In 1929 the pan was used by Sir Malcolm Campbell, who unsuccessfully attempted to break the land speed record in his Napier-Campbell Blue Bird.

[2] This region contains very little vegetation, primarily very low shrubs and yellow grass among a rocky desert kind of landscape.

Aerial imagery has revealed extensive former agricultural contouring on this pan, suggesting a once much wetter climate.

[5] In 1929 the pan was used by Sir Malcolm Campbell, attempting to raise the land speed record in his Napier-Campbell Blue Bird.

The track, starting from a hill on the outskirts and striking into the heart of the pan was supposed to be 16 miles (26 km) long.

With only one set of tyres left, he took on the 5 kilometres (3 mi) record, reaching 202 miles per hour (325 km/h).

In a new Bluebird designed by Reid Railton, Campbell broke the land speed record four more times at Daytona.

[6][7] Andy Green also visited the pan during 2008, as he needed to check every possible surface to rank them all for use by Bloodhound SSC.

[2] This is also the place where Johan Jacobs – South African land speed record holder and former fighter pilot – died on 27 June 2006.

His jet car, Edge, went out of control and flipped while travelling at approximately 500 kilometres per hour (311 mph).

This happened during a practice run for an attempt to break the 24-second world record for the standing mile over 1.67 kilometres (1 mi).

[9][10] South African pop singer Karlien van Jaarsveld recorded the music video for 'Hande' on the fields.

The farm Kareeboomdam played host to The Brightrock Battle of the Sports challenge with some of South Africa's best-known sports people like John Smith, Makaya Ntini, Bruce Foredyce, Butch James, Schalk Brits, and Lance Klusner in 2020.