Business Day Regional Race Meeting
author: Patrick Vermaak
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Table Mountain
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Perfect spring weather meant potentially fast lap times and unfortunately, higher than normal retirement rate in all categories. Though conditions remained near perfect, the timing system in use simply did not and one could not help but compare the two page-timing contract with the money wasted by each competitor, with no result for at least two races. What penalties are applied to protect the investment by the individual competitors?
Formula Libre / Single Seater Club Championship
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GTi - website and all
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Twelve cars completed timed practice with Ebrahim Levy on pole as expected in the red Bull Swift Formula GTi racer and he had the Communica Swift of Ernst Viljoen alongside him. Nieyaas Modack placed third in his Ray GTi and fourth fastest went to the immaculately prepared Jordan Honda F1 look-alike Formula 4 racer of John Sapsed.
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John Sapsed
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Having previously raced an Owen Ashley designed Micro Midget Ferrari look-alike John is known for his high standards of preparation and his new car is truly superb. The Jordan comparison is genuine but the engine is in fact a 1000cc Suzuki. High revving it really looks and sound the part on track. Somehow being two seconds off the pace simply did not fit the picture.
The yellow machine simply flew off the line and vanished into the distance, posting a fastest time of 1min16.793 en route to a 34.092 second victory. Ebrahim Levy have to date been the quality standard of the series but even he can only manage 1min19.197 in the Red Bull Swift. Attrition in this series was high as Nieyaas Modack failed to reach the Good Year bridge and Ebrahim Levy only completed four laps before coasting to a halt in Sabat.
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Ernst Viljoen in action
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Ernst Viljoen found some consistency in the Communica Swift to finish a distant second with Reg Anderson third in the class B Swift GTi. Steven Schemel taking fourth in his class C Van Diemen Formula Ford and Mark Grinnell fifth in his class B DAW GTi. Andrew Henderson placing sixth in his Lantis Formula Vee. Ralph da Costa tried to bury his Hillbank Formula Ford on the outside of Cell C, the car looking fit for Dakar on exit.
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Ralph da Costa - completely lost!
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Expecting much of the same in heat two it was somewhat disappointing to see the Jordan look-alike imitate its current F1 stable mates by failing to finish. In fact, it only reached Shell before coasting to a halt. Ebrahim levy tried a new line into Cell C and then spent the rest of the race chasing after Nieyaas Modack. Nieyaas boxed Ebrahim in front of the main grandstand and won the heat by a scant 0.093 seconds. Ernst Viljoen lost a front wing on the Communica Swift and had to be satisfied with a distant third place. Steven Schemel took fourth, in his Class C Van Diemen and Chris Botha fifth and Armin Soeker sixth.
Overall class winners for the day was Ernst Viljoen first in class A with the Communica Swift, Reg Anderson first in class B with his neat Swift GTi and Steven Schemel first in class C with his Van Diemen Formula Ford.
Suzuki South Motorcycles D, X and PS/Classics
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Danie Maritz
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Gareth Agnew placed his PS Honda VFR 400 firmly on pole with the Classic CBX1000 Honda six cylinder of Danie Maritz second fastest, but undoubtedly the most spectacular. Donovan le Cok was third fastest on his PS Prima Sports Honda VFR400 and fourth fastest to Hilton Redelinghuys aboard yet another PS Honda VFR400.
Gareth Agnew duly won the first heat with class X newcomer, Graeme Green placing his Honda VFR NC 30 second and third going to PS Honda NSR 250 racer, Donovan Rodgers. A well fought fourth place going to the evil handling Honda CBX 1000 of a hard working Danie Maritz. Stefan Nel placing his class D Executive Decisions Honda CBR600 fifth and Guy Moat completing the top six aboard his PS Honda VFR400.
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Donovan Le Cok scaring all and sundry!
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Donovan le Cok gave everyone a fright when he collided with the tyre wall in Cell C and remained down after very solid contact. Taking every precaution possible, he was evacuated and news was that his injuries were within motorcyclist tolerances and he would be back.
