Nippy weather failed to dampen the spirit at the Zwartkops near Pretoria on Saturday, during round four of the 2015 Midas Historic Tour. Enthusiasts who braved the cold were treated to a day’s excellent motorsport, with seven categories in action.
@ Topping the day’s entertainment were two races for SKF Pre-1966 Legend Saloon Cars. The opening heat saw a huge five-car dice between Thomas Falkiner (Sunday Times Ford Mustang), Jonathan du Toit (Chev Nova), Jaki Scheckter (Pablo Clark Ford Galaxie), Hennie Groenewald (Ford Mercury) and Jeffrey Kruger (Chevelle). It did not last when Scheckter picked up a puncture and stopped, while Kruger spun his Chev at high speed coming into the pit straight. That left Groenewald to win from Falkiner and Du Toit. Clive Densham (Alfa GT) took the ZA class ahead of Patrick Gearing (U2 Alfa Giulietta) and Marc Miller (Alfa Giulietta). Groenewald and Scheckter fought for the lead throughout race two, with Groenewald eventually crossing the finish line three-tenths of a second ahead. Jonathan du Toit took the final podium place, ahead of Thomas Falkiner and Jeffrey Kruger. Clive Densham again won ZA category, leading home Roy Prando (ZB Chev Bel-Air) and Marc Miller.
Hennie Groenewald (Ford mercury Comet) and Jaki Scheckter (Pablo Clark Ford Galaxie) fought mightily in Saturday’s second SKF Pre-1966 Production Car race at Zwartkops
Thomas Falkiner Ford Mustang leading the pack on the first lap
@ The first race for Pre 1974/ISP, Pre 66/68, 1984 Sports and GT Cars went to Jonathan du Toit (TAR Chevron B8), leading home Peter Jenkins (Nucleus Supply Chevron B19), Colin Frost (Porsche 917) and Oliver Dalais (Marlboro Crane Ford GT40).
@ After a race-long dice, Du Toit and Jenkins took the top two places in the second race. Neil Lobb (Lola T70), who suffered brake dramas in the opening heat, worked his way through the field from the back to take a resounding third place.
Jonathan du Toit (TAR Chevron B8) and Peter Jenkins (Nucleus Supply Chevron B19) dice d in both races for Pre-1974 Sports and GT Cars. Picture: Paul Blackburn
@ The first race for SKF Pre-1966 Little Giants was stopped after four laps, when a major engine blow-up soaked the pit straight in oil, causing multiple spin-outs in the next corner. At the time of the stoppage, Shane Baartman led in his Alfa Romeo GT, ahead of Andrew Wilson (TVR), Keith van Heerden (Jaguar D-Type) and Jacques Baartman (Alfa Romeo GT). A determined Andrew Wilson won race two from Baartman by two tenths of a second, with Keith van Heerden and Terence Botes (ABAC Mini Cooper) in close vicinity.
@ Graham Hepburn (Suburban Body Ford) won the opening Investchem Formula Ford race from Andrew Horne (Xena Chemicals Royale) and Matthys Strydom (Sage Talon FF). Horne won the second time around, with Hepburn and Strydom in close attendance.
@ The Sabat Lotus Challenge boasted 33 cars, with the first race victory going to Anton Muller (Tornado Birkin 7) in the new Prototype Class Car, ahead of Jeff Gable (Gravity Birkin 7), Rob Gearing Clive Wilmot Birkin 7) and Etienne Strydom (Axishouse Birkin 7). Muller and Gable repeated their positions in race two, this time followed by Jeffrey Kruger (Lotus 7) and James Forbes (Piero dal Bianco Birkin 7).
@ Phillip Pantazis (Iron Bank Datsun) took the overall win in Class B of the Marlboro Pre-1979 Saloon Car category. Other winners were Andre’ Diedericks (Class C – Elf Trans Chev Camaro), Pierre de Waal (Class D – Alfa Romeo), Deon van Vuuren (Class E - Focus Freight Ford Escort), Brett Maurice (Class F Panelrite Escort), Ian Morgan (Class G Motor Body Mercedes 280) and Rene Janse van Rensburg (Class H Escort) respectively.
The next round of the 2015 Midas Historic Tour will take place at Phakisa on Saturday, July 4.
