Bloomsbury Gydo King Of the Mountain Race
author: Patrick Vermaak
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Fred Phillips
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Friday saw all the main protagonists practice at the Killarney circuit and it was clear that their intentions were serious. Much work had gone into getting the Gydo King of the Mountain Race to run smoothly and what an event it proved to be.
Saturday arrived with the weather perfect and an atmosphere of great anticipation met the drivers as they cruised up the pass doing final checks on their cars and focusing their minds on the challenge ahead. The 5.2km route making it clear that the mountain will always be in charge. John Floyd was present as commentator and speakers were strategically placed throughout the route with repeater towers allowing virtually everyone the opportunity to listen to the action as it unveiled. Sadly this system was under utilised and much more interesting info could have been relayed to the public throughout the day. With spectators spending long hours in the pass waiting for the cars to flash past three times the PA system is critical to keep them entertained and updated. The program should also contain more information on each individual driver and car as there are some truly unique cars and drivers entered every year.
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Ashley Landman
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Whilst awaiting the start of the event these drivers should also be brought to the various spectator points for autograph sessions so the people can meet their heroes in the flesh. Driving the cars through the route in convoy would also not be a bad idea to set the scene and then a proper ceremony at the main spectator area for the top three cars would add to the spectacle. Enough about what should still happen !
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Dawie Olivier
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Saturday saw a very determined Dawie Olivier defend his title with a blistering time of 2min 33 in the very impressive Mikes Motor Shop Toyota Panelvan 1600 Turbo. The little van is reputed to deliver a whopping 260kW, achieved a measured top speed of 186km/h and averaged 122.4km/h through the 27 corner route. Dawie sits on his centre of gravity and really drives this Toyota. He has to because he has a namesake, Dawie Joubert, doing his utmost to beat him in the very popular yellow Honda VTec 2.0 powered Lotus Elise Motorsport. This little car set a new SA record for street legal cars when it achieved 323.4 km/h from a standing start over just 1km in turbo form. The good news is that the Joubert family is taking up residence in the Paarl soon and this Lotus will become a regular on local events. Second place, just one second slower than the Toyota was simply not acceptable.
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Robby Ferroli
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Ferroli Performance Centre have been involved with the King of the Mountain event since its inception and this year Robby Ferroli had two very special VW products too play with. On Saturday he had the unique yellow Yokahama 20v 2.0 VW Golf MkII Turbo whistling its way to the top of the mountain in 2min 40. Fourth spot went to another very determined racer. Former works Nissan driver, John Craig, equaling Ferroli’s best in the Bell Motors Nissan Sentra STi 2.0 Clubmans racing car. John better known for his outings in the older Saab.
Saab was represented by SA motorsport personality, Geoff Mortimer, in the Saab 900 that recently won the All Tar Rally in Gauteng with Michele Lupini behind the wheel. Having developed their own limited slip differential for the Saab it was expected to impress and fifth overall on 2min43 was quite acceptable. Anton Slabbert needs no introduction in the Cape and as expected he was in blistering form behind the wheel of his well known white FAG / Focus Inkjet Technologies VW Golf Citi, now developing 155kW. His time of 2min 44 very impressive given the company on the mountain.
Rupert van der Merwe opted not to compete in the Misverstand Rally on the same day and entered his very quick silver Subaru Impreza STi 4x4 Turbo instead. Seventh overall with a time of 2min46 was pretty good but somehow more was expected from this car as its best time was equaled by the Gerardo Cammarata in a similar car. Ninth place went to Kosie Swanepoel in the Mikes Motor Shop Toyota Levin 2.0 Turbo despite having only completed one run. This Avante lookalike is rear wheel driven and pushes a mind boggling 323kW from the four cylinder motor. Friday saw the car burst its block at Killarney and the team worked until 05h30 on Saturday morning to rebuilt the motor. Their first run was disappointing as the car would not rev above 5500 and the power band was 5500-7700. Having adjusted the mixture the car suddenly came alive and Kosie was looking forward to a great run, only to have the car munch it differential on the second attempt.
Gerrit Coetzee drove the cosmic green Harveys Travel / APS / Tiger Panelbeaters VW Golf Chico 1800 with absolute gusto and a time of 2min47 was really impressive with this car. Cobus Erasmus had to dig deep to equal his time with the black Demag VW Golf GTi 2.0 16v and Shaun Potter joined the party on 2min47 with his Subaru Impreza 4x4 Turbo STi. Grant van Eck next in his George Economides VW Golf GTi 2.0. Hot on his heels followed Andries van Eeden in his white Citi 1800.
Peter Petersen did not push very hard in the Possum Bourne engined Subaru Impreza S/W STi 4x4 Turbo and made it clear that he was not driving the car to its full potential yet. John de Beer was present for a single run in a borrowed STi after the red Opel destroyed its engine during preparations for the mountain race. Leon Laubscher made his mountain debut behind the wheel of a very impressive supercharged BMW M3 and he was followed home by Mike Grinnel in another Subaru Impreza STi 4x4 Turbo. Marius Smal defended Opel honour in his Hyperformance Camshaft Specialists Opel Astra 200 STi with the superb Lamborghini Murcielago of Marius Malherbe in 20th spot on times. Peet van der walt enjoyed a cautious debut on the mountain with his U-Store-It VW Golf Citi 1800 and he had local lad, Pieter Hugo, behind him in the Kia Motors Paarl VW Golf GTi 1800.
