Sparks fly in car spinning - 8th October 2021

Burning tyre smoke fills the air at this car spinning event in South Africa.

Spinning has been watched by large crowds since emerging from the townships in the 1980s. Gangsters would spin the cars they had stolen to boast about their success.

Ayanda Mbele has organized events for Wheelz and Smoke.

Ayanda Mbele: "People would steal cars and go celebrate in the locations, so they would spin the cars. And then also during funerals as well they would spin cars, cuz it's, it’s, it’s, it’s, it’s the culture. It's what people love to see."

Although spinning has been banned from city roads, events are allowed in arenas. Cars are spun in circles. Some drivers let go of the steering wheel and others hold on upside down out of an open door while the vehicle is moving.

Austin Kruger: "I like the adrenaline it gives me. I started on a quad bike first before I started spinning, so that’s how it happened. When I got into the spinning, I bought my first car. I started on the streets and that's how we, we built it, and now we’re doing it in an arena."

Tracey-Lee May is one of few female drivers. 

Tracey-Lee May: "You get stunts, you get doughnuts, you get. It's like a combination of all different motorsports tied into one and it's so much fun. And the reason why I’m spinning is to show females that you can do anything you set your mind to doing."