Greylene the Suzuki Jimny Conquers Sani Pass
After I moved to South Africa in August 2010, my very first cross-border trip was to Mokhotlong, Lesotho. Although Mokhotlong is right next to Sani Pass, we didn’t have time to drive it on [...]
Spinning: South Africa’s Craziest Homegrown Motorsport
I have never had any interest in motorsports. I’ve probably watched less than five minutes of Formula 1 and NASCAR (combined) over the course of my entire life. I haven’t watched a single Fast [...]
A Stance Car Park-Off at FNB Stadium
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 [...]
Greylene the Suzuki Jimny Hits the Road
For those of you who didn't see on social media already, I bought a car. Her name is Greylene and she is a 2022 Suzuki Jimny. Greylene and me in front of a weird [...]
This Is the East: Rock Raceway in Brakpan
Second in an occasional blog series called This Is the East, featuring hidden spots on Johannesburg’s East Rand. Have you ever gone to a place where you feel like an alien, even though you're surrounded [...]
Five Tips for Dealing With a Car Accident in South Africa
There I was, minding my own business at a red robot (robot means "traffic light" in South African). Suddenly -- crash! -- a sickening crunch from behind, and I sat helplessly as my car slid into [...]
A Major Shift
If you read 2Summers regularly, you know I have transport issues. I've been living in car-centric Joburg for two years and have never owned a car. I get around by walking, cycling, begging rides, and [...]
The Car Spa: What Every Jozi Car Needs
Life is hard for a Jozi car. Parking spaces are small here. Street lanes are narrow and sometimes unpaved. Potholes are ubiquitous. Road rage rules. Cars share the road with minibus taxis – mighty [...]
An American Girl’s Guide to Driving in Johannesburg
I put it off for as long as I could. I let my boyfriend chauffeur me everywhere, even though it didn’t feel right. I bought a bicycle. I called taxis. I accepted rides from friends. [...]