01-08-2025
WATCH: Tarlton Raceway ignites with action
From jet-powered monsters and roaring V8s to turbocharged beasts tearing down the strip, Tarlton International Raceway was a petrolhead's paradise during Round 3 of the Regional Drag Racing Championship on July 26.
The air was thick with the scent of burnt rubber, the crack of gear changes, and the thunder of high-performance machines pushing the limits.
About 75 racers lit up the tarmac in front of an electric crowd of 2 500 spectators, with everything from street-legal speedsters to brutal alcohol-modified engines.
'The old V8 engines with their noise remain popular, and there is a whole new generation rising with new technology. We are excited to see what they will achieve. It has become a whole new ballgame,' said Karen Pretorius, senior manager at the Raceway.
Among the rookies was Lisa Prestwood, who took on her first drag in a Toyota 86, and Jeroen Slooten, who made jaws drop in his '71 Ford Mustang Mach 1.
Michael Steyn stunned with a 13.6-second quarter mile in his heavily modified Ford Ranger Raptor.
'I have installed a huge turbo, did an Electronic Control Unit swap, upgraded the software, upgraded the intercooler and exhaust. The bakkie has wheelspin in sixth gear!' he said.
Husband-and-wife duo Craig and Charlotte Czank made a statement of their own, racing a box-shaped Toyota Corolla and a Nissan Champ 1400 with serious upgrades.
On two wheels, Jacques Rossouw had the crowd on its feet, dominating the strip on his Kawasaki H2.
Then came the most anticipated moment of the day – the arrival of Tarlton's legendary jet-engine drag car. As it crept behind the starting line, tension surged. The engine screamed for nearly two minutes, shaking the stands as spectators held their breath.
But in a twist of drama, the jet car unleashed a cloud of smoke … too much of it. When the haze cleared, it was gone –already across the finish line in a blur.
Luckily, those who stayed were rewarded. The jet car returned for one final run, this time clocking in under seven seconds and 410.5km per hour and giving fans the jaw-dropping spectacle they came for.
