The Historic Times - Historic Racing South Africa

The Historic Times 

Volume 14 issue 02 

Cost R10 

February 2013 

Historic Racing South Africa 

The views and articles published in The Historic Times do not necessarily represent the views of the Historic Racing South Africa 

Phil Hopwie MG Special 

‘SPIDER’ 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE HASTIE 

Heyns Stead is the proud owner of the Phil Howie MG Special that hails from the mid fifties. Heyns had owned it since 1990 and he tell 

us the car was called Spider as all the cars in the Les Miller team were given a particular name. The car was one of three built by Les 

Miller and it runs an MG 1250 cc engine. 

Racing this machine is however not everything that one might expect! In fact if you forget to pump the fuel by way of the long handled 

pump with your left arm while on the straights you would be in for a little surprise come turn next on the track, you would find the car 

willing in spirit but weak in the flesh! Yep we do take so much for granted with modern cars. YES 1965 cars are MODERN when compared 

to those made in the early ‘50’s! 

Well done to Heyns who posted respectable 1m36 at the recent Zwartkops passion for speed and 2m45 around the Kyalami track. 

And how lovely it is to see the car that was so much part of our club from its inception; perhaps one day we could find a way to welcome 

back the Historic Single Seaters to our club! 

The older I get, the faster I was!

PASSION FOR SPEED 

A massive THANK YOU to the guys n gals from Killarney for dropping the second leg of our annual 

international this year. The nett result was that us Vaalies got a thoroughly good dose of historic 

racing right out of the top drawer. The stunning machinery of all shapes and sizes was surpassed only 

by the superb displays of driving shills of the many racers from around the globe. Nice also the see 

the return of the annual old faithful from across the water such as the Mc Laren V8 with its signature 

rugby ball stoppers astride the off-centre carb trumpets. 

The creation of the Little Giants of the Legends 

allowed the lesser cc’d cars strut proudly their stuff 

without fear of being swamped blasted by a gaggle 

of thunderous V8 on their way to the top step of the 

podium. Notable was the little 900cc Hillman Imp of 

Terence Tracey driven by Phil Webb hold its own 

against the spotless Porsche 356 of Clive Winterstein. 

Incidentally Phil Webb had purchased the Works Imp 

W101 of Bob Kelsey in the 60’s and although this car is 

2


long lost he miraculously managed to retrieve the original magnesium Minilites from the Kelsey Imp! 

Kyalami is a track that would better suit the big muscle cars one would expect… yeah well, why doesn’t 

anybody tell this to the Alfa brigade There is a strong rumour in the pits that the Alfissimos decided 

to invent a new track game called; “LET’S PICK A V8 TO IRITATE!” Try as they would the front 

running V8’s tried to shake off the pesky little Alfas of Trevor Tuck, Clive Densham and Collin Ellison but 

each Alfa to a man held their chosen pry to complete honesty with Tuck taking the flag in a fourth 

overall position well ahead of a further six or eight muscle cars. Separated by one V8 Clive Densham 

followed in sixth and if his block had managed to keep all of its internals in side it and in proper running 

order Colin would have being eight hot on the rear fender of the 7 th place V8. 

Well if you thought this was fun to watch small cars pressurise mighty machines like Chev Belaires or big 

block Ford whatevers then you should have seen the Mini of Denzil Bhana ridicule the cubic capacity of 

the monster cars, not only shadowing them in the twisty bits but actually dragging them down the pit 

straight. Hollywood movies would not put together movies in this vein as they feel they would lose 

credibility with the movie buffs. Welcome to the real World of racing; top stuff guys and sad for your 

blow up Collin! (I have some 67mm Imp pistons if you need, but I guess you might find them a little on 

the little side! Ed.) 

