Springtime Historic & Inland Tour ready to thrill Pretoria

Zwartkops Raceway’s highly popular third final Historic and Inland Tour of the season is ready to thrill Pretoria race fans this Saturday 26 September long weekend. The faithful can expect the regular packed grids, exotic cars, classic racing, and some exciting new combinations as they celebrate spring at their trackside braais.

A packed bill features historic action including combined Legends of the 9 Hour Sports, GTs and Trans-Am races, Evapco HRSA Sprint and Pursuit Challenge and Single Seaters, and Marlboro Crane Legend and Little Giant Production Cars. Add contemporary entertainment in the Dunlop ATS Lotus Challenge, Monoposto single seaters, two packed bites of Silver Cup 2.0s, and Real Pro Auto Clubmans action too.

Mark du Toit’s, Larry Wilford’s, and Neil Lobb’s mighty Lola T70s will recall halcyon Springbok Series memories as they take on Peter Bailey’s Ford GT40, and Jonathan du Toit and Allen Meyer’s Chevron B8s in the Legends of the 9 Hour races. Add a squabbling pack of Daytonas, Porsches and Cobras snapping at their heels, too. Thundering action all the way to the flag!

They all have the added attention of a pack of monster Legends V8s this weekend. Ben Morgenrood and Jonathan Needham’s Mustangs, Alistair Simpson’s Capri Perana, Colin Ellison, and Michael Kernick’s Camaros, Seef Fourie’s Yunnick Chevelle and Paige Lindenberg’s Fairlane. Add Uli Sanne’s splendid BMW 3.5 CSL ‘Batmobile,’ Steve Pickering’s Porsche 910 and Carel Pienaar’s Datsun 240Z.

Peter Bailey, Nicky Dicks, and George Avvukomedes’ Porsche 911 RSRs are the cars to beat on a huge Evapco HRSA Sprint grid. But ignore Werner Kotze and Willem Botha’s Mazda R100s, Andre ten Napel and Jannie van Rooyen’s Sciroccos and Seef Fourie’s Datsun 140Y at your own peril. And are Mike O'Sullivan’s Ballade, Dave Leyshon’s Scirocco, Datsun duo Keegan Ward and Ian Richards the men to beat in the classes?

Historic single seater racing fans can look forward to Formula Ford men, Ian Schofield’s Reynard, Des Hillary and Paul Richardson’s Dulons, Ryan Ludik’s Titan, Steve Venter and Van Diemen duo Ben van der Westhuizen fighting off Colin Clay’s 23C sportscar and Stuart Greig aboard a ‘57 Cooper Climax. Also watch for Formula Vee men Tony Beecher, Michael Kernick, and the rest.

More contemporary, Allen Meyer’s Formula VW and GTi men and woman Joss Chaikin, Damien Archer and Nadine van der Merwe have been on form Monoposto of late, chased by a pack of Formula Ms and Vees. Mackie Adlem, Dewald Smith, Josef Kotze, Rudi Barnard and Rachelle du Plessis are the top Dunlop ATS Lotus Challenge Class A drivers, while Nick Hodgson, Sean Hepburn, and Juan du Toit are the Locost favourites.

So big is the Car Care Clinic SilverCup 2.0 field that it’s been split down the middle. Anton Bitzer and Dewald Pretorius’ Mazda RX7s, Wessel Mostert’s BMW M3 Turbo, Zander Jacobs’ Corrado, Ulandi Exner’s Mini Cooper, and Johan Minnaar in a Backdraft Cobra S are among those to watch. Adriaan le Roux and Klippies Krige’s Super 7s should set the pace among the Real Pro Clubmans, NSCC, MHCC & Trofeo races with Lerine Wentzel’s Subaru and Rodney Kruis and Victor Dias’ Ballades ready to interfere.

Being Zwartkops, braais, cooler boxes, gazebos, and the rest are welcome trackside where all the regular attractions are ready to entertain. Entry is R120 for adults, R100 for students and kids under twelve enter free. What better way to spend a balmy Pretoria winter’s weekend than at Zwartkops’ Historic and Inland Tour? More at www.zwartkops.co.za  See you there!