Need for speed: Will ‘Robot Races’ keep illegal drag racers off Cape Town's streets?

Cape Town police chase down illegal drag racers on the city’s public roads, but some say this cat-and-mouse game only fans the flames of this dangerous activity. A legal alternative called “Robot Races” has been implemented at Killarney Raceway. Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith has asked for more funding for this attempt to get illegal racers off public roads, but will he achieve his goal?
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[@lindonk20]

The guy drove a 1.4i golf how was he gonna get away?

[@orangeman9237]

By taking a shortcut.

[@Mothercityguy]

lol

[@morndrewitbooi1896]

We need a autobahn in Cape Town

[@wilhelmsmit8393]

People out there stabbing each other nothing is done about that but people racing once a week on the highway at 3am with no body around gets ripped out the car and thrown on the ground!!

[@RedLorryYellowLorry_]

Of all the crime and wrong doings in South Africa they take this more serious... I'm not justifying this act but they act like super soldiers towards teenagers in a car but cant tackle real problems in SA, the government dishes out big bucks for ghost squad vehicles like fancy Lexus and GTI's but cant spend it on tackling gangstersim...these racers are punks but the cops are usless punks.

[@benjaminneethling1565]

Agree, they are to damn scared

[@mohlomphehi]

Street racers are an easy source of revenue for the government. That's all there is to it. Combating hardened criminals is not lucrative and it presents alot of logistical challenges.

[@j4559]

FACTS!!!!!

[@Piquant-ro4ff]

So true

[@torsteinrocks]

😂 Try and catch us in that Lexus and VW in America

[@miralemnermina142]

They have a lot of fast JDM cars in the uk, but of course police don't go after +700hp Supras

[@Dax60roll]

Why treat these people like they are criminals? What about the way taxi drivers carry on? If you catch someone speeding and you need to arrest them do it with abit of humanity FFS.

[@YusufPetersenCPT]

yaa they really do treat them like criminals but every day taxi bastards get away with it day in and day out and they are resposible for much more lives..

[@Pynoxim1]

Yeah, I mean, I don't condone illegal street racing but sheesh, is this is what our taxpayers money is going towards? All those unroadworthy vehicles that I see everyday, those taxi's that are half falling apart, almost pushing people off the roads with their terrible driving. I'm pretty sure street racing incidents make up a minority compared to other traffic offences, then again I don't have any hard evidence, it's just a best guess.

[@rickywright9140]

I agree with you guys 100% just this morning a stupid taxi driver almost ran me over with my bike and yes i also do some racing on the streets with my bike bud damn don't the cops have Anything better to do

[@office4smstande541]

@@YusufPetersenCPT are you serious do you own a fast BMW and have you been to advanced driving session. I don't think so comes free with expensive cars

[@YusufPetersenCPT]

@@office4smstande541 No, I own a W204 chassis mercedes i have been for advanced driving with BMW/Mini and i had my run in with the ghost sqaud back in the day i learned from it and you need to know the facts before commenting the way you do. My point is that they are not criminals the real criminals get treated better. I get that if you reckless and negligent you get whats coming to you but there are worst things out there.

[@CybertronGangsta]

take some bribe money from Bosasa and build these ou's a drag strip

[@slickidrich490]

Wow ripped out the car and slammed to the ground for drag racing 🤔

[@capeofstormz5974]

and what if he hit your family or friends' car killing someone?

[@esthetics4512]

@@capeofstormz5974in the freakin morning get real dude only people driving from 1 to 3am are people coming back from grooves

[@jodashnarrandes2106]

@@esthetics4512Are you fucken dumb? Please don’t be this stupid 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@surburbanzen]

Let's be honest... If you are driving at high speeds in peak traffic... Then yes you are endangering others, but if a person is driving at 160 kmph on the highway at 3 in the morning, there is not really anyone else to endanger is there XD

[@office4smstande541]

Sorry you don't make sense. You obviously can't drive like that in peak traffic. Its bumper to bumper.. So please explain

[@dylanvanjaarsveld4999]

Poes dom

[@darrennaude7532]

You are still breaking the law regardless,you will get arrested at that speed

[@capeofstormz5974]

Your logic indicates that you have a very low IQ.

[@kylejanson5593]

They can't just implement a strategy and expect racers to be happy, get a survey going at killarney to see what the racers prefer, street to strip fridays are taken away and now they can only race on a wednesday when they've got work the next day. Street to strip should be brought back and the entry fee should be brought down otherwise they'll just go out on a friday evening and race their hearts out where the ain't no entry fee and work the next day

[@zuzuonthatbeat]

They can do this but they can't evens stop the dangerous taxi drivers. Mmm... They have nothing better to do.

[@mikekhal1477]

Damn they acting like the caught some drug king pin. Lmao when its just a normal person tryna have fun

[@TheVlekkie123]

Mike Khal Until they take a life. Use your mind

[@TheVlekkie123]

Mike Khal Until they take a life. Use your mind.