3 

Continued on page 5

COMMITTEE DETAILS 

Nick Sheward Chairman (083) 299-3090 vicechairman@historicracing.co.za 

Tracy Cilliers Secretary (082) 330-3446 secretary@historicracing.co.za 

Jacques Cilliers Chairman Saloon Cars (084) 951-7414 saloon@historicracing.co.za 

Chairman Sports & GT 

Nick Sheward 

Chairman Classic Thoroughbreds 

(083) 299-3090 thoroughbred@historicracing.co.za 

Kevin Taylor Chairperson Marque Cars (083) 608-6896 

marque@historicracing.co.za 

Hedley Whitehead Treasurer (082) 448-8269 treasurer@historicracing.co.za 

Historic Times Editor (non committee) 083 601 7511 

ttracey@polka.co.za 

Website; 

www.historicracing.co.za 

4


Another exciting event to witness was Darren Lobb who started his race from the third row on the 

grid in his Fiat 131 Mirafiori. First he would catch up with 5 th placed VICTIM, size him up and choose 

when to send him back to sixth place. Next 4 th , a little further away, and a tad quicker; same 

procedure, catch up, size up and move up! Just like that. The Snatch past in Clubhouse was quite 

spectacular and the move he pulled to claim 2 nd threading his Fiat through a gaggle of 

backmarkers ascending Wesbank hill was the stuff that champions are noted for. Sadly Darren was 

robbed of a solid crack at 1 st as he ran out of laps, but given two more laps the Fiat would certainly 

have vanquished over the BMW that took top honours. 

The MGA of the Youth Programme was plagued early on in the day with either fuel feed problems 

or electrics. Welcome to the world of racing old cars boys, things are only smooth when YOU make 

them so. Remember the golden rule of racing; ‘PREPARE to win’. Well in spite of their setbacks 

and of course a big thanks to Dave (Holt) for his support and help, the lads managed to put the 

car onto the grid for the 45 minute race with Gavin out first and he put up a strong showing with 

Roger Huston’s MgB in the early stages of the endurance event. It was quite amusing to see young 

Gavin gesticulating to the Lotus Elan who was holding him up as they came through the old Bus 

Stop sweep. Needless to say it took no time for him to dispatch the Lotus. Roger meanwhile took 

advantage of being passed by the race leaders to reclaim his position previously lost to Gavin. Dog 

eat dog racing between the two of them again for lap after lap and it seemed being undisturbed 

but the race leaders Gavin was again able to pass the MGB and pull out a reasonable gap before 

handing over to Stephen who carried on the good work shadowing the Alfa of John Ten’s son and 

then overtaking him to then set his sights on a Dart. Stephen having followed the Dart for a few 

laps made a brave move up the inside at the super bowl, a bit of a lockup but a quick recovery to 

keep the advantage and show the dart the way through to the flag. 

Editor 

5

CHAIRMAN’S CHAT 

Dear Members and fellow Committee 

Members. 

January has come and gone once more 

and we are off to a flying start to the 

year. Prizegiving at Cesco’s was truly well 

attended and judging by the amount of 

families and competitors still there late in 

the afternoon, a great time was had by 

many. 

Registration Day was well attended and a 

big thanks to all who participated and 

assisted with the event. A really long hot day ensued with the opportunity 

to test on the track later in the afternoon. Big thanks go to Zwartkops for 

assisting us with a venue once again. 

The end of January always signals the start of a great Motoring Festival 

which I am sure we all look forward to every year. Great entries at both 

events in all categories were truly enjoyed by all spectators. The pedestrian 

traffic in the pits was non-stop! We look forward to next year with renewed 

fervor! 

The XR8 ran hot both meetings but these things are sent to challenge us, 

aren’t they Some say these challenges build character! Thanks for all the 

advice and chat on my car issues! 

The Category AGM’S will commence at Piston Ring on the 20 th February at 

1900hrs sharp. There is a lot to get through so we do need the early start. 

Please remember the nominations for these positions should be of Members 

willing and capable of fulfilling the mandate required of the Category, and 

capable attending every Committee Meeting throughout the year. 

See you all there! Ciao All. 

