In the beginning it was a scandal. Detecting signs of lust, parents called it noise.
Elvis Presley just grinned, and everyone cheered. Rock & Roll was the music we loved to have our Rock & Roll hated by our elders.
That was 60 years ago!
Rock & Roll won with succeeding generations believing that they were poets, prophets and politicians. We rocked and rolled ourselves into a trillion-dollar industry! Even today we still stand on the centre stage of history. We were the second world war World War babies that grew up as teenagers by 1960s.
With it came the fast and furious cars and drivers. Motor racing became centre stage. Every car manufacturer became involved in one way or another. Motor racing gave us a heritage of cars- Ford GT40, Ferraris, Chevron, Lola, BMW, then Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, McLaren, and all conquering Porsches and and and and Let us Rock & Roll with our heritage racing cars past and present on 1st February.
It’s a great family and motor racing at its best event, free parking, grandstands, open pit policy, hot laps, formula one demonstration.
The Sight & Sound at Zwartkops
Jos Verstappen is racing the mighty McLaren MF8 against a sea of orange. Michiel Compagnie will be racing the McLaren heading the field of International Sports Prototypes.
Mustang – The Ultimate American Pony Car
Jonathan Needham will be making his debut in his blue Mustang from the Netherlands a coupe. Ben Morgenrood, the Trans Africa racing probably two.
The Shelby Coupes
The Shelby Coupes these cars were essentially a derivative of the AC Cobra with a lightweight aero body. Only five were made and they won the World GT Championship in 1965.
Three at Zwartkops – James Temple = Super Performance / Djurk Venter / And the factory five car of Trans Africa Racing
The Might of Lola
The might of Lola. The green Lola of Larry Wilford will be the one to beat in the ISP event. He will however be challenged by Colin Frost/Neil Lobb in the 9 Hour Redman/Love Gunston car. The two Lola T70’s of Mark du Toit and Russel Fear are spectacular cars to see in full flight.
Chevron – smaller capacity Chevrons B8’s (three) and the B19 of Colin Ellison. At Zwartkops they can outmanoeuvre the big V8’s
The Cobra’s 4 and 9
The car that started the sports car revolution in the sixties Big V8 up front with “grunt” and aggressive looks – plus being affordable. Two should be in the 45-minute Tourist Trophy – Warren Lombard
Datsun 260Z
The Trans American (Trans-Am) Datsun of Philip Pantazis is a magnificent racing car. Three 240Z’s of Sophos Pantazis, Hennie Groenewald and Jaco Krynauw will be racing in support of the 260Z.
A “LITTLE Giant” which could have gone a long, long way
John Ten in the South African built design c then a “proudly South African initiative “from the early 1960’s. One of the most unique engineered and designs from the early sixties age of Sports and GT cars some 135 were produced before production ceased in 1965.
A “Little Giant” which could have gone a long, long way
Mini Cooper -The Greatest Little Giant
The ultimate giant killer from the day production started in 1959 the “Mini” was perceived not only a cheap practical form of transport but as a racer. Who would have thought that this little car with its tiny wheels would go on to become a world beating rally car, claim hundreds of championships and become a real giant killer. The Mini Cooper is synonymous with the Formula One Cooper cars of the sixties. High performance and unbelievable road holding. We should have EIGHT of these little high-performance racers competing today.
Note: John Love was the British Saloon Car Champion in 1962 with a works Mini Cooper. It featured in South Africa in production car racing for over thirty years including Index Honours in the 9 Hour and Springbok Series.
The Ultimate Icon Porsche 917
The ultimate icon Porsche 917 of Peter Bailey. Initially the most dangerous car to race.
Many drivers refused to drive the car.
Down the old Mulsanne straight at the Le Mans it literally took off. By 1970 some of the gremlins had been sorted and it won. Porsche then took over and were unstoppable with its various derivatives for 20 years at Le Mans and Daytona.
The ESCORT
Then the Escorts. Through intensive development in the UK and Cosworth derived Ford engines they ruled the roost. There are a number of Escorts entered in various events but high an expectation is James Temple, Deon Schwabsky and Hennie Groenewald in the Carel Pienaar special edition.
Ginette Josh/Jake Dovey with the Ginette G4R. Although having a smaller capacity engine it is a very effective endurance car and capable of beating the big V8’s at their game – both overall and on index.
The Icons at Zwartkops
The GT arrived in 1965 to challenge the dominance of Ferrari. At the 1965 Kyalami 9 Hour its measure was tested and lead the race until the last ten minutes when a wheel bearing gave notice. This disappointment was overcome when the GT 40’s won Le Mans four times and every major race for six years. Ferrari never won the Le Mans again until 2023.
There will be three GT40’a at Zwartkops. Peter Bailey, Oliver Dalias and Mark/ Jonathan du Toit.
Zwartkops/Vrydag Middag/ Saterdag 1ste Februarie
Ons gaan nou braai!!
Bring jou vleis, aartappels en rys ens.
Almal is welkom om te braai.
