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The “Honour Challenge” between Scotland and South Africa will be a highlight of the SA Classic TT Racing series to be held at Zwartkops on 31st January and 7th Feb at Killarney
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| "Gentlemen, Your bikes await you" will the first words expat Scotsman Lee Dutton uses to greet his friends, a group of Scottish classic bike racers arriving on Wednesday 28th January, when he meets tham at ORT Airport. They are the Scottish team Lee has arranged to compete in an "Honour challenge" against a South Africa classic bike team. The SA vs Scotland Honour challenge was dreamed up by Lee after last years absolute whitewash by Ian Simpson, on a very fast Suzuki XR 69 F1 factory replica. Lee decided to arrange for 5 identical classic Suzuki GSXR 750’s, and two GSXR 1100 for both teams to level the paying field this year. The "Honour Challenge" will be an unofficial race within a race, it will be part of the annual "SA Classic TT Racing Series". The first two races will be at Zwartkops Raceway on the 31st of January as part of the annual "Passion for Speed" classic and historic racing weekend. |
| The South African Team will be: |
- Rod Gray, Suzuki GSXR 1100
- Les van Breda Suzuki Katana
- Graeme van Breda Suzuki GSXR 1100
- Peter Labuschagne Suzuki GSXR 750
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| The Scottish team will be: |
- Gordon Grigor Suzuki GSXR 750
- Howard Selby Suzuki GSXR 750
- Bill Simpson Suzuki GSXR 750
- Ian Simpson Suzkuki GSXR 750
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| The official race promises to be a humdinger with Les van Breda all out to keep Ian Simpson out of the lead. This may be easier than last year as Simpson will be on a far slower 750, which is really a modified production bike rather than the factory racing replica Suzuki XR 69. Graeme van Breda can be expected to ride shotgun for his father Les unless of course he can get away ahead of the field on his more powerful Suzuki GSXR 1100. Of course all these plans could be in vain with the entry of multiple SA Champion, Danie Maritz from Capetown. Rodney Gray will be an unknown quantity after such a long layoff, but by the end of the series could very well lead the field….his racing pedigree guarantees it! |
| Other than Ian and Bill Simson, who will always be near the sharp end of the filed, provided he can master the last turn onto the finish straight at Zwartkops.( He has dumped it there two years in a row on his Wes Cooley replica Suzuki GS 1000S), the other two Scotsmen in the Honour challenge team (they will be the ones on the blue bikes with the Lion lager logo) are an unknown quantity. Howard Selby and Gordon Grigor have raced for many years and have a good CV behind their names, so they may surprise us all. There are four more overseas riders, Erkki Tapaninen and Jussi Hukkanen from Finland, both on GSXR’s and the independant Scots riders Stephen Maxwell and Robbie Burns. Burns in particular has his dander up and is determined to show his rival clansmen a clean pair of racing boot heels. |
| And that’s not all folks, because there is some muttering about a couple of local young riders from our national raceing series hopping onto some classic bikes and coming out to show the oldies how to ride fast….except that before they even get to the front runners they have to deal with Kawasaki riders Etienne Louw and Kurt Behm on a pair of quick 900 Kawasakis’, John Kosterman on a GSXR750 and Tony Jones on his rapid Cagiva thing. Oh yes, and there’s also current Western Province classic bike champion, young Tim Clark (nephew of past national champ John Clark) who might blow the lot of them off. |
| All in all, the SA Classic TT Racing Series 2015, incorporating the "Honour Challenge" is shaping up to be one of the best motorcycle races seen in SA. Ever. |
| Tickets available at the gate on the day: R170 Adults, R110 students and children under 12 free. However if you buy from Computicket or from the Zwartkops office before event you will receive a discounted rate of: R150 Adults, R90 Students. |
| See you at Zwartkops on 30/31st of January 2015! |
