Cape Town - Good Hope FM presenter DJ Ready D was at the Killarney circuit on Wednesday to launch his new youth development programme.
And we can testify that G-CAP (the Great Cape Ambassador Squad) is the ultimate, legal adrenalin rush in the Cape.
Ready D says they want to show youngsters that they can have fun with their cars without endangering the lives of other road users.
“We aim to promote safety on the roads,” he said, “and have the youth realise there is so much more to the sport of drifting than the danger they present when doing it illegally.”
“Killarney Raceway and the City of Cape Town have come on board with this because we will be making our roads safer and helping people.
“Today we want to just get a few of the kids out here and give them a taste of the skills we can teach them.”
He believes Cape Flats youths need to be exposed to more than just gang violence, poverty and drugs.
“The media reports about these things all the time, but we want to show our kids we are more than just that,” he said. “We have the adrenalin, but they have to want the safe rush.”
The G-CAP programme includes motivational talks, life skills programmes and road safety lessons.
Also at the launch was the City’s mayoral committee member forsafety and security JP Smith, who said he welcomed any initiative assisting youngsters.
“Road safety gets lost with all the other things our kids have to learn, and and having Ready D focusing on this sport passes on a credible message.
“Hopefully this will reduce my 2am calls from residents complaining about illegal racing.”
TAKING EVERYONE FOR A SPIN
Ready D works with his wife Malika and brother Anwar Daniels, and on Wednesday the three hot rods tore up the track in the warm-up runs, taking everyone for a spin.
Malika had everyone gasping with her mad skills.
“I love what I do,” she said, “and if we can get just a few kids at a time to practice the sport safely, then I’ll be happy.”
Anwar is also the one who works on all the cars: “This is such a valuable sport, it teaches control but allows for so much freedom,” he explained. “We want the kids to learn to love safe driving and get away from the illegal street activities.
“Why let your child be a crackhead - when he can be a petrolhead instead?”
A nervous Keenan Phillips, 16, was the first to take a spin.
“Oh my word, I love racing and drifting,” he said afterwards. “That was epic.”
Jade Magerman, 15, was overjoyed with her spin.
“I can’t wait for the programme to start,” she said. “so I can learn to be as good as D and Malika. She’s kwaai.”
Even JP Smith was taken for a spin.
Getting out of the black and gold drift car, his face blood red, JP said: “That’s the best fun you can have with your clothes on.”
Daily Voice