Exhilarating! That is how actor Morgan Freeman describes it. Freeman and fellow actor John Travolta are among a growing number of well-heeled people who choose the skies to avoid the inconvenience of congested roads. Flying to and from work has become second nature for them as they own their private machines.
Expensive is, perhaps, the best way to describe the hobby of flying. But that is not stopping the trend from picking up in SA - even if some of those who are showing interest don't yet have private jets of their own. It's the exhilaration of defying the laws of gravity that drives them.
WHAT IT MEANS
 Options on offer include flying, motorsport and polo
These require guts, in addition to money
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The Wits Flying Club - which, in addition to offering flight training, defines itself as "a social club where aviation enthusiasts gather" - is one of many clubs that has seen a huge surge in interest in the activity. But with the current economic downswing, the activity does become rather prohibitive because of fuel costs and other maintenance costs.
Based in Lanseria, the club offers a range of benefits to people who join and train at its establishment. Knowledge of mathematics and science is a bonus in training towards obtaining a pilot's licence, says Wits Flying Club administrator Robyn Fullbeck.
"A pupil would have to fly a minimum of 45 hours and complete eight written subject exams before obtaining a private pilot's licence. So it all depends on how hard one is prepared to study and how many hours it takes for them to become competent." Acquiring a licence can cost up to R50 000. For those planning to use their licences to pilot those private jets for others, a further qualification for a commercial pilot's licence is a must. To obtain that an extra 200 hours of flying time is needed.
However, for the adrenalin junkies who prefer to stay off the skies, there is the equally exciting sport of motor rallying. For this one, as well, money and guts are all one needs to pursue rallying.
Gugu Zulu
Isando Sport 2000 championship winner Gugu Zulu started this thrilling sport in 1999. His triumphs behind the wheel have earned him the moniker "Fastest Brother in Africa". Last year Zulu won the National Class A5 Championship and has since moved up to Class A7.
He says there is a growing interest in the sport, which he describes as a form of motor competition that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars.
"This motorsport is distinguished by running not on a circuit, but instead in a point-to-point format in which participants and their codrivers drive between set control points (stages), leaving at regular intervals from one or more start points. Rallies may be won by pure speed within the stages or by driving to a predetermined ideal journey time within the stages.
"Track racing, on the other hand, is done around a circuit and all cars race at the same time, with the aim of crossing the finish line first after a predetermined number of laps," he says.
Though Zulu loves the sport, he acknowledges that it is rather expensive and tends to be more of a hobby than a profession. "Unfortunately, motorsport in SA is not an industry like it is in Europe or the US. That's why after a weekend race meeting I report to a desk job on a Monday." Zulu is also the A1 Team SA commercial manager.
Though the costs might be prohibitive for some, there is another option. "One can get a sponsor. Usually, people fund their first entry into motorsport and, provided they do well, they get noticed by teams and companies who in turn sponsor them in return for brand exposure," he says.
But for those who are purely interested in the sport as a hobby and have disposable cash, privately-owned cars are an option. Zulus says attending actual events and rallies also allows one to choose the options that best suit one's pocket - these include purchasing a second-hand car.
Mining magnate Tokyo Sexwale has also taken an interest in the sport and is now supporting Adrian Zaugg, one of SA's shining stars in motorsport.
"I believe SA is motorsport starved, especially of international events. In the past, F1, Superbikes and Sports Car Racing used to visit our shores and we had huge crowds in the stands. But now because of the rising costs of staging such events, we have to resort to watching them on TV," says Zulu.
"However, with renewed interest in motorsport and finally having a team that represents SA in the World Cup of motorsport, I believe all that has sparked a huge interest in the fast world of racing. Also, the rise of the likes of Lewis Hamilton has helped attract a new market that was previously not tuned to motorsport."
The local scene has also witnessed a tremendous growth in motorcycling, with particular interest in superbikes. Women too are showing immense interest in the sport with Desiree Wilson in F1 as well as Danica Patrick, Jennifer Murry and Ntombi Maselela also coming to the front.
Another exciting, but not adrenalin-driven sport is polo. The sport has not grown much over the past 10 years but it has a tremendous appeal.
SA Polo Association executive director Bridget Macduff says the sport has, however, attracted a number of women. "It is an extremely exciting sport to play and combines the skills needed for so many other sports - the riding skills of a jockey, hand-eye co-ordination of a golfer or cricketer and the physical strength and raw courage of a rugby player," she says.
Polo games are also highly popular social events. Says Macduff: "No other sport has the same niche market as polo. It is associated with top market brands and, as such, it attracts a social element among spectators. It also is very popular with corporates wanting to host clients and show off with the smartest served lunches or champagne picnics. This adds hugely to the vibe of the day."
