Vryheid’s JD Kruger named ‘toughest amateur off-road driver in the world’

JD Kruger’s performance at the International Spirit of Amarok 4×4 Championship had spectators’ hearts pumping so fast, that it set off the heart attack warning on one man’s Apple watch.

Even driving blindfolded in reverse, this Vryheid petrol head’s technique behind the wheel proved second to none.

From September 30 to October 5, the 20 best amateur 4×4 teams representing Australia, Botswana, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Namibia, Russia, South Africa, Sweden and Taiwan gathered on a Nelspruit farm to go head-to-head, demonstrating their skills in precision driving.

The Championship is the brainchild of former rally and racing driver, Sarel van der Merwe, who won South African Rally Drivers Championships 11 times. Twenty brand new Amaroks are sponsored by VW for the competition.

“This concept of Sarel’s is really a winning one,” says JD. “It brings people with a common interest together, from all over the world, who want to test their abilities. You are not just competing against another team, you are competing against yourself to see what you are capable of. There is great camaraderie among the competitors as we get to know each other and help each other through the stages by sharing technical knowledge. It’s safe because it is not on the road. You follow a set of rules on a course that has been set up for this kind of thing.”

On day one of the six-day international competition, Jan-Daniel (JD) Kruger, a prominent Vryheid business owner, and his teammate, Lodewyk Daniel (LD) Erasmus, were only slightly behind the best performing team for that day.

By day two, JD and LD had taken the lead position, and at the end of the third day this unstoppable duo were marked as favourites for an outright win.

“When we realised that we could actually win this, that’s when the pressure hit,” says JD. “We knew that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity because once you have represented your country, you can’t compete again.”

On October 6, it was official… JD and LD were honoured with the ‘Amarok’ trophy, a wolf that symbolises “the patience, strength and determination competitors must show in order to be named the toughest amateur off-road driver in the world.”

Describing some of the most memorable moments of the race, JD speaks animatedly about how steep some of the hills were on the farm, where the competition was hosted.

“I was LD’s navigator when he completed the speed rounds of the competition and when I drove during the technical challenges, he acted as my navigator. Some of the hills were so steep that you couldn’t even see the ground anymore. All you could see was the sky and the clouds and, at that angle, you must still manoeuvre between poles, that are very close together, without hitting them. It’s anxiety and sweaty palms while you are in the stage, and then a sigh of utter relief when you are done. In fact, one of the Australian competitors was watching us complete the stage when an alarm on his Apple watch started going off. His heart rate had increased to 120 beats a minute while he was standing there because he had become so anxious just watching us, that his watch was warning him that he was about to have a heart attack if he didn’t calm down,” laughs JD.

When did JD become passionate about off-road precision driving? The 39-year-old father can pinpoint the exact moment he first felt an adrenaline high from being behind the wheel. He was five-years old.

“I accompanied my mum to boarding school when she went to fetch my older sister to bring her home for the weekend. When we were returning home on the farm road, our car broke down so my dad came to tow us the rest of the way to the house. I remember it being dark and misty and my mum felt anxious about being behind the wheel, so I volunteered to steer the car being towed. My dad propped me up on a pillow and instructed me to keep one foot on the brake to make sure that I kept the tow rope tight.

“Growing up on the farm, I had often accompanied my dad on the tractor, so I knew how to steer. After that, my confidence grew and so did my dad’s confidence in me and he would often send me in a 4×4 or off-road vehicle to check on the farm and see if the cattle had enough water.”

While tyres were still an expense that his father bore, JD practiced his off-road technique often doing as many hand brake turns as he could. Now that his own 4-year old son is already showing an interest in driving, eagerly waiting for every opportunity to sit on JD’s lap and steer the vehicle, JD can only imagine how much money his son will cost him in tyres as he grows up, if his passion for precision driving deepens.

“My father taught me that when you have a son, you have to encourage them to take a step out of their comfort zone. You have to allow them to make mistakes. You have to allow them to do what they only dream is possible. You have to allow them the space to attempt the impossible… Then they have the confidence to do something great someday,” says JD, who is also the proud owner of a VW Amarok himself.

IN addition to the countless benchmark features you’ve come to expect from the Amarok, its new 3.0 litre V6 TDI engine delivers a brutish 165kW and 550Nm of torque. The much-anticipated Amarok V6 has exactly what it takes to get the job done, and then some…

– 3.0 TDI V6, with 165Kw, 550Nm and an overboost function, taking the power up to 180Kw
– ‘Climatronic’ airconditioning
– ‘Premium Colour’ multifunction display
– Leather-covered multifunction steering wheel with paddles
– Bluetooth cellphone interface
– Fuel consumption 9,0 litres/100km
– Storage drawers under the front seats
– 18 inch alloy Manaus wheels on the Highline range with anti-theft wheel bolts
– Lockable tailgate
– Permanent 4WD
– Heat insulating glass all round
– 8 speed automatic gearbox
– 0 to 100km/h in eight seconds
Source: www.vw.co.za