[@mikekhal1477]

Dillon Morgan before a race 99% of the time they check and make sure no cars are in the way or people. Only way life will be taken if racer is runing from cops, or its some stupid people racing in a busy street witch bearly ever happens

[@hhpieterse2693]

Its SA u can get away with murder

[@TheLightningwrath]

Hey at least they don't shoot your ass like here in the states xD you can even pull over and BAMS GUNS OUT

[@terabyt9007]

Build a 24 hour drag strip

[@joshuakor4thewin49]

your moms Brazilian my friend

[@leemurray1641]

Much slower than US street racing

[@orangeman9237]

Yep. In the US, the cars have 700+hp or more and they run 165+ mph on the highway. South Africa Doesn't have the performance modifications like the US does.

[@Jadfitree]

andd the arab dubai modified the suv into supercars killer

[@the2jznoshit828]

lmao if only the law showed same motivation and dedication in hanover park and mannenberg areas

[@repentsinner6647]

That guy in the golf looks like he just came out of work

[@nathanramplin5985]

Lol. Why didn't you add ' police blocks off both exits after legal racing takes place at killarney to take some lisence disk discouraging the average Joe from spectating or participating in legal racing ".. Cause you should. It happens very often at robot2robot. I'm in no way a supporter or spectator of illegal racing nights/events but police will target racers no matter where they are or what they are doing. Legal or illegal there's a mark on the back of every person attending or participating. Makes no difference . Just my 2 cents.

[@greengorilla_mtb]

Get the cops to join in on the fun at robot racing, seeing that "they need the police". Could be quite entertaining watching and racing cop cars

[@gareth_ross]

Seriously lmao. So many cops to pull over a guy in a citi golf

[@shano_drags5390]

He might be armed.

[@camron5274]

Britain puts too much effort towards violently dealing with law offenders of any sort, and not enough towards actually running the country properly

[@tangomike15]

I know your comment is 4 years old, but this is South Africa…not Britain.

[@GlobalMongrel]

Robot drag races have been going on since before I was a teen driving in Cape Town. We used to race all around Goodwood, Khayelitsha and Table View that was in the late 1980's

[@esthetics4512]

How was the scene back then?

[@YusufPetersenCPT]

it will help if they make it cheaper..it used to be 50bucks entry and now its 60bucks just to stand there i dont get anything not even a decent seat thats why end of the month this place is empty but after pay day its packed.. gov or road and traffic law should give these places money and help make it way more affordable fo people to come and do this get them off the streets

[@nikeelm]

lol atleast you guys have a track boet ..here in dbn we have nothing ... so the guys use whatever they can to have a lil fun .yes drag racing on the streets is bad and i don't condone this behavior,however most of the time drags racing happens in dead quite roads in industrial parks where there shouldnt/minimal be any civilian traffic at night .Once again i don't condone this behavior.BUT THIS IS HOW IT IS

[@durbanassassincosta5982]

Free to stand alongside the road here in Durban racing every Saturday nights our only track is about 1 and a half hours drive away .

[@wesleystuurman2947]

Give us a road👌

[@darrennaude7532]

That unfortunately won't happen

[@butlersracing7692]

These naaiers tried to catch me the other night because I blew a Roadblock with my bike. It lasted about 30 minutes through the streets of Goodwood and surrounds. Golf 8.5 was quick but come now.... I'm hitting those speeds in First😂. Also I saw you run through that red robot at high speed and nearly took out silver Fiat Uno with whole family in it. That's why I flipped yall the bird. Ghost squad are dangerous and above the law themselves. I will not stop for a bunch of twats that could be stopping the Taxi Drivers instead.

[@esthetics4512]

💯💯💯

[@brunopt2406]

This is some Need for speed most Wanted shit right here.

[@lucianoaliquo6629]

More police men shot there wifes last year that people dieing in elegal races please get your officers metal help

[@MADworx]

They do such perfect jobs on the race scene but not really on the gangsterism, drugs, rapes, kidnapping, hijacking, smash and grab etc... much more important things than this

[@hhpieterse2693]

I say build a race way in every town and make it free so whe racers can race save.we pay a lot of tax..we racers love speed so no matter what the cops do we wil not stop..its hard woords but its true woords...

[@MrDjvas]

Who's gonna pay for that race way? Because race tracks ain't cheap........ plus here in the states it cost like 350 almost 400 USD a day just to go to a track day...... and that's 1 day.....

[@Ben_Z33]

So much more serious shit happening in SA but they traget street racing 3AM the moring where the streets are open to enjoy your car 🤦‍♂️

[@ishaanravjee2587]

Racers must race , cops must eat donuts

[@Mothercityguy]

Guy at the end is ridiculous thats why there is Killarney where you can race your heart out

[@joshuakor4thewin49]

What Did Nelson MAndela and Paul walker have in common? ... Both Died at 95

[@user-im1jq3lw2l]

Joshua KOr4theWin you thought you did something there, didn’t you?

[@laverndaniels5238]

Why so much force and man power needed to remove a Driver from he's vehicle....I would like to see the same effort used on Taxi drivers who disobey the rules of the road on a daily basis in Cape Town,double standards....kom reg manne asb.