Warm Regards 

Nick Sheward 

6

Zulu Warrior Slain at Zwartkops 

Photography by Dave Hastie 

Photo Dave Gomersall 

8 

Continued on page 34

MOTORING TUNES 

A SONG WRITTEN BY CHUCK BERRY AND MADE TO SOUND WONDERFUL BY THE ALLMAN BROTHERS’ BAND 

NO MONEY DOWN! 

As I was motorvatin' 

Back towards town 

I saw a Cadillac sign 

That said "No Money Down" 

So I eased on my brakes 

And I pulled in the drive 

Gunned my motor twice 

Then I walked inside 

Dealer came to me 

Said "Trade in you Ford 

And I'll put you in a car 

That'll eat up the road 

Just tell me what you want 

And then sign on that line 

And I'll have it brought down to you 

In a hour's time" 

I'm gonna get me a car 

And I'll be headed on down the road 

Then I won't have to worry 

About that broken - down, raggedy Ford 

"Well Mister I want a yellow convertible 

Four - door de Ville 

With a Continental spare 

And a wide chrome wheel 

I want power steering 

And power brakes 

I want a powerful motor 

With a jet off - take 

I want air condition 

I want automatic heat 

And I want a feather bed and a pillow 

In the back seat 

I want short - wave radio 

I want TV and a phone 

You know I gotta talk to my baby 

When I'm ridin' alone" 

Yes I'm gonna get that car 

And I'm gonna head on down the road 

Yeah, then I won't have to worry 


"I want four carburetors 

And two straight exhausts 

I'm burnin' aviation fuel 

No matter what the cost 

I want railroad air horns 

And a military spot 

And I want a fifteen - year guarantee 

On everything I got 

I want ten - dollar deductible 

I want twenty dollar notes 

I want thirty thousand liability" 

That's all she wrote 

I got me a car 

And I'm headed on down the road 

No money down 

I don't have to worry 


THESE AND OTHER MOTORING TUNES ARE AVAILABLE FROM HISTORIC CAR 

ENTHUSIAST ADRIAN OF HIGH FIDELITY 084 207 9177 

9

JoLon Imp 2013 

http://jolonimp.wordpress.com/ 

A massive THANK YOU to all who supported the JoLon Imp fundraising dinner 

and auction in January. Not only were we able to raise a sizeable bunch of money 

but the evening was a truly special occasion. 

In the midst of a wonderful gathering of special people was the actual car that my 

travel buddy and I will head off to Coventry in on 17 th March. The partly prepared 

Imp was covered from roof to undertray with goods of all shapes and sizes, 

donated to the cause for auction during the dinner at Scrooge Diner. 

Of course the wonderful and varied items needed two very important ingredients 

to turn them into a benefit on the evening; an accomplished auctioneer and of 

course the generosity of those who purchased the items. Well not only did Clive 

Winterstein run a truly professional auction but he also infused a most wonderful 

vein of humour and entertainment into the event. Clive I am extremely grateful for 

your help. 

The three charities will duly receive 

their 15% of all monies raised and 

we will hand over the money to the 

Johannesburg Society for the blind 

on our departure and the donations 

for the Save the Rhino and the 

RNIB will receive their 

contributions when we arrive in the 

UK. 

The piece de resistance of the 

evening was a stunning depiction 

2 guys & 14, 000 gruelling kilometres in just 40 days! 

10 


I rather push a Ford than drive a Chev! 

11

C l a s s i c s C l a s s i f i e d s 

SECOND HAND SLICKS FOR SALE. 

CALL SHARON POULTER 

082 357 2058 

P u m a f o r S a l e R 65, 000 

New car, with all the goods, BMW wheels and brakes, twin braking system, oil cooler, special shocks, anti roll bar, Z bar, twin Cobra seats, 

plexiglass windows etc. 

