The Gas Motor Show is unlike any other, and this past weekend, Durban played host to a car show for the people. Personalisation and burning rubber were the aim of the game, and the limit to creativity was quite literally limitless.
Gas doesn’t separate the showroom from the enthusiast. It’s a show where the enthusiasts take centre stage at an event so personalised and customised that it drew the attention of one of Hollywood’s best-known petrolheads.
Lines poured out onto the ring road around the SunCoast Casino, entertained by the hordes of modified cars arriving in the parking lot. There was a keen sense of excitement rising across the thousands of faces lining the gate. As it was our first time attending the Gas Motor Show, the noise of sound systems and tyres screaming in the distance piqued our curiosity. We had an idea of what we were heading into, but this event seemed different.
We learnt quickly, spotting the slammed Tiguan on airbags, the wrapped McLarens, and the spotless Citi Golfs with carbon bucket seats, that this isn’t the location to necessarily celebrate brands, but rather an opportunity to witness South African ingenuity at its finest. There wasn’t a single manufacturer’s banner in sight, as the metal on display was proudly prepared by their owners. On one side, brand-new BMW M3s lined the exterior of a dome tent, each suited to a different purpose. Notably, one of these angry M3s appeared fairly familiar or standard, but upon closer inspection, it revealed an exhaust exit in the bonnet and a parachute bolted to the rear.
Next to that sat two legends: one a Mazda FD RX-7 with the iconic Fast and Furious body kit, and the other a Toyota Mk4 Supra with nothing more than a few carbon-fibre bits to liven up the exterior and the largest drag slicks I have seen on a car with a number plate. But that’s the Gas Festival… It’s a place where we celebrate why we love cars as a whole, not solely what cars we love. There was something for everyone, but it also had a keen focus on sound.
Exhausts popped and banged, shoving the air out of the tents through constant shockwaves. Sound systems thumped through your chest, and MUA was in the thick of it all. By now, it should be expected: where there is special metal, MUA is never far away, and this year, with the help of the Cobra Club, MUA offered enthusiasts the opportunity to get hands-on with some gorgeous American muscle, some of which was made here in SA. They provided a breath of fresh air and classic appreciation for those who needed a break from the tyre-shredding, giving patrons a chance to interact with the MUA team and try their luck at a little timing game for prizes.
Gas also offered fans an opportunity to get up close and personal with the drift zone where South Africa’s greatest spinners gave us – and Sung Kang (Han from Fast and Furious) – a first-hand taste of South African motorsport. Team Sideways displayed a crash course in spinning, and the team at XS Drift put on a proper drifting show by throwing a few trucks into their skidding repertoire as a cherry on top.
The Gas Motor Show is a show for the people. A place where prized possessions take centre stage and imagination is the selling point. There are no standard cars to gawk at, only unique builds and devoted owners sharing their passion with like-minded enthusiasts. It’s a purist’s worst nightmare, but to the fans present, it was the best day of the year.
