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Ivan Zhakata
Lifestyle Correspondent

VEHICLE drifting and spinning popularly known as Burnouts have bounced back after suffering a two-year seat back due to the Covid-19 induced lockdown with the fourth edition of the Blowout Festival set for tomorrow at Borrowdale Racecourse.

Burnouts are the practice of keeping a vehicle stationary and spinning its wheels, causing the tires to heat up and smoke due to friction.

The Blowout Festival is sponsored by Mashwede Holdings and hosted by Arnold “Selekta Base” Chingwerewe and it is running under the theme “A Celebration of Car Culture, Music and Lifestyle”.

Blowout Festival marks the opening of the motor sport season after sports were put to a halt by the Covid-19 induced lockdown.

The lockdown was moved from Level 4 to Level 2 resulting in most sectors of the economy being reopened including sport and outdoor activities with public gatherings limited to 100 people.

2. G335 team drifting on the vehicles at the last burnout in 2019

The Festival which will be done under strict adherence to the Covid-19 regulations is expected to be a high octane event for car fanatics as it will be filled with tyre screeching, burning and action in the big spin field.

Popular stunts men, Goofa, Fat Cat, Jadah, Ice, Cici Boy, Fuzzy, New Boys, Spin Kid, and Saviour are expected to put out their best stunts, battling on the arena, burning and drifting their BMW iS models usually pre 1993, popularly known as the Gusheshe in the motoring circles.

There will be guest spinners from Zambia, Masvingo and Mutare who are also expected to thrill the attendants.

Smoke from burning rubber will engulf the venue as the spinners showcase their styles that are strictly a preserve for the daring.

The event is expected to attract motor-skill fans of various ages and gates to the event are set to open at around 12 noon.

It is likely to be a day of fun as the spinners take turns to burst tyres of their speeding and circling cars in a sport that has brought classic entertainment to various joints in the capital over the past years.

Also taking part at the motor show would be Team Altezza, Team RunX and Team Subaru that are expected to exhibit their skills.

The motor spinners will be complemented by wheel spinners on decks in the form of Judgment Yard, Iroq, Royal DJs, RayDizz, Langton B and Selekta Base.

The renowned DJs will bring their outstanding selections to the event and entertain fun-lovers with various beats.

There will also be music, trail biking, sketch and tattoo artists, static car displays, show and shine competition, sound off, braai and jumping castles and water slides for children’s entertainment.

1. Botswana stunt men G335 motorsport team stand on their vehicles
2. G335 team drifting on the vehicles at the last burnout in 2019
3. Red Lion of the Voltron Force drift on their vehicles in 2019

Children aged 12 and below will be admitted for free while the rest of the arena costs US$5 for ordinary tickets, US$10 for VIP and $20 for VVIP.

Selekta Base said they were having blowout problems in Borrowdale at the Borrowdale Racecourse with people drag racing amid concerns by the local resident.

“In particular, motor sport events, burnouts, is an outdoor car racing activity that shows different car stunts whereby many car spinners showcase their styles that are strictly a preserve for the daring,” he said.

“All ages are expected and our goal is to incorporate companies and give them a chance to market themselves hence we will put company logos on our advertising materials as part of the reach out plan for the event. Corporates and individuals are free to put their banners at the event and tents for brief interaction and presentations with potential clients.

“We will have activities for kids as well, including jumping castles and water slides. It will be a celebration of car culture, music and lifestyle featuring local DJs and artists. BBQ, braai and live instrument entertainment will not be an exception.”

Selekta Base said he was pleased that Borrowdale Racecourse has accepted patronage of their event and supported their initiative and efforts regarding burnouts.

He said the price for corporates to be part of the event was subject to discussion upon their interest and agreement.

“For detailed information contact me so we can set up a meeting and discuss this further and possibly come up with a formal agreement. We are confident that you will find this proposal worth considering and that we will be able to welcome you to our event we have hosted at the race course before,” Selekta Base said.

The smell of burnt tyres filling the air, souped-up cars lining Borrowdale Racecource raceway lane and groups of over-excited youths milling around waiting and watching eagerly as competing cars pull away on a high speed chase will be the order of the day on the Festival.

Ever imagined jumping in and out of the car while it spins or open the bonnet while it is still in motion.

The screeches, the smoke, the raves and the speed with which the spinners exhibit at the burnouts are going to be part of the fun.

Welcome to Harare’s Blowout Festival burnouts, an underground sport that has gained popularity over the years in Zimbabwe.

Burnouts are becoming a popular auto culture in Zimbabwe and drivers love to modify their vehicles and have competition at high speeds.

The country has a veritable population of petrol heads and this can be seen by the growth in popularity in terms of both participants and spectators at drag racing and burnout events.