2.2 ltr motor, billet crank corrilla rods, Engle cam Chrome moly 

push rods, hi volume oil pump, stinger exhaust, twin 40 IDF Webbers, 

specially modified crank case, modified big valve heads, balanced 

etc., comes with extra Puma body and chassis, gearbox, 

suspension, tyres etc., lots of photos, to show progress during the 

build, 

Will consider selling motor separately 

contact Bruce 0829525724 

FIVE (HARDLY EVER USED) 

DUNLOP RACING SLICKS 

SP SPORT 190 / 535 R 13 

Price highly negotiable 

083 601 7511 

12


For sale: 

1973 Mercedes Benz 280 Plus a four wheel trailer R65000.00 

Contact number 0828950474 

Regards 

Mike Leonhardt 

082 895 0474 

Escort Salisbury Limited Slip Diff with 3.9 Ratio for sale. 

R 5200.00 

Phone John Reidy 

082 789-6555 

john@th.co.za 

Wanted. 

For Sale 

Give away 

I am a young student looking 

for a cute Beetle for 

transport. Must be in clean 

condition and reliable. 

Call Caitlin 082 666 0766 

4 Minilite rims 114 pcd. 

R2 ,500 

5 8 inch Dunlop slicks 

(almost new) 

R850 each. 

083 601 7511 

17 inch semi slick tyre 

(used) 

083 601 7511 

Collect Randburg area 

For free advert in our classified section contact 

Terence with the details of your requirements by email 


13

PREPARE to win.! 

Race car prep. Service for race cars in HRC or other clubs. 

SERVICES OFFERED; 

 

 

 

SERVICES OFFERED 

Pre race preparation 

Collection of cars and return to owner 

Monthly retainer basis or once off fee 

Phone Mike (Leonhardt) at PREPARE to win 082 895 0474 or 

mail him at email at mikele@value.co.za for a quote. 


WANTED 

FORD V6 ENGINE 

I need to upgrade my V4 in my 1971 Ford Capri/ 

Call Adrian 084 207 9177 

BMW 2002 ti OR A 1970’S BEETLE IN MINT CONDITION 

CALL 083 601 7511 or 0827860848 

Urgent Sale: 

I have 158 rolls of quality 10 Core white 

Comms/Security Cable made by Kewberg 

cables (New 100m Coils). R15, 800.00 

for the lot or R120.00 each or offers 

Other sizes also available from 4 core to 

30 core in white and brown. 

Also available selected cabtyre cable and 

ripcords (prices on request) 

Kevin 0836086896 or kevin@olblue.co.za 

14



of the epic journey by the famous artist Gary Seitz who created an 

Impressionism canvass of the JoLon Imp leaving behind the Joburg skyline, 

passing the Pyramids of Egypt and finally heading to the London Tower Bridge 

and this was duly snapped up by Frank Copping. 

Massine thanks to the following for their assistance so far. 

Roger Pearce 

Clive Winterstein 

Arnolds on Kloof 

Bruce Pidwell 

Mobilectric 

Andre Honiwell (Fat Arnies) 


15 


SEEN IN THE PITS 

Diesel powered V8 Capri 

Some racers will do almost anything to get their pound 

of flesh out of their sponsors! 

17

FUNDRAISING DINNER & KYALAMI RACETRACK 

IN A FORMULA ONE SIMULATOR 

SATURDAY 02 MARCH FROM 18H00 

CALL TERENCE 083 601 7511 

GREAT PRIZES UP FOR GRABS 

R2,000 IF YOUR BEAT THE REIGNING TIME! 

SHOP G 24, BRIGHTWATER COMMONS, 

REPUBLIC ROAD, RANDBURG 

011 886 9988 

18



John Maio 

Streamlight (Franco Resca) 

Bandit Signs 

Dennis McBeath 

Jimmy Bennett 

Johan Meyers 

Plumberama 

International seafoods 

Force Tools 

We are still needing some funds to cover the trip so if anyone wishes to make a 

donation, even a tiny sum, please pop in into the following account and remember 

the money will serves two very good efforts’ one the charities will receive well 

needed bucks and you will be shut of me for at least two months!!! 

The account into which you can contribute donations or sponsorship monies 

for Terence’s mammoth Rhino saving and Blindness Banishing road trip. 

