Every Sunday night, Bremer Street in the west of Pretoria has become a race track for street racers for the past two years.
Resident Bennie Voster said he was forced to listen to the sound of squealing tyres, loud music and even louder people.
“I can only sleep once the racing is over and that is usually around 23:00,” he said.
“By the time they decide to finish I am dead tired. I have to work the next day and an early night on a Sunday would be appreciated.”
Voster said the drag racers gathered at 19:00 and start off with spinning and then proceed to racing.
“It is just getting worse, they don’t have respect for anyone. They spin right in front of my gate,” he said.
Voster said there were times when the Tshwane metro police monitored the road but as soon as they left, the racing continued.
“The residents are tired of this racing thing. It is dangerous and must be stopped,” he said.
A racer who wished to remain anonymous said the racers don’t enjoy racing in residential areas but they have no other choice.
“We have been trying so hard to get our own road but still no luck. All other sports are taken care of but there is no place for us to race.”
“Drag racing is a sport and the closest track is in Krugersdorp or the ODI Raceway which is 30 minutes out of Pretoria ,in the middle of Soshanguve and nobody wants to drive there at night.”
The racer said if they were provided a road, there would be no need for racing in the streets.
“By not helping street racers more havoc is created. I want people to know that street racing is a hobby for many people. If only we had a place of our own there would be no need for us to race in the streets,” said the racer.
“All the people complaining – why can’t they just help us get a road? I mean by complaining and denying the street racers a place to race that is just going to worsen the situation. Street racing has been around for years and it will never stop.”
Racer Gawie Ysel (47) agreed.
He said it took him nine-and-a-half years to get the drag strip approved and he had been busy with its civil works for five years now.
The drag strip is on his farm 15 kilometres away from the Rooiwal power station.
“We have to drive to Krugersdorp once a month to race and if that’s the case when must we practise? We don’t have the luxury of going to a track just to practise,” said Ysel.
“Why can’t they [the people who are complaining] support us and pay attention to our grievances?”
Metro police spokesperson Senior-Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said the police were aware of the problem.
He confirmed that metro officers and the police were there on 16 October to monitor the situation.
“When our members were visible, no racing took place. The problem is when our members change shifts between 20:30 and 21:00, the drag race commences,” said Mahamba.
He said the metro police were planning to monitor the area more closely in future.
“We are also working on a plan for members to always be present [there] to prevent drag racing.”
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