Will "Spinning" become a new sport?
From The Times today an article called "A sport is born as stunt drivers put new spin on an old crime" brings interesting news of what could become a possible new sport - "Spinning"
Spinning is the art of getting a car to spin rapidly within a turning circle that it's designers never dreamed of.
Born of the skills used by joyriding and car-theft enthusiasts to evade the police during their illegal high-speed chases, Spinning is turning into a new sport in the African Townships.
It's the details that amaze me - I wish there was a video available - I'd love to see it.
THE BMW screeched to a halt a few inches from the wall. As its rear wheels kicked up clouds of dust it spun around in near-perfect circles. Hundreds of delirious spectators, high on a mixture of burning rubber, beer and the thumping bass of township music, whooped in approval.
Suddenly Siphiwe Mdula, the driver, eased himself from the driving seat. Having somehow jammed the accelerator, he stood matador-like in the middle of the arena as the car spun round him.
South Africa's undisputed king of "spinning" then dived back into his vehicle and roared from the walled enclosure to wild applause.
Can you picture the scene? This driver zooms in and uses handbreak turns and other tricks to spin the car in a circle.
Nothing new in that you think - then he jams the accelerator and gets out of the car - then stands there while the car spins around him.
As an encore he gets back in the car and drives away.
How amazing is that? Who is going to top it and go one better?
The competition is there, the willingness to play is there, now all it takes is for true Spinning enthusiasts to come forward from all over the world and compete.
Devotees want spinning recognised as a real sport and taken elsewhere in the country — even abroad. But given its roots most of its young fans are black, or coloured and Asian. Barely a handful of white South Africans have ever turned up to watch.
I think, as news of Spinning spreads, there will be a lot of people who want to try this out, from all over the world.
It's the kind of thing that anyone with a car and a driving skill can try - a bit like stock-car or banger racing - and it won't be long before the big boys move in with sponsorship and airtime.
Then we can see it go global.
Think about it - whoever thought that snowboarding would become an Olympic sport - but it only takes enoough viewers to make a "tipping point" for the media - then Spinning will become the "next big thing".
One to watch for the future methinks.
Tags: extreme sports extreme tales spinning