Ahead of my battle against some of South Africa’s racing greats at Killarney, I’m beginning to appreciate just how Luca Badoer felt…I haven’t been sleeping well of late. It’s not that I’m stressed, okay, maybe I am but I’m more excited. Well, excited with a hint of trepidation thrown in. And just a dose of anxiety mixed with fear. You see, I’ve been offered one of those great opportunities that only this job can bring, but an opportunity that has the potential to go horribly wrong (touch wood).
It all started about a month ago when Volkswagen’s affable media liaison called up with an offer. CAR magazine was invited to participate in a celebrity motor race to celebrate 25 years of the brand’s involvement in local motorsport. Of course it took me about 0,013 seconds to blurt out a resounding “YES”, before placing the call on hold and doing the “victory dance” around my desk. After several seconds of quizzical looks from my colleagues (more so than usual) I told VW PR guy that I was definitely in. He asked if we could continue the conversation via e-mail.
There were two things I wanted to be while growing up: a farmer (don’t laugh) and a racing driver. For various reasons that I won’t bother with neither of those options panned out. Unlike some of my learned colleagues I didn’t lust to be a journalist. Being a motor-noter was just a way of getting closer to one of my favourite subjects. So the chance to finally prove my worth behind the wheel was one that I relished. And it did not hurt that there were celebrities to go up against.
My conversation with the VW guy continued electronically. He obtained some personal information required for a race license application, safety gear sizes, etc. I inquired about the driver line-up – expecting the term celebrity to encompass presenters, actors, sports stars and singers – little did I realise that it meant South Africa’s premier racing personalities. My heart sank when he mailed me the driver line-up. The list includes multiple national championship tar and rally winner and endurance legend Sarel van der Merwe, experienced tin-top pilots Terry Moss and Chris Aberdein, rally ace Geoff Mortimer, rally and track winner Glyn Hall and four-time touring car champ and 2009 Dakar winner Giniel de Villiers (GULP!!!). That list is not quite Charlize Theron, Vuyo Mbuli, Amor Vittone, Ernie Els and Kurt Darren (whose song Loslappie I just can’t get enough of, but I digress). Anyway, I had already accepted the challenge, there was no backing down now.
Rumour has it that there are a few scores to settle among this group of “Big Guns” from the last 30 years of racing folklore, so maybe I can stay out of harm’s way and capitalise on the ensuing carnage.
Other drivers in the field include VW rally regulars Enzo Kuun, Guy Hodgson and Pierre Arries. Two other motoring journos will be sharing track space with the racing legends, so there is seemingly some pride to fight for, too.
I’m not sure if it’s a blessing or curse that we are all driving identical cars, 1,6-litre fuel injected CitiGolfs. Bar the roll-cage and race seat the 12 cars are stock road-going models right down to the treaded rubber. On the one hand, all competitors will be driving identical cars. That means the discrepancy across the field could be relatively small, or quite large, not forgetting for a moment that most of these guys have raced and won in Golfs at some point of their respective careers. Thankfully, CitiGolfs are not an unknown quantity. I learned to drive in, and had a Golf 1 as my first car. Funny thing is, I think I know exactly how Mr Badoer felt when he deputised for the injured Felipe Massa. Badoer was a driver with nothing to gain by competing in a field of very talented pilots but, we all know how that played out. Hopefully my new nickname won’t be Luca…
The celebrity race will be a part of the bill at the penultimate round of the Wesbank Super Series national circuit racing championship at Killarney racetrack in Cape Town on September 26. There will be plenty of big names to see and support, and few unknown ones, too.
Sudhir was last seen practising laps around Killarney seated at his desk with his eyes closed.