Heat two saw Agnew at the head of the field and he looked a certain winner until the rear shock collapsed, forcing the Honda to a stop just after the Good Year Bridge. For Danie Maritz got a gym workout, and also a victory for his entertaining efforts aboard the howling 1977 Honda. He proceeded to celebrate with a perfect doughnut on the slow down lap. Graeme Brown took another second with Donovan Rodgers third and Guy Moat fourth. Stefan Nel slipping tot fifth and David Bolding taking sixth on Big Bertha, the immaculately prepared 1982 Suzuki Katana 1100. Having witnessed John Surnam arriving at Killarney with his 1969 Triumph Special one can believe the statements made that this combination of rider/bike is in fact the oldest in the world today. Add the Morris and it’s a definite!
Overall class winners for the day was Johan Booyens first Classic aboard his 1974 BMW R90, Guy Moat first class D on his Honda VFR400, Donovan Rodgers first in PS aboard his Honda NSR 250, Danie Maritz first Classic aboard the mighty 1977 Honda CBX 1000 and first class X was the impressive Graeme Brown aboard his Honda VFR NC30.
Trafalgar Property Services Classic / Fine Cars Club Championship
After having been given a driving lesson in the wet during the previous meeting the Class A entries were revelling in the dry conditions. Anton Rollino placed the “Little Chev” Can Am on pole with the very rapid 1600 Datsun 160Z of Clive Spolander second. Brian Smith surprised with third fastest in his immaculate Alfa Romeo Berlina 2.0 and he had a young Peter Gough alongside in the GT Junior. The giant killing Renault R8 Gordini of Ashley Ellis shared row three with the yellow GT Junior of Garth Gaenssler.
Making good use of the mighty Chev V8 engine Anton Rollino drove to a fine first place and he was followed home the neat RSR Porsche of Keith Rose. Trevor Momberg returned to form in the Smith and Santos Ford Capri 3.0 Interceptor and had to pick up his heels to beat the GT Junior of Peter Gough. Fifth place was filled by the very rapid and neat modified Ford Escort of former Super Saloon and Supercar champion Louis Powell. Ashley Ellis simply did not have the legs to live with the more powerful class A machines and had to settle for sixth spot. Brian Smith slipping to seventh and Fred Phillips eighth in his re-engined Porsche 911 RS. Garth Gaenssler ninth in his class B Alfa with Paul Amman tenth in his class B VW Scirocco.
Sadly, the Datsun 160Z cried enough after only two laps as did the mighty ex-Basil van Rooyen Ford Mustang of Derek van Blerk. The Mustang in particular looked menacing. Third in class B went to Greg Sinden in his red Ford Capri 3.0 and fourth to Malcolm Uytenbogaardt in the rapid Ford Anglia. The Glen Uytenbogaardt Ford Anglia and Chris Carolin Trans Cape Steel Ford Escort failed to finish this heat. Michael Gerhardi won class C convincingly in his Ford Escort with Martin Richards second in the “Chicken Plucker” Datsun 1600 SSS and Coenrad Spamer third in the BMW 2002 with Jim Cousins fourth in his Alfa Berlina 2.0 and Jan Driedijk fifth in the very quick Alfasud. Robbie Driedijk taking sixth in the sole surviving Alfa Romeo Guilia.
Wayne Botes won class D in his Alfa Romeo GT Junior with Mike van der Poel taking second in his Alfasud Sportwagon and Arnold Lambert third in his Ford Anglia. Pete Sherman taking fourth spot in his massive Fine Cars Ford Granada V8 and fifth Tristam Wilson in another Alfasud. Dudley Bertarelli completing the top six in the class with his Alfa Berlina 2.0. The Fine Cars Fiat 124 Sport of Nigel Best won class E from the Austin Mini of Johan Rheeder and the Alfa Romeo GTV of Johnny Mansour. Doug Logan claiming class F from Wallied Darries.
The 43-car field certainly entertaining with a large variety of vehicles and some really determined driving. Sadly, heat two provided an equal amount of action on the bitumen but the real drama unfolded when no results were forthcoming. At the time of writing no result had been released and the outcome a mystery.
Fast Parts GTi Challenge Club Championship
Determined as a Schumacher it was Wanie Phillips on pole in the SAC / BP Spares VW Golf II GTi 2.0 16v with defending champion, George Economides second in his Vaalie WP silver Golf I entry. The ever
Consistent Gerrit Coetzee third in his green machine and rallyist, Mika Nathan fourth in his Aluminium Window Industries VW Polo Playa 2.0. Bessie Bester had the 3rd Network Golf I upright in fifth spot and Grant van Eck was slowly edging closer on times in the second Economides Golf I. Andries van Eeden top dog in class B with Guy Baines fastest in class C.