Account name; THE IMP SHARE TRUST 

Account number; 623 680 46 308 

Account type; CURRENT ACCOUNT 

Bank: 

FNB 

Branch; 

CRESTA 

Branch code; 25 49 05 


19 




Huge thanks for any donation; even the tiniest amount will be hyper appreciated! 

We will arrange another fundrainsing event and this will be one with a difference 

where you stand to win R2,000 if you have any driving skills worth showing off. 

We will host an event at the Formula 1 simulator at the Brightwater Commons 

and the person who beats the best time presently posted at the Kyalami track 

will stand to win R2. 000 by kind courtesy of the Formula 1 team and Scrooge 

Diner. The event which includes an organised session on the Simulator and a 

prizeginign dinner at Scrooge for the small sum of R290 per person. Spot prizes 

and fastest lap prizes will also be up for grabs. Call Terence to reserve your 

race seat and dinner spot! This will take place on Saturday 2nd March wit first 

laps at 18h30. 

Finally we will head off on the rocky road on St. Patrick’s Day 17th March from 

Scrooge Diner at the sprightly hour of 06h00. we invite our friends to convoy with 

us on the first 50 kilos or so ( but please keep your cars or bikes in 1st gear! We 

wouldn’t want you overtaking us now would we 

Terence Tracey 

083 601 7511 



20

Gilles Villeneuve 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Circuit_Gilles_Villeneuve_MAM2.JPG 

Personal and early life 

Villeneuve was born in Richelieu, a small town in the largely French-speaking province of 

Quebec in Canada and grew up in Berthierville.[3] He married Joann Barthe in 1970, with 

whom he had two children, Jacques and Mélanie.[4] During his early career Villeneuve 

took his family on the road with him in a motorhome during the racing season, a habit 

which he continued to some extent during his Formula One career.[5] He often claimed to 

have been born in 1952. By the time he got his break in Formula One, he was already 27 

years old and took two years off his age to avoid being considered too old to make it at 

the highest level of motorsports.[6] 

Niki Lauda said of him, "He was the craziest devil I ever came across in Formula 1... The 

fact that, for all this, he was a sensitive and lovable character rather than an out-and-out 

hell-raiser made him such a unique human being".[7] 

His younger brother Jacques also had a successful racing career in Formula Atlantic, 

Can Am and CART.[8] Gilles' son, also named Jacques, won the Indianapolis 500 and 

CART championships in 1995 and became Formula One World Champion in 1997.[9] 

Early career 

Villeneuve's 1973 Magnum MkIII Formula Ford car, with which he won the Quebec Formula Ford championship. 

Villeneuve started competitive driving in local drag-racing events, entering his road car, a modified 1967 Ford Mustang. He was 

soon bored by this[10] and entered the Jim Russell Racing School at Le Circuit Mont Tremblant to gain a racing licence. He then 

NEVER LIFT! 

21

The EMGEE 

WORKSHOP 

INCORPORATING ROLO MOTORS 

MG, Mini & British Sports Car 

parts, repairs, restorations and 

race preparation. 

Three decades of high quality 

craftsmanship and service. 

011 789 7127 

sales@emgee.co.za 

22



had a very successful season in Quebec regional Formula Ford, running his own two-year-old car and winning seven of the ten 

races he entered.[11] The next year he progressed to Formula Atlantic, competing there for four years, running his own car again 

for one of those seasons. He won his first Atlantic race in 1975 at Gimli Motosport Park in heavy rain. In 1976, teamed with Chris 

Harrison's Ecurie Canada and factory March race engineer Ray Wardell, he dominated the season by winning all but one of the 

races and taking the US and Canadian titles. He won the Canadian championship again in 1977. 

