A Great Cape Surprise

The annual North vs South race competition was after some reshuffling scheduled for Zwartkops for the 15 September 2007. This is generally where the best of the best challenge their opposition to finally lay to rest any unsettled scores in a gentleman like manner.

The Cape Town cars were loaded on the Wednesday before the race and one particular driver (Peter Sherman) was not able to fill the last spot due to mechanical problems. The Cape guys decided to fill the last place with the 'Green Mamba' and not say a word to me. I had never ever in my wildest dreams intended to compete at the Zwartkops track as I believed that more worthy competitors deserved to compete as well as that I had absolutely nothing to prove given my late start to a race career. Well, you should have seen my delight (and somewhat disbelief) as they announced it on the Thursday night at there guest lodge.

I left for home that evening (in a flat spin) and probably did 100 laps in my head trying to recall the race lines that I had actually sourced and provided to the Cape Town guys in preparation for the Saturday. The cars arrived on the Friday at lunch time and a few practice sessions were done. I finally managed to get down from a 1:23 to a 1:21 after some advice from more experienced drivers. (The usual times for my class and size of car at Zwartkops is about 1:18:5). I could not achieve any better on the day. I again went home, and ran a few laps in my head and tried to apply the good advice given during the day.

Race day arrived and qualifying was at 08h20. I applied all the skills and advice given and managed to qualify 13th on the grid at a time of 1:20:08. I was really chuffed.

Heat 1 and I managed to finish 7th and posted a best race time of 1:19:07. This was achieved with a superbly prepared 1400cc (1398 to be exact) and even outperforming some of the Datsun A15 (1500cc) car entrants who are locals at the Zwartkops track.









Heat 2 and I started well until about lap 4 where my brakes started fading and I was eventually caught out on turn 2 (with a floor brake peddle) resulting in a spin off. I regained (and lost about 15 precious seconds) and finally drove my pants off finishing 14th and taking 9th overall for the day out of a total of 34 competitors. And all this on a foreign track!!







I thoroughly enjoyed the entire weekend with a great bunch of guys (including 'Dancing Dave' who just refused point blank to dance at Zwartkops - great drive Dave) and was most chuffed with my achievements. But this was NOT about me. This was for a group of guys who made the decision to surprise me and give me a most unexpected gift and a racing memory which I will cherish forever. Thanks to Pete Sherman for his generosity and true 'Classic Car Spirit' sportsmanship.

It also goes without to say a BIG thanks to my brother Martin for getting my race car up and running again and preparing it to my greatest AWAY expectation.









Also as expected the SSS ran without any hiccups and performed well putting up some most respectable times in the likes of 1:12:9 around Zwartkops. Martin took 2nd overall in class C for the day out performing all but one local Zwartkops competitor.

Thanks Champ!!

A Dazzeling Perception?

I recently read the article published in the 'Classic Car Africa' magazine of September 2007 (Pg 56) duly submitted by Peter du Toit, owner of the Zwartkops raceway in Pretoria West.

Without taking the article to task or discrediting it in any way, let me say that in essence I agree with many of the proposals suggested but sincerely doubt whether it will ultimately be a viable or workable solution within the South African race fraternity. Why do I say that? Well for one, South African motor racing does NOT attract anywhere near 100 entrants in a classic or historic car race where the club has the ability to exclude the bottom seventy entrants and only accept the top thirty race cars and driver entries. In fact on many a race day I have personally seen at more than one particular race venue, entries of far less than even thirty entrants (Classic cars / Historic cars) on the starting grid. The current race categories are I believe sufficient given the race entry numbers in South Africa that we are talking about. Is then adding more race categories a bad thing ? NO, but why then split the current groups even further simply because you CAN when at best of times there are not a large enough number to begin with. (See the last paragraph of 'Project Camaro' written by Michele Lupini which states...."Yes Trans-Am has been a little thin on entries of late, BUT......")

Further mention is also made with regard to the 'Legends of the 9-Hour' and makes for acceptable reading. However the last part of the article is what really peeves me. The last paragraph quotes, "I (Peter du Toit) am hoping to structure some Legends of the 9-Hour days in 2008 around the country however, we will not go anywhere where there is no category compatibility. There is no way that a Cortina Lotus which is correct in terms of its period is going to be beating (sic) up by a Dazzle Datsun with slick tyres and engine and gearbox specs not even dreamed of in its day!"

