Need For Speed

South African drag racing legend Willie Nel on his love for setting tyres on fire.

BEFORE A RUN, all gets checked in the pits, making sure that all is in order. I take the car to the starting line and wait, me and my Chevy as one. I sit in the car, slip on my helmet, strap myself tightly into the seat, flip some switches, and fire up the beast. Take off.

In gear, the Chevy moves into the racing line on the strip. Water is poured onto the rear wheels. With my foot on the brake pedal, I open the throttle and the rear wheels spin, lighting up the tyres, inducing heat and clouds of smoke… something the crowd loves.