Sparks at car spinning - 8th October 2021

Hundreds of people gather amid clouds of burnt tyre smoke to witness skidding cars in this event known as spinning.

Now recognised as a motorsport, spinning came out of South African townships in the late 80s when stolen cars used to be spun around by gangsters showing off their spoils.

Ayanda Mbele is responsible for managing spinning events.

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."

Spinning cannot legally be done in cities. However, events like this are permitted in closed urban areas. Drivers take turns spinning round and round in circles. The biggest daredevils don’t hold on to the wheel or they dangle upside down out of open car doors.

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 explains the thrills she gets out of it.

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."