Mossel Bay Advertiser | Another world record for De Kock, Schoeman

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Another world record for De Kock, Schoeman
08:52 (GMT+2), Mon, 20 August 2012

Photographer Enrico Schoeman (55) and motorsport journalist Andre'de Kock (58) rode their Kawasaki powered Australian sidecar through a fire tunnel of 103.9 metres near Vaalwater.

MOTORING NEWS - One of the planet's most dangerous Guinness World Records was taken by two South Africans in the Limpopo Province town of Vaalwater.

Photographer Enrico Schoeman (55) and motorsport journalist Andre'de Kock (58) rode their Kawasaki powered Australian sidecar through a fire tunnel of 103.9 metres in the main road between Vaalwater and Ellisras. The road was closed for the occasion.

De Kock is well-known motorsport journalist at The Citizen who was recently honoured with the ultimate Lifetime Achievement Award by the SA Guild of Motoring Journalists.

The previous Guinness record for riding a motorcycle through a fire tunnel was held by Indian Superbike rider Shabir Ahluwalia, at a distance of 68.49 metres. He set the record in Mumbai, India, in 2011.
"We have been obsessed with this fire tunnel project for the last two years, always saying that we would stop when we reach a distance of 100 metres. That is now the case, and I am stopping, while I still walk upright," De Kock said.

The South African team's latest fire tunnel was constructed by Khalanga Engineering technicians, who constructed the structure from square steel tubing, draped in several layers of Lothlorien cardboard. It was then doused in diesel and petrol, and set alight via a series of pyrotechnic explosions. Once it was properly alight, the pair rode through the ensuing inferno. Both riders and their motorcycle caught fire in the process.

"Before we were halfway, I could feel I was burning, while the motorcycle was on fire, full scale,"said Schoeman later. Ï just kept the throttle open, aiming in the direction where I could last see the white line on the road," he added. "I could see absolutely nothing but flames and I hoped like hell we were pointing in the right direction," said De Kock. "As we finally exited, the night sky was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen," he said.

Both riders suffered slight burns, while the plastic bits on their crash helmets melted. Proof of the record will be submitted to Guinness in London for official ratification.

(www.promotor.co.za)