Money was very tight in Villeneuve's early career. He was a professional racing driver from his late teens, with no other income. In 

the first few years the bulk of his income actually came from snowmobile racing, where he was extremely successful. He could demand 

appearance money as well as race money, especially after winning the 1974 World Championship Snowmobile Derby. His 

second season in Formula Atlantic was part-sponsored by his snowmobile manufacturer, Skiroule.[12] He credited some of his success 

to his snowmobiling days: "Every winter, you would reckon on three or four big spills — and I'm talking about being thrown on 

to the ice at 100 miles per hour. Those things used to slide a lot, which taught me a great deal about control. And the visibility was 

terrible! Unless you were leading, you could see nothing, with all the snow blowing about. Good for the reactions — and it stopped 

me having any worries about racing in the rain."[13] 

Formula One career 

After Villeneuve impressed James Hunt by beating him and several other Grand Prix stars in a non-championship Formula Atlantic 

race at Trois-Rivières in 1976, Hunt's McLaren team offered Villeneuve a Formula One deal for up to five races in a third car during 

the 1977 season.[14] Villeneuve made his debut at the 1977 British Grand Prix, where he qualified 9th in McLaren's old M23, splitting 

the regular drivers Hunt and Jochen Mass who were driving newer M26s. In the race he set fifth fastest lap and finished 11th 

after being delayed for two laps by a faulty temperature gauge. The British press coverage of Villeneuve's performance was generally 

complimentary, including John Blunsden's comment in The Times that "Anyone seeking a future World Champion need look no 

further than this quietly assured young man."[15] 

23 


AFRICAN 6 HOUR ENDURANCE RACE 

FEBRUARY 23, 2013. 

“This is a modern endurance race, not an event for classic racing cars,” says organiser 

Entries have been pouring in for the African 6 Hour Endurance Race, to be held at the Phakisa Raceway in Welkom on February 

23, 2013. 

To date some 45 cars have been entered for the event, ranging from a Pilbeam LMP pucker Le Mans prototype to a Panoz GTLM, 

nine Porsche 911-based racers, Shelby Can Ams, and a gaggle of saloon cars. 

The race will evoke the spirit of South Africa’s strong tradition in endurance racing, but with a modern field of cars competing over 

the six hours in various classes. 

“Many people have had the erroneous idea that this is an historic racing car endurance event,” says organiser Roger Pearce of 

Classic Car Events, the promoters of the race. “That couldn’t be further from the truth. We are re-kindling the tradition in South Africa 

for pucker endurance racing, based along the lines of the World Endurance Championship, and we will be running our race to 

FIA-WEC rules, as regards driver teams, re-fuelling and the like.” 

In fact the race has already attracted overseas interest, with a German driving team of Frank Norhing and Michael Tischer entered 

to drive a Porsche 911 RSR. 

24

AFRICAN 6 HOUR ENDURANCE RACE 

FEBRUARY 23, 2013. 

Whilst Pearce is keen to point out that this race is not an historic racing car event for cars of by-gone eras, it is open to all classes 

of sports, GT and saloon cars competing in MSA-sanctioned events across the country. 

For this reason the likes of the beautifully turned-out Nardini Sports racers will compete with Shelby Can Ams, some potent BMW 

330 saloons, a number of Volkswagens, Lotus 7s, and the very potent Backdraft sports cars which are Cobra-based track machines 

that could well be in contention for the overall prize. 

Thus there is a mix of modern and classic in the entry list, which does include some cars from the classic car racing scene, such as 

Ford Escorts and VW Sciroccos. 

A special BMW 330d racer, which was a class-winner in the British 24-Hour Championships, will also be imported for the race. 

One of the ideas behind holding the race at Phakisa was to attract a national entry, rather than a Gauteng-based one, “says 

Pearce. 

This strategy is already working well. One of the entries received is the giant-killing Golf from east London run by the Stephen family 

of racers. “Old man” Neil Stephen, a former works driver for the Opel team here in the 1990s, is driving along with his sons Geoff 

and Jonathan in a car that started out as a commuter car for Geoff Stephen back in 2007. 

The Stephen Golf has already scooped top saloon wins in endurance races around the country in the past three years and regularly 

mixes it with sports racers. 

