| With world champions Jim Clark, Graham Hill in the British Lotus Cortina were incredible against anything that came their way until a Holman & Moody white 427 V8 Galaxie arrived and in the hands of Jack Sears beat the British 2 litre cars at their own game. It was this Galaxie that came to South Africa which Bobby Olthoff claimed the National title in 1965. The 1600cc Lotus Cortina was the cars to have to win in 1964. Ford supplied two semi works cars for Koos Swanepoel/ Willie Meissner and Basil van Rooyen in 1964. These two provided the thrills, and when joined by the big red Galaxie it was what motor racing was all about. The red Galaxie would run away at the start of races and then the Cortina’s would wear the Galaxie down (brakes) towards the end and then win! |
| Today the under 2 litre Historic Saloons are immensely competitive and spectacular. The U2 class also formed the back-bone to the initial years of Trans-Am and is today a major attraction in USA Vintage racing. The U2 class is also a strong class in the UK and is a core event at Historic meetings as can be seen by the pic below… |
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| What is interesting about the above picture is that the field is made up mostly by Lotus Cortina’s followed by Mini Cooper, a few BMW’s and only a couple of Alfa’s – alarmingly the only Giulia is right at the back! This is amazing as in our U2 class it is the Giulias that dominate! |
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The U2 Legends of the 9 Hour in South Africa
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| This U2 class was established at the end of 2014 initiated by Trevor Tuck, Patrick Gearing and Roger Houston plus a few others. Roger Houston is the chairman of the Legends U2. There are already some fifteen cars in the class with eight Giulias, two Mini Coopers, two Alfa GT’s, two Cortina Lotus and a solitary BMW. This is exciting and there will be a progression in makes and drivers from LITTLE Giants in time by 2016. |
| The Series is time based 78.5+ at Zwartkops and run as a separate class with the big Legends not “LITTLE Giants”. Once the U2 class is big enough separate events will be promoted with distance and index of performance championships. |
| Whilst the Alfa engined cars dominate we do have more makes joining U2. Before the Lotus Cortina arrived U2 was made up of Volvos (Amazon), Renaults (R8’s) and big engine Anglia’s. |
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U2 cars eligible:
- Alfa Giulia, Alfa GT Giulitta
- Volvo 122’s
- Anglia 1750
- Renault R8/ R10 (1966)
- Lotus Cortina
- BMW
- Mini Cooper
- Rover 2000
- Ford Cortina MK I and MK II
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Contacts:
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1958 / 1974 The Great Years of South African Motor Racing.
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Pre-1966 Legends of the 9 Hour Production Cars
Pre-1966/68 Le Mans Sports & GT
Pre-1974 International Sports Prototypes
Pre-1966/68 Little Giants Production Sports & GT Cars
Pre-1966 under 2 litre Production Cars
Pre-1971 Campion of Champions Production Cars
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