The annual George Old Car Show – one of the biggest classic automotive events in the country – stepped up its act a little this year, the organising Southern Cape Old Car Club offering the public a bit more comfort for viewing the 800-odd vehicles and attracting quite a number of models not seen in recent years. Held on February 13/14 at the traditional venue of the P W Botha College grounds, this year’s show – the 14th – was held in overcast but humid conditions on the Saturday and bright sunshine on the Sunday… for those who stayed on. As usually happens, quite a number of out-of-town entries were not put on display on the Sunday, leaving anyone attending only on that day short-changed. This is a common problem with weekend shows and one that organisers have little control over. For the first time, Protea Hotels had a heavy corporate presence.
Essentially spread over three fields, the static displays of vehicles are tidily laid out and offer easy viewing for the public. Throughout both days’ proceedings, vehicles are driven past the main grandstand – as well as, this year for the first time, a covered public seating area – in organised groups with comments elicited from the drivers, sometimes concluded with an appropriate klaxon blare, throttle blip or gentle wheelie. The many tractors in attendance simply “phut-phut” their way through, often under the guidance of youngsters, convincingly demonstrating the “I learnt to drive on a tractor on the farm” tradition is alive and well along the Garden Route!
One of the surprises at the show was the display of some 30 cars from the newly established Lamprecht motor Museum in George. Kosie Lamprecht has been – and still is – rapidly accumulating an eclectic mix of “up and running” vehicles, and the models on view added a lot of interest for regular showgoers. Almost a show within a show, the line-up included a rare 1952 Austin Sheerline, a 1934 White truck, a 1917 Hupmobile Model N Town Carrier, a 1934 Cadillac La Salle, a 1947 Harley-Davidson three-wheeler and a stunning pink 1958 Lincoln Continental Convertible that could have been the inspiration for Lady Penelope’s FAB1.
Three veterans that really caught the eye – not least because of their sparkling paint jobs – were Ty Terblanche’s 1904 Cadillac, Jan Enslen’s 1915 Ford T Speedster and Stuart Halsall’s 1920 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. No less impressive (but not as bright) was Barney Marais’ 1918 Chevrolet Tourer – the oldest Chev in the country. Len Ward was still picking bugs from his teeth after driving his tiny 1934 Austin Nippy up from Cape Town.
Once again, the George show provided the setting for one of the finest displays of Mercedes-Benz’s you will see anywhere, with a staggering number of different models on view. The Mercedes-Benz Club of SA celebrates 25 years in April and coincident with the 50th anniversary of the W111/112 “Fintail” model, the Northern and Kwa-Zulu Natal regions of the club are offering a German-manufactured 1960 lhd W111 220S saloon as a prize in a raffle. The car’s history from new is documented and comes with original service manuals for the car (in Spanish, though!) and the Becker radio. Bought originally by a Portuguese ship captain who worked out of Lorenzo Marques, the car has been travelling around the country attending various car shows and dealerships, and a log book is being kept of the adventure. Raffle tickets costing R100 each are being sold to raise funds for the club, and the draw will take place on the evening of April 26 at the club’s AGM in Johannesburg. For more information log on to [email protected] or [email protected]
Other one-make clubs well represented included Dart, VW Beetles and Campers, the Lotus 7 Register, Borgward, Studebaker, Renault and Peugeot.
Amongst the rarities on view were Owen Rosslee’s 1957 Nash Metropolitan, Andre Fourie’s 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL, A Roff’s 1960 Mini Marcos, Jerry Spaans’ 1962 Seat Abarth 750 cm3, Kobus Grimbeek’s 1964 Renault R4 pick-up, Neil Cameron’s 1968 Isuzu Bellet 1600 GT Coupé, a pair of ’70s Eagles owned by Johan Oosthuizen and Lourens Bester’s 1989 BMW Z1. Not exactly rare, but Sias Koen’s vivid orange 1964 VW Notchback was superbly modernised.
The “king of Storms River”, Jan du Rand, and his wife Ann were in attendance with a quartet of “big fin” Cadillacs and Chevys helping to promote the “king of rock ‘n roll” Elvis Festival Africa to be held at the Tsitsikamma Village from April 30 to May 2.
Chevs were well-represented amongst the street rods with Danie Botha’s ’37 Sedan, Jimmy Share’s ’39 Coupé and Fanie le Roux’s ’55 Pick-up particularly impressive.
Add-in a smattering of choppers and trikes, speedway bikes, stationary engines, an old caravan plus the busy-as-ever model car market and display, craft market, dealership displays and retail stalls ably supported by numerous food and refreshment tents, and the George Old Car Show once again was a great success. The event attracts the right crowd without any crowding, offering a truly varied mix of exhibits in a relaxed atmosphere.