

KABELO MASOABI

3 min read

Car spinners leave spectators yearning for more

Car spinners leave spectators yearning for more

the 1991 BMW 3-series popular among spinners

Story highlights

    Lesotho and SA drifters put up a thrilling car spinning show in Masianokeng
    Organisers complain about lack of resources towards development of the motorsport

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LAST Saturday's thrilling car spinning and drifting show pulled over 2 000 spectators at the Makoanyane military barracks in Maseru, the event organisers, LK Entertainment has said.

Popular performers from Lesotho and South African (SA) showcased their best spinning maneuvers to the delight of the spectators could not get enough of the hair-raising but moving moves.  

The crowd went wild with revelry as the daring spinners swept the track with their BMW 325s dubbed “Gusheshes", which are described as the drifters’ best choice of vehicle.

The inaugural annual show which is titled “Smokey Spinning and Drifting” saw the likes of the famous Isla Bonita and Sam Sam of Mpumalanga and Pretoria respectively taking on local drifters such as Lebona, Shooting, Seisa, Tšoeu, Lithebe, LS-Lephoi and Team Tebello among others.

Legendary DJ Tseko kept the spectators on their toes dancing to his famous music.

“Seisa and Lephoi emerged as the people’s favorites, Sam Sam also did not disappoint with his breath-taking moves. It was a tough battle incorporating challenging stunts of drifting between four lined up cars. Unfortunately our ladies team could not be part of the event due to unforeseen circumstances but next time they will be included,” Lithebe Tlali from LK Entertainment said.

This motorsport originated in SA’s townships in the early 1990s with the most popular cars from the 1991 BMW 3-series model range. The BMW 3-series is called Gusheshe owing to the gruff sound their engines make when they are being revved.
Although the motorsport was synonymous with car theft and township gangsterism during the 90’s, it has since gained mainstream appeal with people from all walks of life participating.
In Lesotho, the shows are held at various places, including the Masianokeng filling station in Maseru and Cloud 9 Club in Hlotse.

The regular competitors are local spinners against their more skilled and experienced counterparts from South Africa.

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Tlali says the shortage of appropriate venues holds back the development of the sport in the country.

“We incur high costs in order to organise these events and we only generate income from the entrance fees,” he says.
He notes that although some people regard car spinning as a daredevil sport, it is however, relatively safe as there are still no injuries recorded to date in the country since 2008.

Appealing to the corporate sector to support the motorsport, Tlali shows that the intention is to hold frequent competitions in order to increase the fan base.
Many spinners say that the most difficult iteration is jumping out and then back into the car counter-clockwise (traditionally spinners execute this maneuver clockwise).

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