Excuse me! The rules that govern classic and historic racing in South Africa are duly prescribed and applied by the relevant race track owners and or chairpersons of such committees that host such classic/historic formats of racing. Each car is further scrutinised in accordance to such stipulated MSA GCR rules which may also include such appendices and or dispensations as may be applicable for that race year before being allowed to race. If the governing rules therefore applied allow such changes to include modifications to suspension, gearbox and tyres within such controlled and defined parameters and furthermore, that engine blocks, cylinder heads and camshaft geometry be in accordance with the 'period' of such motor manufacturer, why make the accusation that a Dazzle Datsun should not beat up a Cortina Lotus which is also deemed 'correct in terms of period'. This specific reference in the article sounds more like a personal vendetta rather than either the entrant driver, race car or race category not complying with such duly recognised and applicable rules which govern the specific race category. Should the Datsun vs Cortina Lotus then be in the same race category? Sorry, once again race entrants apply and abide by the applicable rules, not make them.

In conclusion, I sincerely believe it takes a race driver with talent and ability to outperform his or her opposition, irrespective of the vehicle type, whereas a person with loads of money and no talent or ability will usually always complain about being beaten by a poorer or lesser know competitor. Which category do you aspire towards Mr du Toit?

(Italics mine)

Pure Bad Luck & Relentless Determination

See BIG Bang L20 Gets me again !!! before this article.

Most people we've spoken to over the past weekend of 1st September have stated unreservedly that a touch of madness remains undiagnosed with Martin. I will keep this as brief as possible.

Lets me see, the motor was again rebuilt (see the previous article to get up to speed) and was again taken to the track for testing. After the first 5 laps everything appeared to be running reasonably well and without incident. During a second session and after another 2 laps the heat gauge started to climb again. The cause? Yip another crack in the block straight into a water jacket. So out it was with the motor again and 5 motor changes later, frustration levels at their peak and the moral at an all-time low, Martin finally got a motor together at 3PM on the Friday before the race. A practice session was done at 17h00 and he seemed reasonably satisfied although not entirely convinced. She did have that 'crisp' sound to her once again.

Saturday and race day arrived with weather for ducks. Qualifying was at 09h00 and Mr 'Do or Die' qualified the SSS 2nd on the grid. Martin went on to finish second in both heats despite also being taken out in the first heat and regaining second spot again . He subsequently finished a respectable second for the day in class A (posting a superb time of 1:26:8) with Charles Arton in a BMW 530 taking 1st overall for the day.







BMW 530 hounding the SSS

To say he was exhausted after the race weekend is a slight understatement and an early Saturday night was in order.

Oops - Ouch - Damn

Saturday 1st September 2007 - The Friday practice session was somewhat sacrificed in an attempt to help my 'boet' rebuild and refit his L20 motor. The weather wasn't exactly playing game either but I managed to get a few laps in during the last session of the day. Saturday morning we qualified at 09h00 and the weather was really best suited for ducks - wet and cold. So it was off with the slicks and out with the intermediates. Yip rain / drizzle is an equalizer no matter who rides. I eventually qualified 18th on the grid at a qualifying time of 1:42:00

The first race was ran at 11h50 and the rain had cleared and the race line was dry. So it was off with the intermediates and on with the slicks. I somehow managed to get a good heat cycle in on the warm-up lap resulting in a good start. I got ahead of the class E cars by diving through the middle and lead the class for the first lap after which Fred in the 3.0 XLE Cortina eventually passed me going through turn 4 on the second lap. Not much else happened during the race and I finished 2nd in class E in that race behind Fred. I did however manage to improve my time from my previous race event which was clocked at 1:36:4 vs a previous best of 1:36:8







1st Lap still ahead of the XLE

Heat 2 and I was determined to try even harder to get as close to a 1:36:0 as possible. My pull away was not as good as the 1st heat but was more competitive. I had Derek (Anglia 1600) and Fred (Cortina 3.0L) all around me with a few Alfa's tucked in as well. Into turn 1 and it felt like month end shopping at the hypermarket till point with everyone determined not to give up their place. I held the inside line going through turn 1 and moved over slightly to the middle heading toward turn 2. Somewhere between changing from 3rd to 4th gear and with the adrenalin pumping big time the right foot did not co-ordinate too well with the left foot and the Dati hit 9000 RPM plus and died. My race ended in turn 2. @#$%^&*

A quick check back in the pits indicated no compression at all. Sunday we stripped the head only to find cylinders 1, 2 and 3 exhaust valves looking rather like fully opened carburetor butterflies.

So its back to basics again.

1. There are 8 laps to finish the race.
2. Trying to do it on lap 1 is not a good idea Ian.

See you on the grid next time.