There are many skills one learns as a professional cricketer. In the heat of the moment one must be composed, keep calm and have a whole lot of patience. These skills helped me in the exhilarating challenges of the Volvo Big Drive, writes Makhaya Ntini.
The Volvo Big Drive kicked off in early April and on the 20th of that month we were handed our vehicles and even got the chance to test them out on Kyalami Race Track. The track, slalom races and skid-pan experiences were such fun and definitely helped us prepare for what lay ahead.
Me and the other two ambassadors; the beautiful actress and singer KB Motsilanyane and designer Gert-Johan Coetzee, were paired with the Volvo that best suited our personalities.
KB was given the sassy S60, which suited her fast-paced musical lifestyle best. Volvo SA decided to pair Gert-Johan with the C30 as this beauty best resembles his artistic nature and zippy lifestyle. I, of course was paired with the XC60 because of its muscle, speed and rugged good looks.
The first leg of the Volvo Big Drive was to find each of us a co-driver, to help us through the challenges. Thousands of members of the public entered, which I found extremely flattering!
I was paired with Nerusha Moodley, a dedicated and focused woman who was a brilliant co-driver. We were a perfect match for the upcoming challenges, which marked the second phase of the Volvo Big Drive.
The Volvo Big Drive saw us competing in four challenges that tapped into different skills and used the specific abilities of each car. The first challenge brought out the agile side of the C30, as we had to zip around Melrose Arch in a city-style treasure hunt. Speed was the name of the game in the second challenge as we utilised the thrilling power of the S60 at the Zwartkops Raceway.
The third challenge in the XC60 was my favourite (of course). We had to brave the great outdoors in a off-road task. I could not stop laughing at the end of this last challenge after Gert finished the swim, as he barely made it to the shore.
KB and Gert both found it extremely funny when I lost my voice after the last challenge, as they fell victim to my loud voice and boisterous energy throughout the Volvo Big Drive.
The fourth and final challenge saw us be creative and pull out all the stops in a chance to double our points. We had to script, perform and record a short clip that best described our experience of the Volvo Big Drive. Nerusha and I drew this challenge with team Gert, making us the overall winners of the Vovlo Big Drive! We were so extatic and still cannot believe we were fortunate enough to take part in this amazing experience.
The cars, the teams, the Volvo squad were all so amazing, it is an experience that I will never forget.
You too can have a small taste of the Volvo experience. There is another phase in the Volvo Big Drive, in which the members of the public can design an adventure of their choice and stand a chance to complete their adventure in a stylish Volvo! Enter on www. volvocarsa.co.za/bigdrive/
Good Luck!
Follow Makhaya Ntini on Twitter @MakhayaNtini
The Volvo Big Drive Challenge was screened on SABC 3’s lifestyle show, Top Billing.
