There is perhaps a certain irony in the fact that as our new car market continues to defy the recent global economic meltdown with its ongoing raft of new model launches, activities surrounding old cars also appears to be growing at a remarkable rate. Despite a worrying trend of cars with significant South African history being sold to overseas collectors thereby depriving this country of some valuable examples of its proud, and in some ways unique, motoring heritage (a debatable topic in itself), I think we would all be amazed at how many private collections exist in SA – check out any decent concours d’elegance and you will see what I mean – that complement the many museums that restore and/or preserve so many prized assets. Refer to the list at the end of this article for details of some of the country’s finest vehicle collections.
The country’s numerous well-established classic car shows are experiencing increasing public support. Last November the first Cape Classic Car Show attracted an amazing number of not-seen-before exhibits – and ticket sales ran out! That so many exhibits and so many people supported the six-hour show was certainly a massive fillip to other organisers.
Clubs dedicated to the old car movement, either in general terms or marque specific, abound and promote the use of classic machinery in a manner befitting their status. And I am not thinking just breakfast and picnic runs: there is an encouraging trend towards staging almost forgotten forms of motorsport such as hillclimbs and time trials to sate the appetites of owners, competitors and spectators alike. Last year’s inaugural Knysna Hillclimb (see CAR February) was also a sell-out and plans for this year’s event are already well under way with exciting improvements in prospect.
In April CAR we reported on the first-ever Franschhoek Motor Museum Concours and Time Trial, which was a sensory overload of mind-boggling machinery displayed and driven with gusto in magnificent surroundings, and will be repeated early next year on separate weekends, such will be the attraction.
Amongst all this classic activity we must not forget the thriving, bustling historic car racing that takes place at circuits around the country, which now includes the Springbok Series revival and other international participation. For variety, action and a heavy dose of nostalgia, it is near impossible to beat.
Collector car appreciation
Next April the bi-annual Streetrod Nationals will reveal hundreds of classics in jaw-dropping magnificence far removed from what their makers intended being displayed and cruizin’ in the Mother City. But imagine what would happen if our government followed the example of the United States Senate who, at the request of America’s outstandingly successful automotive aftermarket organisation SEMA, recently passed a resolution declaring July 9 as “Collector Car Appreciation Day” on which collectors and enthusiasts will be hosting cruises, gatherings and educational events across the country to honour the population’s love affair of the motor car and raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in society.
Mille Miglia
The Mille Miglia – thousand miles – was an Italian open-road endurance race run between Brescia to Rome and back held between 1927 and 1957. Probably the most famous victory was that of Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson in 1955 in their now famous Merceedes-Benz 300 SLR number 722. The race was a demanding event fraught with danger and was eventually banned after Ferrari driver Alfonso de Portago, his co-driver Edmund Nelson and nine spectators were killed in 1957. The race continued for four more years in a rally-style format then was dropped altogether before the name was revived in 1977 as a “retrospective”, and then again in 1982 as a time trial, a format that has since continued on an annual basis.
This year, both BMW (twelve 328s) and Jaguar (an XK120, C- and D-Type) entered “factory” teams and a BMW 328 Touring CoupĂ© won driven by Giuliano CanĂ© and Lucia Galliani, 70 years after Huschke von Hanstein and Walter Baumer drove a 328 Berlinetta Touring to victory.
South Africans can look forward to its first very own such Mille Miglia-style event when the Lormarins 1200 takes place in October. The event is going to attract some of the finest classic cars IN THE WORLD to our shores in what will be an evocative five-day trial starting and finishing at the Franschhoek Motor Museum but incorporating a Saturday race day at Killarney that will surely attract massive crowds.
You are never too old to be a petrolhead and right now South Africa is a good place to be to experience classic car culture at its best.
MUSEUMS AND CAR COLLECTIONS
Auto Pavilion (VW SA’s Expo & Heritage Center)
Algoa Road, Uitenhage
Tel: 041 994 5941
www.vw.co.za/about/autopavillion
[email protected]
Cadillac Shack
Storms River Village (by appointment only)
Contact: Jan du Rand on 082 452 3361
[email protected]
Calgary Transport Museum
Macleantown Road, East London
Contact: Ivan Perks
043 730 7244
Car-Free Shoppe @ Sedgefield Classic Cars
www.sedgeclasscars.com
3 Parrot Street, Sedgefield
Contact: Sheridan Renfield
033 343 1035
Die Ou Motor Hawe (Fords & other American cars)
Komatiepoort (by appointment only)
Contact: Herman Nel on 084 577 8681 or 013 793 7775
[email protected]
Edenville Motors (by appointment only)
47 Wessels Street
Edenville
Contact: Fielie Heyman
056 631 0009 / 082 378 2214
Franschhoek Motor Museum
The FMM offers visitors a special opportunity to look back at more than 100 years of motoring history with its unique and exciting collection of vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and memorabilia in the magnificent setting of L’Ormarins wine estate. Situated in Groot Drakenstein on the R45 just outside Franschhoek. Opening times Mon-Fri 10h00-17h00 (last admission 16h00), Sat-Sun 10h00-16h00 (last admission 15h00).
021 874 9000
www.fmm.co.za
James Hall Museum of Transport
Rosettenville Road, La Rochelle, JHB
Contact: Peter Hall / Veronica Pienaar
011 435 9716 / 011 435 9485
www.jhmt.org.za
[email protected]
Klerksdorp Museum of Transport
Goue weg, Dawkinsville Station
Contact: Mr van Rensburg on 018 462 6699
Outeniqua Transport Museum
2 Mission Road, George
Contact: Kobus Volschenk on 044 535 9270
St Croix Motor Museum (by appointment only)
Port Elizabeth
Contact: Eben de Vos on 083 463 5286 or 041 392 5362
Shawn Tyler Motor Museum (by appointment only)
306 Boundry Road, Benoni
083 325 4285
The Old Iron (Historic Motorcycle Museum)
17 Lake Ave, Deneysville
Contact: John or Charmaine Boswell
016 371 1115 or 072 765 9930
[email protected]
Willem Prinsloo Museum
Pretoria
Tel: 012 736 2035
[email protected]
White River Motor Museum
Casterbridge Farm, White River
Contact: Louis van der Merwe on 082 578 3552 / 013 751 1540
www.casterbridge.co.za / www.motormuseum.co.za
[email protected]
The Sandstone Heritage Trust is a private Preservation initiative established on a commercial farm in the Eastern Free State in South Africa. By way of clarification we are not a museum; we are simply a private collection of Heritage items on a commercial farm and the staff do their best to keep everything in tip-top condition and to show visitors around as appropriate. Should you be interested in visiting the collection please contact Hester Dietrichsen 083 200 0014 [email protected], for further particulars or log on to www.sandstone-estates.com