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Marius Malherbe
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Mike Carelse placed his Subaru Impreza STi 4x4 Turbo 23rd and he was followed by the Bloomsbury Ford Sierra XR8 driven by Deon de Waal. Sadly Deon lost an argument with the amrco and the Ford was retired with a holed radiator. Neville Perkins and the Impreza GT was next with Bennie Lodewyk a somewhat disappointing 26th in his rapid KSD VW Golf. Shane Naidu and the Audi Quattro S2 and then Japie Joubert in the Honda VTec Turbo. This car popping its turbo on its third run.
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Greg Dreyer
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Johan Grundling drove a neat Lancia Delta Integrale and Jason Peisl brought up th erear in his elderly Porsche 911. The six motorcyclists proved very entertaining with Dino de Wet taking the initiative on board his Yamaha R6 600 with a best time of 2min 41. Greg Dreyer shares Dawie Olivier’s view on winning (winning is not everything it’s the only thing) and equaled his time on the Yamaha R1. Gareth Kenward third fastest on his Aprilia 1000 with the gloriously sounding Honda CBX 1000 of Danie Maritz fourth. Charl van Sittert and Eugene Laubscher bringing up the rear on their respective Kawasaki and Suzuki mounts.
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Danie Maritz
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Bessie Bester became a statistic on the mountain when he comprehensively modified the Gordon Murison KSD VW Golf 2.0 against the rock face. Having blown the motor on his own car he borrowed the well sorted Golf of Gordon Murison and actually lapped Killarney some four seconds quicker than he could in his own car. Confident of a good time he tried that little bit too hard and destroyed the Golf. Johan Bester also managed to wreck his BMW 325 when he clobbered the armco barrier. Mountain two – competitors zero!
Having furiously fought off the thousands of “muggies” on the Saturday a slight breeze on Sunday alleviated the bug problem and thanks to the good cooperation of the spectators the event ran like clockwork to finish quite early and without any major incidents.
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Dr Stuart Kidgell
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As expected it was the immaculately prepared Ultima GTR 3.2 twin turbo Alfa powered entry of Dr Stuart Kidgell that succeeded in setting a brilliant time of 2min14 at an average speed of 139.7km/h and topping 197km/h . The hot and dry conditions allowing slicks to function properly and this time will really require a special effort too be beaten. For the second successive year Stuart and the Ultima earned the title as King of the Mountain.
Dawie Joubert took revenge on Dawie Olivier by pipping the Toyota driver by a solid four seconds in the Lotus. Rob Beaumont showed a good turn of speed in the Johan Fourie MD Transport SASCAR V8 and hopefully more of these drivers will return in 2004. Robby Ferroli had a torrid day in the superb Yokohama twin engined 1800 turbo VW Golf MkI, blowing a turbo on the final run. Fifth was a little disappointing as this car has been improved throughout the year. Sixth overall was filled by an impressive Anton Rollino in the Chevrolet “Little Chev” Can Am V8, settling the Chev versus Ford duel in favour of the “braaivleis” gang.
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Rob Beaumont
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The howling Flora Bay Resorts BMW M3 of Hermann Mahnke next in line after some very determined runs with the thundering Ford Credit GpN Ford Falcon V8 of Steve Wyndham also showing some impressive speed. William Carter showed a fair turn of speed in his Porsche 993 Turbo as did newcomer, Lawrence Blomkamp in another Porsche. Clive “Kosie” Corder enjoyed a eventful outing in the detuend 350kW supercharged Cobra whilst rallyist, Paul Pfeiffer, tried his hand at mountain racing in his BMW M3.
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Nick Vernon
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Nick Vernon drove replica of the Nissan 280Z which Paul Newman (film star) drove in America and the car was complete right down to the number decals. Maybe not the quickest on the mountain but certainly one of the cars with the most character. Charles Arton next up in his BMW M Coupe after his genuine Loola T212 could not be brought down to Cape Town in time. Bert Klaver posted a 2min 48 on his first attempt in the powerful Chevrolet Lumina SS V8 before rubbing panels against the armco. Johann van Aswegen enjoyed his debut in the George based Porsche 911 SC with the RS2.7 Porsche of Fred Phillips four seconds slower. Rob Pringle next in his Cobra V8 with Mynhardt de Jongh the final entry home in his Nissan Skyline 2.8 GTX.
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Johann van Aswegen
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Greg Dreyer posted a brilliant 2min23 aboard his standard Yamaha R1 averaging 130.9km/h and topping at 210km/h to win the overall motorcycle challenge and third fastest time of the weekend. Dino de Wet improved to 2min27 on his racing Yamaha R6 600 and Gareth Kenward cut down to a 2min28 aboard the big Aprilia 1000. Star of the day had to be Danie Maritz on the big Honda CBX 1000 six cylinder. The big machine howling its way to the top of the mountain. Charl van Sittert and Eugene Laubscher once again bringing up the rear.
Andrew Markham set a very respectable 2min35 in his Rotax 250 International Kart and topped at 156km/h and an average speed of 124.8km/h. A number of demo runs were completed and of these Ashley Landman managed 2min36 in his 0 car Porsche GT3 on his sixth and final attempt whilst Marius Malherbe coaxed the magnificent Lamborghini to 2min44. The F50 Ferrari was spun enroute to 3min49 and the Ferrari Daytona managed 3min41.
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Ashley Landman
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Possibly not the standard of entry that regulars on the mountain have become accustomed to but positive was the fact that the event proved itself as a viable and safe success. Speeds were higher and times truly impressive yet the incidents were well controlled and the event in general ran very smoothly.
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Steve Wyndham
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Beating Dr Stuart Kidgell would be quite a tall order so expect some serious machinery and dedicated drivers to return to the fray next year. As long as the throne is retained by an SA entry !
Pity you missed it !
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