[@deongovender5970]

What amazes me is that we need cops to fight crime, people getting robbed, house break ins etc. Instead our wonderful police only worries about street racers who are not stealing or selling drugs etc. The other thing the police likes to care about is couples sitting in their car and kissing. The police is too scared to do anything else yet they are employed to protect SA citizens but what exactly do they protect when they stop street racers and couples kissing in their car. I can use some choice words about our wonderful police...

[@Visionery1]

Roll out some spiked chains, that'll quickly end illegal drag racing.

[@moaincarr5722]

Go pull the gangsters out of their cars like that man 🤣 easy to do this to normal people but yous are scared to stop the real crimes

[@Deanowp]

The footage of the accident was not capture by zackery daniels

[@_BrettHamblin_]

0:47 Dak Taken

[@glynnodendaal6041]

That was not nessery to pull that guy out his car 😠😠😠

[@TheVlekkie123]

Glynn Odendaal It is

[@WilliamPetersen01]

The camerman was there, they had to show off

[@orangeman9237]

This country needs to build more drag racing so there wont be so full on the drag strip

[@denizo9263]

Need for speed games have a million PSAs saying **DON'T DO THIS IN REAL LIFE YOU FUCK** but they still do it despite the PSAs. Wtf.

[@wahid3837]

0:52 how the did this bru manage to hit the only car there

[@TheLightningwrath]

I'll ask this question every time. Why don't the cops just invest in some faster cars themselves.

[@munnahosen8567]

govermant must give a separet road.

[@paulthoma9858]

Last night from OR Tambo I saw this again on the N12.HOW ABOUT PUTTING YHE DRIVERS IN PRISON FOR SIX MONTHS AND PASSENGERS NOT LESS THAN 2 MONTHS

[@zuzuonthatbeat]

I live my life a 1/4 mile at a time for those 10 seconds I feel free and nothing can stop me

[@antongrobler3781]

Get faster wheels

[@aldocruz9249]

Watching this from America is funny asf🤣😭😭 in NYC/NJ this is normal.

[@office4smstande541]

Own fast cars never ever been on a advanced driving lesson which comes free if you buy a proper fast car. Fools want to own it but don't know how to control if idiotz

[@tonybotha3917]

Yes please do it in every city I will pay to drag and watch plus it will be safer for all road users

[@frankoliver7748]

Good efforts from JP and team. I am accustomed to the drag scene since my younger days where i frequented Sacks Circle and Bypass including Sasol Belhar. It really is not so much about the drags or about who beats who (for a minority this is the case) but for the onlookers it is about the parkoff, sipping on ciders/beers, rounding off the weekend in anticipation of week's work. Girls/Guys come out to spy on each other and hook up with each other. Was never about the races.

[@henryM22x]

So whens the next robot racing event😂😂😂😂

[@_JINXgamingcpm]

if people want to drag race...let them drag race...but they must at least have ambulance for safety reasons

[@darrennaude7532]

Why must we waste our tax money on these idiots when is people that urgent medical care that cant get it,get your priorities straight

[@pierredubois2343]

JP, dri ve down koeberg and potsdam road on a weekday morning and afternoon, you WILL see real criminals in the form of taxis. not some guy in a 1.4i golf. we mos soft targets. ive seen on multiple occasions taxis going through red robots while the cops are sitting in the myciti bus lane, but dont let me do it oh no. ill get a fine,court date and a tow to stikland and after 2 months i can get my car back with half the parts stolen off. yeah ok cool ill respect cops....

[@van_der_lindeDA]

Please go fight real crime with armed robbers and rapists...Please...this is pathetic

[@rajboman4042]

Agree that is police brutallity unneccessary....not resisting arrest yet treated like that. Totally wrong.

[@lunathimpongoshe4017]

Bby

[@darrennaude7532]

@@rajboman4042 shouldn't be racing in the first place...

[@GustavTessa]

Robot races is the answer.

[@carcrazyguysa4059]

Im all for performance cars and the fun and joy they give a car guy but a line must be drawn somewhere! These people are just flat out irresponsible drivers. If you want to push your car to high speeds please take it to a safe closed off track.

[@gareth_ross]

Said every Ford Figo driver ever.

[@carcrazyguysa4059]

@@gareth_ross hahaha no offense but the Ford Figo is a shit car!😫 I wouldn't even dare look at one eeew. Im fine with my Polo GTI 😂

[@Esplodeing]

Could be out doing worse things

[@varaszntv9157]

are u then jas, naaiers

[@boostinmk7ca853]

Vw dubs all day !

[@glen7228]

What a joke, driverless racecars will never replace street racing. And driving is the best part. Who would give up driving his/her car? No one.

[@silvertongue3003]

You got it all wrong, deceptive header, in South Africa they also call traffic lights, robots. So when it says robot racing they mean the racing happening from traffic lights to traffic lights and also in this case the amber and green starting lights at a professional drag racing strip. 😉

[@visionmediaphotography1096]

Leave us alone and let us be

[@rosemarydudley9954]

This is not "drag racing" Drag racing is run by 2 specially designed cars over a 1/4 mile strip. To stop, they have to use parachutes! I believe they use high quality jet engine fuel? Google drag racing and you will see what I mean.

[@VWPirates]

You don't have a clue! Go do the dishes!