News
MiX Telematics' technology enables real-time tracking of athletes embarking on the Redsockfriday Unogwaja 2011 Challenge
19 May 2011
MiX Telematics, a global leader in fleet management technology and innovation has partnered with Redsockfriday in South Africa, to raise awareness for, and in support of AmaBeadiBeadi, a group of official Comrades charities. The technology enables the public to track the progress of four determined athletes, in real-time, as they cycle from Cape Town to Pietermaritzburg over the next ten days, in time to participate in the world’s greatest ultra-marathon, the Comrades.
“The cyclists, who aim to cover 1,722 kilometres in total, will cycle between a leading and trailing car throughout their journey. MiX Telematics’ tracking devices, fitted to both vehicles, enable the public to follow the cyclists on their journey by viewing the vehicles’ live positions on a map,” explains Catherine Lewis, Marketing Director of MiX Telematics (International). People who wish to follow the cyclists and support the Unugwaja 2011 Challenge can see the positions by logging onto MiX Telematics’ X-Drive website or by downloading the MiX Mobile application onto their smartphone*.
The group of athletes aim to emulate the epic journey of Phil Masterson-Smith, the first man to accomplish this feat. He did so in 1933 and no one has since attempted to match Phil’s achievement. Phil was determined to finish the Comrades but could not afford a train ticket to Pietermaritzburg, so instead he cycled to the start line in time to take part in the race, finishing in 10th place. He was later named ‘Unogwaja’ or the hare in Zulu.
Redsockfriday, which brought the Unogwaja athletes together, is driven by John McInroy in South Africa and was launched in April 2010. It came about when one of two close friends who had been living together overseas decided to return home to South Africa. The pair made a pact to wear red socks every Friday in honour of their brilliant experiences together and as a reminder to never give up on their dreams. The idea was inspired by an elderly man they came across who wore red socks every day of his life, in remembrance of a close friend he lost during World War I.
* Toyota Redsockfriday Unogwaja athletes can be tracked by logging onto MiX Telematics’ X-Drive Website, or by simply downloading MiX Mobile onto your smartphone. To log into either application please use the following details:
Username: redsockfriday
Password: password
