Four-by-four drivers can test their mettle in South Africa’s only, truly national amateur 4×4 competition, the Cooper Dust Series, when it comes to Carnival City on Saturday, May 6.
The event, which invites drivers to show off their 4×4 prowess in a series of 30 obstacles, promises loads of nail-biting competition and tremendous entertainment for spectators.
Three drivers will be selected to go through to the next stage to take place in November.
The first ever Dust Series of events took place in the Western Cape in 2016.
This year, the series of events, now known as the Cooper Dust Series (after Cooper Tyres South Africa came on board as a national naming sponsor and partner), has expanded into Gauteng, the Free State, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga.
The Cooper Dust Series takes place over three events in each region, with the top three finishers in each event qualifying for the finals.
The next best finisher also gains a wild card entry.
The event is open to all street-legal 4×4 vehicles.
From each region, 10 qualifiers will be selected based on where they finish in each event.
These 10 qualifiers from five regions will come together in the Tankwa Karoo in November for a weekend of competing, meeting like-minded individuals and fun, to determine who can wear the crown as the real amateur 4×4 champion in South Africa.
“Whether you have a super modified vehicle, or a stock standard, showroom condition 4×4, the competition is more about your skill, than the capabilities of your 4×4,” says Gerrie van Eeden, the owner of Dust Media.
He founded the first Dust Series event in the Western Cape in 2016 with friend Thys de Jager.
The pair organises the annual WegRy Bull Run and have their finger in the 4×4 and off-road driver training game.
They recognised a distinct lack of 4×4 events that give competitors a bit more than just waiting around all day in order to drive an obstacle or two.
Their philosophy of giving drivers more of a challenge based on all-round skill – rather than vehicle capabilities and aiming between gates – has resulted in the fast and dramatic expansion of the Cooper Dust Series into the rest of the country.
Michelle Smith, the marketing manager at Carnival City says: “We are excited to be part of bringing the Cooper Dust Series to Ekurhuleni, which has a massive 4×4 following.
“There is a clear appetite for motoring and extreme motorsports-related events in our region and we are thrilled to play host to the country’s first national amateur 4×4 competition.”
The event takes place at Carnival City’s new Sun Park.
The fun and games will start at 7.30am and spectators are welcome to come and watch the action. Entrance to the event is free.
Four-by-four drivers who are keen to enter the competition can go to www.dustmedia.co.za for more information.
