Some of you might remember a post I wrote last year about bicycle spinning and stance in Soweto. The bicycle stance subculture, which is the art of transforming regular bikes into flamboyant showpieces that ride very close to the ground, stemmed from the car stance culture — same thing, but with cars.
A great example of a stance car — a classic Toyota Tazz. As you can see, the undercarriage hovers just centimeters above the tarmac and the tires are almost all rim, with very little rubber.
On Sunday I went to a stance car “Park-Off”, also referred to as “Stance Church”, in a parking lot just off Nasrec Road across from FNB Statdium. Five of us — Percy, bicycle stance aficionado and @Sentech_Croozers founder who tipped us off to the Park-Off, Kristen, Nigel, Sipho, and me — squeezed into Greylene and made the short drive from Brixton to Nasrec. We spent a few hours roaming the parking lot, admiring the low-slung cars, listening to revving engines and popping exhaust pipes, trying to figure out what the heck was going on.
The Park-Off. FNB Stadium, also known as Soccer City, is in the background. The event was hosted by @Equipped_Worx_Official.Our crew (left to right: Nigel, Percy, Sipho, and Kristen) with Greylene, who, with her comfortably high clearance, is the opposite of a stance car.Tailgating with Kristen and Greylene. (Photo: Percy Zimuto)
I won’t try too hard to explain what stance is about, as I will inevitably get it wrong and sound like an idiot. Instead I will show you lots of pictures that Percy and I took. (Percy is also a photographer and we took turns shooting with my camera.)
Bluetooth, ready to pair.Tall man, short car.This VW Beetle has one of my favorite interiors.Stance reflections.This car wins the 2Summers Park-Off award for prettiest color scheme — love it.The upholstery evokes the inside of a womb.The 2Summers Park-Off winner for best rims.Percy wins the 2Summers Park-Off award for best dressed, and we found a car that matched him. For more pictures of this car, check out @mikhail_esbaxh.The VW Golf, probably South Africa’s most beloved car, was obviously well-represented at the Park-Off. But stance isn’t limited to vintage VWs and Toyotas. We saw modern Ford hatchbacks, Renaults, Hyundais, Fiats, and many more.I love the low-slung bakkies (pickups).This car’s name is Papa Smurf. (Photo: Percy Zimuto)You may be wondering, as I did, how these cars actually move. I obviously don’t have the technical knowledge to properly explain it, but the cars have air compressor systems that the driver uses to automatically raise and lower the car’s suspension. Nonetheless, we often heard the nails-on-chalkboard sound of undercarriage scraping pavement. Making that sound seems to be part of the thrill. (Photo: Percy Zimuto)I like this color too — hue of a pollution-laced Jozi sunset.Hyundai i10 in the house.Stance sunset.
The Low Limbo Stance Competition
We had hoped to see some spinning, but Percy suspected that wouldn’t start until much later in the evening. We did, however, catch the delightful “Low Limbo” competition, which is pretty much exactly the way it sounds: the Limbo for cars. A makeshift Limbo pole is erected in the parking lot and cars try to squeeze under the pole at its lowest possible height. The judges carry tape measures to confirm the winner.
Papa Smurf does the Low Limbo.There was a lot of good-natured chaos occurring around this competition — I have no idea who won. But it was so much fun. The drivers often lowered their suspension as we watched.Spectators pile inside — and on top of — the cars to weigh them down and make them lower. (Photo: Percy Zimuto)This one made it under.Everyone, win or lose, seemed to have a great time.Low Limbo spectators who came all the way from Pretoria. Hubbly Bubbly (or hookah) was the number one pastime at the Park-Off; the air was thick with flavored smoke.
Stance culture seemingly makes no sense in a place like Joburg, where potholes proliferate and the roads aren’t always even paved. But maybe that’s exactly why this trend is so big here: because Joburgers relish a good challenge. We live our lives like low-slung Citigolfs, navigating dark, pock-marked city streets, surviving and thriving despite all odds. Whatever the reason for it, I applaud the effort.
These events happen regularly on Sunday afternoons and the venue is easy to find. If you want to stay informed, @Stance_Church_Worldwide and @Equipped_Worx_Official are good accounts to follow.
It is always a treat to get a notification in email from this blog. I would never do that to a vehicle, but what a fascinating practice. Also love the beautiful colours of these vehicles. Looks like they all had a blast of a time.
You do find the most fascinating events….and a happy memory for me. Back in the day, (circa 1959) the rural boys in my Connecticut town would do something to their 50s era tank cars so the front stuck up and the rear bumper dragged on the ground. They would peel out of the high school parking lot in a shower of sparks and cheers from admiring girls. Cue pause for them to comb their duck-tail hair, chew gum and smirk….while the school Principal ran out of his office screaming. Fun!
I’m an American writer/blogger/photographer living a quirky life in Johannesburg. Follow along as I explore Johannesburg, South Africa, and the rest of the world.
Looks like such a fun event, the black car with the best rims is like mine, that made me happy. Great photos of some really cool cars.
I knew you would like that!
It is always a treat to get a notification in email from this blog. I would never do that to a vehicle, but what a fascinating practice. Also love the beautiful colours of these vehicles. Looks like they all had a blast of a time.
Yes, it was a truly feel-good event. Driving a car like this also seems like my worst nightmare but it was fun to watch 🙂
That is quite the sexy Beetle. Wow. However do these guys make it home in their cards without losing their chassis?
Haha. They have air suspension that raises the car up to a normal height.
You do find the most fascinating events….and a happy memory for me. Back in the day, (circa 1959) the rural boys in my Connecticut town would do something to their 50s era tank cars so the front stuck up and the rear bumper dragged on the ground. They would peel out of the high school parking lot in a shower of sparks and cheers from admiring girls. Cue pause for them to comb their duck-tail hair, chew gum and smirk….while the school Principal ran out of his office screaming. Fun!
Ha! The more things change…
https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/press/release/desert-rider-dreaming-motion-explores-lowrider-and-skateboard-culture-southwestern-u
cool! Thanks for sharing, Donna.
Even as a resident of the land of low riders, I am impressed! And envious. Nowadays. SoCal cars and trucks are constantly being jacked up. I hate it.
Interesting that men in particular seem to have a fixation with both raising and lowering cars.
Yes. I don’t know how it became an extension of manhood, but it is very much a male thing.
The sun stance makes a lot of sense Lol! I would love to read what happens to these cars after the spinning competitions.
Spinning is hard on a car, I’m sure! But I think they just keep getting rebuilt again and again.