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Soweto Drift Academy to train 15 women for 1st annual Spinna Lebeema Gal fest on Women's Day

Pule Earm Motloung (35) is a Soweto based car spinning promoter who is also Chairperson of Kasi Road Safety, an organisation that promotes road safety all over Gauteng. 

Although Pule is still Chairman of Kasi Road Safety, he is also the founder of Soweto Drift Academy (SDA), a 100% black owned and managed motorsport business situated at the FNB Stadium Precinct on the edge of Soweto.
 
SDA has the support of Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA), custodians of the FNB Stadium, and the City of Johannesburg Community Development Department (COJ_CommDev), and with their help Pule has been able to develop a dedicated spinning / motorsport arena near the FNB Stadium – the perfect location for a safe motorsport facility. 

SDA does not only focus on spinning, but also promotes road safety, advanced driving and introduces youngsters to karting, quad biking, etc.



What else do you think can be done to get more women involved in motorsport?  Email us




Pule Earm says: "We hope to inspire change and champion the inclusion of all those who would like to participate in motorsport professionally, especially young people (male and female) from previously disadvantaged backgrounds."

Stakeholders like SDA are long overdue, as petrol runs freely in the veins of many young people for whom traditional motorsport has never really been an option. Black motorsport role models, such as the late Gugu Zulu, are few and far between and very little has been done over the years to change this.

       Some of the contestants who will participate in the first annual Spinna LaBeema Gal contest. Image: Lens Express

There are even fewer black females involved in motorsport, and SDA is determined to address this with their new initiative / programme: Spinna LeBeema Gal. This innovative competition recently invited women to apply for training to become fully-fledged female spinners.

"I decided with my team to develop this concept in order to advocate, support and promote women’s involvement in road safety and motorsport," says Pule Earm.

"Many industries have developed barriers that are discriminatory towards females, and through this exciting programme we aim to break some of these barriers and give women a fair chance to compete in spinning and motorsport."
 
Criteria for selection included a minimum age of 18 years, some general knowledge regarding motorsport, driving skills and above all, a passion for the sport. The initial programme was over-subscribed, and the first interview stage resulted in the selection of 15 potential female spinning stars, rather than the 10 in the original plan.

The lucky finalists will now be trained in a practical programme by SDA’s experienced and professional spinning instructors.

#SpinnaLeBeemaGAL

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The training course includes learning to perform 'Donuts, Figures of Eight, Roll-backs and Burnouts', and also covers physical fitness, mechanical training and general car related training. This will be done by placing the ladies as interns in various workshops close to their places of residence.

"Interestingly enough,” says Pule Earm, "the majority of the women who applied are above 30 years old, with two in their early forties. They come from all areas, including Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Mogale City and of course, City of Joburg. Most of them have been following motorsport generally, not necessarily car spinning only, and they have been looking for an opportunity like this one for many years.”

   Some of the contestants who will participate in the first annual Spinna LaBeema Gal contest. Image: Lens Express


The 15 female finalists will make their public spinning debut in front of thousands of spinning fans on 9th August 2018, during SDA’s first ever female spinners’ event: 1st Annual Women’s Day Spin Fest. The ladies will be teamed up with their instructors for support and will spin in a freestyle format for the crowds. Their performance will be supported by a competition for some of the best female spinners in the country.

Spinners such as Tina Rossouw (WC), Cleo Quickfall (WC), Allison Fortuin (FS), Felicia van Staden (NW) and Kaylin Mikayla (Kayla - NC) will compete against each other for the crown of best female spinner.

The event is open to the public. Gates open at 12h00 and the event continues until midnight.

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