For the second time this year, the Vodacom Power Tour will return to the Aldo Scribante race circuit in Port Elizabeth on the 12 of October 2002. And, if the first race meeting in June of this year was anything to go by, Eastern Cape race fans are in for a brilliant time. –
– Apart from the race action, which in itself is set to keep spectators hanging onto the edge of their seats, there will be plethora of activities to keep the whole family entertained. Themed around an Oktoberfest, Aldo Scribante will come alive with a huge four-tier beer tent that comfortably seats a thousand people. Apart from indulging in the finest German cuisine of Eisbein, Kassler Chops and Sauerkraut, spectators will be entertained by a PE based brass band and the vibrant singer and dancer Sally. –
– A bonus will be that the tent will open on Friday the 11th October at 11h00 to accommodate those race fans attending the practice and qualifying sessions. Festivities will continue through the day and culminate with the pre-race party for the drivers, riders and teams on the Friday evening. Saturday will be run along the same lines, but the evening will see the official prize giving and if it’s anything like the last race meeting in PE, spectators and competitors alike are in for a huge party. –
– Race day itself will see no less than two air displays. A Russian built Sukhoi aircraft will thrill the crowds with its low flying aerobatics, while topping the flying programme will be the very special sight of the awesome World War II Hawker Sea Fury. This eighteen-cylinder 3000hp single seater war bird was the fastest piston engined plane ever produced and is truly a sight to behold. –
– On track at lunchtime will be a karting display, with some of the best karting drivers in SA showing off their talents in these brilliant little machines. Aldo Scribante must be the leader at providing entertainment for the whole family at race days. And, this time round there will be the Volkswagen Play Centre including a Jumpy boxing ring, jumbo slide and jumping castle. Together with refreshments, there will also be the Coca-Cola wayo-wayo rig that will put on music and shows for the kids to enjoy. –
– Oh yes, did we mention that there was motor racing too. Topping the programme will be the WesBank V8 SAMCAR Series. Having missed the Zwartkops round of the Vodacom Power Tour at the end of August, the mighty V8’s will be making a welcome return to Port Elizabeth. And after a humdinger of a race in Killarney in Cape Town, Supervan Racings hotshot pilot Johan Fourie has stolen the lead in the Championship thanks in no small part to his double win at his home track. But, Fourie only leads by one point ahead of former WesBank Champion Roelf du Plessis and five points ahead of Auto Trader Mustang V8 driver Ben Morgenrood. –
– In the SA Superbike brigade things are at boiling point with regards to the championship standings. While Vodacom Nashua Yamaha star rider Russell Wood leads by only ten points from UUNET Ducati and veteran rider Trevor Crookes. These two rivals have made a small break away from third place man Stewart Macleod on the Cell C Suzuki. Reigning champion Greg Dreyer has had a difficult season with a few heavy crashes, which have relegated him to fourth in the standings. While the privateers championship is somewhat settled, the whole series will battle on until the end of the season, leaving fans no chance to miss a single heat of the three remaining rounds of the Vodacom Power Tour. –
– With the Production Car series and the VSP Sports Cars sitting this race meeting out, the Formula Ford series will provide some of the most spectacular racing in its purest form. Morne Jurgens seems to have got it all together this year to take a significant lead in the points standings. Trailing behind the blazing Jurgens are Brett Mayberry and young Briton Stephen Morris, who will return to South Africa next year to tackle the South African drivers for the 2003 championship. –
– The Engen VW Cup series sees some very close ties with the Port Elizabeth circuit. Firstly, Volkswagen the manufacturers of this one-make formula, are based in the Eastern Cape capital. In addition, Aldo Scribante circuit promoter and Touring Car legend Terry Moss’s protégé, Tschops Sipuka leads the 2002 series in a hotly contested battle ahead of Graeme Nathan and Silvio Scribante. It is Silvio’s grandfather and legendary racing driver whose name adorns the circuit. –
– Entry fee to the circuit on Saturday the 12 October will be R 40.00 and R 10.00 for children under 10 years old. The Friday practise and qualifying sessions have free entry and give race fans an ideal opportunity to walk through the pits and get close to the drivers, riders and cars without the mayhem that takes place on race day. –
– The Race Programme for Saturday the 12th October is as follows – –
– 10h05 – 12h00 Regional Racing –
– 12h30 PARADE / LUNCH –
– 13h00 Engen VW Cup Race 1 15 laps –
– 13h30 WesBank V8 SAMCAR Race 1 15 laps –
– 14h00 Formula Ford Race 1 15 laps –
– 14h30 Superbikes Race 1 15 laps –
– 15h00 WesBank V8 SAMCAR Race 2 15 laps –
– 15h30 Formula Ford Race 2 15 laps –
– 16h00 Superbikes Race 2 15 laps –
– 16h30 Engen VW Cup Race 2 15 laps –
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