Wanie drove a calculated race to fend off Econimides and Mike Nathan netted third place with Gerrit Coetzee fourth and Bessie Bester fifth. Grant van Eck completing the top six at the end of heat one. Andries van Eeden won class B from Paul Medell and Stefanie Aukett whilst Gerard Nefdt pipped Guy Baines in class C.
George Econimides attacked from the lights in heat two and actually looked as though he could wear out Wanie Phillips. Unknown was the fact that Wanie was battling to select fourth gear and once he had mastered the loose gear lever the SAC Golf succeeded in maintaining first place. Bessie Bester taking third and Gerrit Coetzee fourth with Grant van Eck fifth. After a lacklustre first heat, it was good to see Pieter Gouws move into sixth spot with the Jetta. Nathan failing to reach Cell C on lap one.
Paul Medell pipped Andries van Eeden by a mere 0.179seconds to win class B and in class C it was old hand Peet van der Walt back in control with the U-Save-It VW Golf Citi 1800. The overall result had Wanie Phillips first in class A and maintaining his championship lead whilst Andries van Eeden took class B and Guy Baines winning class C.
Sports Cars Club Championship
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Eben Greyling T41
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As expected the superb Owen Ashley.com Ford GT40 of Eben Greyling slotted into pole position some three seconds quicker than anything else and still not pushing hard. The new front spoiler certainly gave the car a very different appearance but it was still inspiring to watch. Grant Geyer and the mega mouth Sheldon 7 looked as though they were considering an introduction to rallycross but second fastest was fair.
Eben Greyling was having so much fun in the GT40 that he actually had time to fit in two excursions before concentrating on winning the event whilst it took an even more concerted effort from Grant Geyer to recover a safe second when he too demonstrated 360 degree cornering to the crowd in Engen. Louis de Jager never put a foot wrong in the Lola T212 replica and took a fine third place with Mike Coram hot on his heels in the FVH 7. Trevor Tickner taking fifth in his Lotus 7 and sixth spot going to HD Rossouw in yet another Birkin 7.
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Louis de Jager
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Heat two was less entertaining as Greyling did not put the GT40 at risk and won comfortably from Geyer Coram and de Jager with Kevin Solomon fifth and HD Rossouw sixth.
Warwick Supercars Regional Championship
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Start of the Supercars
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Seventeen Supercars completed timed practice but Jurie Swart turned spectator when his car munched its motor during the session. Wally Dolinschek currently have the series by the scruff of its neck and the Makita entry once again took pole with the Cell C / 3rd Network entry of Deon Joubert sharing the front row. Row 2 had a determined Mark Eliasov and defending champion, Richard Schreuder. Hermann Mahnke, and Marcel Angel shared the third row. Kosie Swanepoel found himself midfield after many practice problems. It was good to see Richard Weggelaar back after the unfortunate kidnapping of his son recently.
A win is a win, even if it is by only 0.384 seconds and it was Wally Dolinschek who reached the flag ahead of Deon Joubert with the Autohouse Angel entry of Marcel Angel third. Hermann Mahnke impressed with a fine fourth and he was ahead of Richard Schreuder and Kosie Swanepoel. Neil Hawkins spun himself out of a good result on the exit of Cell C whilst Gary Fourie and Alan de Goede bounced off each other in Engen. Mark Eliasov also shot himself in the foot by starting early and netting a 30 second penalty.
Wally was even more dominant in heat two with Deon second and a determined Hermann Mahnke third in the Flora Bay Resort entry. Marcel Angel taking fourth and Richard Schreuder fifth in the TRS
Construction entry. Kosie Swanepoel happy to make it into sixth after another unhappy event in the Mike’s Motor Shop entry.
ASA Auto Spares Clubmans Regional Championship
Brett Roach celebrated his return to the Clubmans series by planting the ex-Wayne Wilson Nissan Sentra STi 2.0 on pole, now in the colours of PG Glass. Sharing row one was the very rapid Powerflow VW Golf I GTi 2.0 Greig Edwards. John Craig finding himself in unfamiliar terrain with the silver Nissan Sentra STi 2.0 only third on the grid with the menacing class B Hyperformance Opel Superboss of Johnny “Bravo” de Beer at its side. Stuart Gatland quietly asserting his championship stakes with fifth fastest in the Mechanical Cooling class B VW Jetta.
