Roger Jackson doing his thing.

Heinrich Rabe racked up a slew of awards with his Husqvarna chainsaws in the speed cutting competition at the 2nd Mpumalanga Show held at the Mbombela Stadium at the end of August. Heinrich took second places in both the 60cc (standard) and the 73cc (modified) categories, and an overall win in the Open category.

Roger Jackson from Husqvarna Pietermaritzburg scooped first place in the 60cc (standard) category, and Sabie’s Denzil Lawrie placed third. Jackson also clinched a second place in the 73cc (standard) category, followed by Lawrie in third. In the Open category Karel Greef excelled in second place with his Husqvarna 3120XP.

Karel Greef (left) and Heinrich Rabe.

“It was great fun,” said Jackson. “Aside from high quality and great performing saws, the dominance of the five-man Husqvarna team was a combination of things: superb preparation, with Heinrich managing us well and making sure we prepared the saws properly, and excellent team spirit.”

This was the first year that chainsaw speed cutting had been included in this annual lifestyle, agricultural and forestry show, and it was so well received that participants expect it to become a regular feature.

“The idea is to showcase the products available to the community,” added Jackson, “so we raced two groups of standard saws for different timbers: one saw class up to 60cc, and other up to 73cc, then a modified version of the 73ccclass. In the open class, anything goes, provided it resembles a currently available chainsaw.”

The adrenaline-charged sport of speed cutting is steadily increasing in popularity in South Africa. Across the various categories, chainsaws generally range from 70cc standard machines used by the forestry industry to super modified 120cc giants that produce incredible horsepower and chain speeds of more than 180km/h.