Cannonball Run SA finishes with a bang

It all started on a brisk Thursday morning were 28 vehicles from all segments came together at the Gerotek test facilities, west of Pretoria. After a brief introduction over the ticking of the hot exhaust pipes, the participants were divided into two groups; the first group of participants was tasked in performing high-speed laps around the infamous oval while the others tested their vehicle’s handling dynamics in a gymkhana track on the skip pan.

After the brief but adrenalin-filled sessions, each vehicle’s pilot and co-pilot received a clue book; the contents of the books were to not only test the general knowledge of the participants but to also provide clues to answers which is found on route to the next activity. This was one of the means in which the charitable event challenged its participants along the route; the other was the randomly stationed CHiPs (Cannonball Highway Idiots on Patrol) officers.

While the officers made sure all the participants were on the correct routes, their main function was to fine the participants for the duration of the event for ridiculous reasons, Justin Jacobs and I witnessed a few of these encounters one the funniest being where the “officers” requested all the occupants to vacate their vehicles and perform an embarrassing dance and then still fined the occupants for not performing it well enough. After a whole day of activities in the sun, the participants retired to the hotel where they dressed up as hillbillies and enjoyed the theme party getting to know one another better.

The Cannonball Run is fun yet charitable initiative to raise money for the QuadPara Association of South Africa. With funds sponsored by Afrihost, JMR Software, BKD Auditors, Data Sciences Corporation, Rockcrete equipment, Hammer and credit the event were made possible whereby the abovementioned fines, donations and an auction hosted on the final night accumulated an excess of R350 000 towards wheelchairs for the QuadPara Association of South Africa.

The duration of the weekend saw more driving taking place on preplanned routes going from one activity to the next. Each activity which included; go-karts, high-speed sprints on closed roads, hot laps around race tracks, riding jet skis and even shooting a 50cal sniper rifle over a 1 km distance, in addition to the clue books handed to each team provided the opportunity to score points during the weekend. The conclusion of the weekend took place on Saturday evening in the form of a gala dinner hosted by the 4 Artillery Regiment just outside Potchefstroom, during the dinner participants had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with military procedures while occupying an officer’s mess, take part in the charitable auction and find out who took first place during all the activities over the weekend.