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Stuart Gadland
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John Craig spent a few laps behind the Roach Sentra but then simply drove past to win as he pleased with Stuart Gatland taking third in the class B Jetta. Paul Beachy-head and the beautiful Sirius Fund Management class B VW Jetta showed a good turn off speed in fourth with Peter van der Poel placing the MRD Opel Kadett fifth.
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Peter van der Poel
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Not only the series sponsor but quite capable behind the wheel and stealing the thunder from the red Opel. Johnny de Beer not doing himself any favours by spinning in Cell C just after the start. Jacques Arndt placing his big class C Leyland Rover SDi sixth.
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De Beer spins!
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John Peiser second in class C with his Speed VW Jetta, Wanie Phillips third in the SAC Golf GTi, Greg Walker fourth in his Exilis Golf GTi, Brian Daykin fifth in his Hyperformance Opel Astra and Barry Williams sixth in the former class B touring car Nissan Primera. Stewart Malcolm won class D in his neat Ford Escort RS2000 with Dave Beecroft second in his Dredge a Drain Nissan Sentra and Jo Henson third in his VW Golf GTi. Cobus Claasen spun away a possible class win in the neat Ford Escort and had to settle for fourth spot with Ernest Leite fifth and Clifford George sixth.
Claude Williams drove well to win class E convincingly in the Opel Kadett. He was followed home by the Zebra VW Golf of Nick van Rensburg, the Escort of Adrian Mossop, the Conquest of Francis Murray, and the Opel of Gerard Clement. AJ Theunissen won class F in his Honda 160I with Andre Johnson on his heels in the Executive Decisions VW Golf Cti, Anton Jacobs in his 3.0 Ford Cortina and Simon Taylor in the Daihatsu Charade.
John Craig won heat two even more convincingly with Roach a distant second. Paul Beachy-head taking third after Gatland pitted the yellow Jetta. Nieyaas Modack showed some speed in the powerful BMW 325iS and moved into fourth spot with Peter van der Poel once again the top Opel home in fifth spot. Johnny de Beer vanishing after four laps. Ebrahim Levy placed his BMW 325 sixth.
In class C Wanie Phillips added to his day’s success with another class win in the SAC Golf GTi and he had Greg Walker, Barry Williams, John Peiser, Brian Daykin and Sataar Osman following him home. Dave Beecroft won class D from Stewart Malcolm, Jo Henson, Astrid Huckstedt, and Ernest Leite. Claude Williams won class E from Adriaan Mossop and Nick van Rensburg and in class F it was AJ Theunissen from Anton Jacobs, Andre Johnson and Eddie Dresser.
Class winners overall were:
A John Craig
B Paul Beachy-Head
C John Peiser
D Stewart Malcolm
E Claude Williams
F AJ Theunissen
Suzuki South Motorcycles A/B/C Regional Championship
Dino de Wet surprised by putting his Linex Yamaha R6 on pole from the new Cell C Suzuki GSXR1000 of Rob Cragg. The latter riding a stock standard 1000 on race rubber as a shakedown for the new class to be introduced in the SA championship for 2004. Uwe Schmidt and Martin van Straden next in line.
The race went well with Rob Cragg simply flying away at the front but sadly, there was no result as the timing equipment bombed out. With a regional championship at stake, this must certainly have had at least a few riders upset.
Race two saw Schmidt docked with a 30sec penalty, as he was a little too quick off the line. Robb Cragg won as he pleased on the new machine with Dino de Wet (Linex Yamaha R6) taking second and Martin van Staden (Yamaha R6) third. Greg Turner (Suzuki GSXR 600) slotted into fourth with Malcolm Rapson (Suzuki GSXR750) fifth and Peter Beldekeno (Yamaha R7) sixth.
Overall, the results were settled at
A Dino de Wet from Martin van Staden, Uwe Schmidt, and Greg Turner
B Wayne Fritz from Gareth Agnew
C Warwick Sacke from Wayne Arendse and Aleric Meyer
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Johan Pretorius - brand new apex through the corner!
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