Franswa Smit, together with André de Villiers and Hans Strydom, visited Prins Albert to capture the town's charm and the Swartberg Pass for their second season. The trio, each on their own iconic sponsored motorcycles – Franswa on his Suzuki VSTROM 1050 (DE) Dual Adventure "Samurai", André on his 1250 BMW "My 2x1", and Hans on his Honda Africa Twin 1100 DCT "Rooikat" (Red Cat) – tackled the Swartberg Pass's winding dirt road with enthusiasm and ingenuity.
Franswa, a high school teacher and founder of MyBike Adventures & Touring (MBAT) and Motor Cycle Camping South Africa, got the vision for 1 Spoor Avonture during the Covid pandemic. His goal? To bring people and motorcycles to towns that were hard hit by the pandemic, and to tell their stories. "The horizon is a magnet," he says, and with 300,000 km on his bike, he shares his passion for gaining and spreading knowledge. His love for people and places shines through in his work with MyBike Adventures & Touring, where he supports remote communities.
He spoke with André de Villiers, better known as André4x4, about the idea and asked how they could get it on television. "Only if I can come along," was André's answer. "I didn't know André had a bike," laughs Franswa. "Like most people, I knew him as André4x4. But André is crazy about adventure!" André, a mechanical engineer, speaks almost poetically about the human-machine relationship, and how they hope the series helps break down the stigma that is so often associated with motorcycling. Fans and adventure seekers can also look forward to "In die spore van 1Spoor" (In the Tracks of 1Track) – private tours that the team hopefully will soon start to guide people along this same route.
Hans Strydom, good friend of Franswa and co-owner of MBAT, completes this tight-knit team. Hans, who has meanwhile lost his heart to Prins Albert, is now on the lookout for his own piece of the Great Karoo. "This place just speaks to me," he says. "Prins Albert is unique and beautifully maintained, and the people are so friendly." Those who know Prins Albert understand all too well how the place leaves its tracks deep in your heart.
The series' success is also thanks to the exceptional film crew, led by film director Simoné Ross and cameramen Etienne Neser and Dudley Joubert. With years of experience in producing programs like Pasella, Top Billing and Kwela, these industry veterans bring world-class professionalism and creativity to the table. Sit back and feast on this visual treat that will be broadcast from 7 October at 17h30 on kykNET.
