SKF Pre-1966 Legends of the 9 Hour Production Cars - Photograph by Paul Blackburn

Legends Newsletter 5/2014

SKF/Trans Africa Legends 7th of June – Zwartkops

SKF – Pre 1966 Legends of the 9 Hour Production Cars;

Hennie Groenewald returns in the Mercury Comet to take on the Mustangs of Ferdi van Niekerk Jnr and Franco Scribante, unfortunately the Falkiner Mustang blew up on Friday afternoon so he took over the lotus Cortina of Brian Cook and put up a formidable challenge in the under 2 litre class.

Jonathan put the Nova on pole with Ben Morgenrood behind him in the Chevelle which unfortunately broke his diff on the first lap. The biggest surprise of the day was Roy Prando who was second on the grid! Franco blasted his way to the front with the orange Mustang with Hennie fighting the Mustang right to the finish with only 0.7 second separating them. Jonathan in the restrictor plate Nova was a lonely third followed by Roy Prando and Alan Poulter in the grey Volvo. Ferdi van Niekerk after being bumped at the start and later having a spin finished sixth overall.

SKF Pre-1966 Legends of the 9 Hour Production Cars - Photograph by Paul Blackburn

After having been promoted out of LITTLE giants Marc Miller proceeded to dominate Under 2 litre class X as his own. He was followed closely by Lawrence Davies (also ex giants) in his Guilia and the Lotus Cortina of Thomas Falkiner, John Simpson (Alfa Gti) Rob Gearing BMW. In the second heat an unbelievable battle ensued between Hennie and Franco until the Mustang collided with the Comet in turn eight – But very spectacular!

Jono swopped his wheels around on the Nova which only aggravated the Nova’s road holding and retired on lap one. Dawie Olivier took over the Bel Air and finished third after Ferdis Mustang retired with a gearbox problem. Roy Prando did a magnificent job in bringing the Alfa GT home ahead of ZB.

SKF Pre-1966 Legends of the 9 Hour Production Cars - Photograph by Paul Blackburn

SKF Pre-1966 Legends of the 9 Hour Production Cars - Photograph by Frikkie Ströh

SKF / TAR – Pre 1966/68 LITTLE giants;

A welcome return of Trevor Tuck in the Guiliette Ti – pole and two wins however it was Frank Copping who put up a magnificent fight in the first heat only to retire early in heat 2 and give Trevor an easy win.

The big surprise was Wayne Plit who with the little Mini put up a tremendous performance, once the Mini faded, Ishmael Baloyi came through with the well driven Dart Alfa to finish second overall on the day. His big challenges were Nick Parrot and Roger Houston in their MGB’s who were humbled by the Dart. A great win in his Porsche 356 went to Ferdi van Niekerk senior from Cape Town. Chris Visagie’s little Anglia gets better all the time and claimed a class win.

Big welcome to VW Challenge Legend Jannie van Rooyen in his blue Alfa Guilia

SKF Pre-1966/68 Little Giants Series - Photograph by Frikkie Ströh

The LITTLE giants are fast becoming a big crowd favourite.

SKF Pre-1966/68 Little Giants Series - Photograph by Frikkie Ströh

SKF Pre-1966/68 Little Giants Series - Photograph by Paul Blackburn

Trans Africa ISP (International Sports Prototypes);

Jonathan du Toits little Chevron was humbled first by a poor qualifying, then a spin (and stuck) in the kitty litter on lap one, and finally a puncture after avoiding Ben Morgenrood’s Group 5 Mustang in race two. So it was Colin Clay’s big green Lola which claimed class A, but not after being bumped in race one.

Dino Scribante won class C but will now be re-classified to class A ISP. Colin Frost won ISP class B hands down in the ‘lucky’ Porsche 917.

Pre-1974 ISP and Pre-1974 Trans-Am and Consolidated Auctioneers Pre-77 Sports & GT and Classic ThoroughBred - Photograph by Frikkie Ströh

Pre-1974 ISP and Pre-1974 Trans-Am and Consolidated Auctioneers Pre-77 Sports & GT and Classic ThoroughBred - Photograph by Paul Blackburn

Le Mans SKF/Trans Africa Racing Pre 1966/68 Sports & GT racing cars;

With Mark du Toit away Jonathan du Toit took over big brothers Lola T70 Spyder and won. Second after a challenging drive was Ross Lazarus in the blue GT 40. Oliver Dalais was third in class in his ‘new’ GT40 however the big race was between Peter Lindenberg in the Daytona and Terry Wilford in the PMT Daytona Coupe. This was a tremendous dice – the dice of the day with a constant swopping of positions – Peter won when Terry’s Daytona went off song in the second last lap.

Class C was equally as exciting with Evert Botha Porsche 911 S Josh Dovey in the Lotus Elan, Jeffrey Kruger (yes the Jeffrey Kruger) in the black Chevron B8 and evergreen Keith Hinckley in his (Bob Olthoff) in the 289 Cobra.

Then class D and Gary Swan won relegating the very famous and exciting Mpiti of Dennis Mc Beath to second followed by a lonely Clive Rice in the GSM Dart – next time he will be in the Healey Chev.