There are also entries from the Cape including Fred Phillips from Cape Town, who has entered the exciting Panoz GTLM car. Phillips 

is the publisher of the acclaimed magazine Classic and Performance Car Africa, and has competed all over Europe in historic 

endurance events. 

It will be interesting to see how the more modern GT racers compare to the likes of the Ford GT40 entered by the Scribante family 

from Port Elizabeth. Whilst this an historic-shaped racer, it runs modern race underpinnings and is very quick by modern standards, 

as are the two Backdraft cars entered by Durban manufacturer Tony Martin, who, not co-incidentally, won the 1984 Daytona 24- 

Hour endurance race. 

“There is also a strong possibility that Peter Bailey will be entering his LM2 car that he has been preparing for Le Mans,” says 

Roger Pearce. “I’m also hoping to attract some of the Ferrari 360 drivers who race here in sprint races. 

“We can take a total of 60 cars according to the regulations, and I’m confident we’ll get close to that cut-off point by the time entries 

close on December 31, 2012,” said Pearce. 

“We are also determined to re-vitalise interest amongst the Free State people, and we will be embarking on a big campaign to 

achieve this,” he said. 

For more information, contact Roger Pearce on 082 8970771, or by e-mail on roger@afriod.co.za 

25

Touring Cars Report 

Hi Guys 

We have started the year on a very positive note. 

We had our annual registration on the 26 th of January and it was well represented. The TC’s 

under Dave Richardson did a great job which isn’t always easy under the circumstances. The 

cars were well presented and generally to a good standard. The last two weekends it was the 

Passion for Speed series at Zwartkops and Kyalami respectively. Pre’77 Saloons was very well 

represented and according to many people gave the best racing on the day. For those of you 

who took part congratulations you put on a great show. 

Our season gets underway on the 16 th March at Kyalami, Good Luck to those who will be 

contesting the championship and have a safe enjoyable season. 

Cheers 

Jacques 

Hi Everyone 

Motorbooks 

HAS HAD A MOVING EXPERIENCE 

READ ALL ABOUT IT! 

now at the 

R101 

Classic Car Centre 

Capital Hill, Midrand 

After some forty years in the Hyde Park area, Motorbooks moved its main retail outlet to the R101 Classic Car 

Centre (http://www.route101ccc.co.za/) which is located in the Capital Hill Business Park, Midrand. The decision 

was obviously not an easy one to make but, after careful consideration, it was decided that it will be in 

the long term interest of the business. The primary workshop manual outlet, serving both the trade and retail 

sectors, will still be in The Colony in Craighall Park, but in a smaller shop on the lower retail level. You will find 

it by going down the stairs (near the old shop) towards Dial-a-Bed, turning right at the bottom of the stairs and 

then right again and going past the cell phone shop. It is shop number S 004 (diagonally opposite the fruit & 

vegetable shop). Werner Gribb will continue to manage the Colony shop, Andrew Thomson the Midrand shop 

and Robert Mudau will still manage trade sales. 

Email: info@motorbooks.co.za 

Order Line: 0861 113 947 

26

Bruce’s Blast from the Past 

15th Krugersdorp hillclimp 

Article transcripted form the Sports Car May 1964 

Saturday, 11th 1964, dawned with ideal 

weather conditions for hill climbs. Due to unforeseen 

circumstances beyond the control of 

the organisers, practice started an hour later 

than anticipated. With the cars lined up at the 

bottom of the hill for the first practice run, a very 

sporting gesture was made by a local light 

plane owner when he came down low over the 

cars and saluted them by doing a victory roll. 

This seemed most fitting considering the fastest 

time of the day went to the air force officer, 

Steve Mellet. 

After having three practice runs, the cars entered 

in the eighteen classes came roaring up 

on the first official run at 14h30 Steve Mellet 

clocked 46.565 seconds on his first run, but did 

not seem in a hurry on his second when he put in a time of 48.075 seconds. Ritchie Jute in an extremely fast Dart/ 

Cortina claimed the second fasted time of the day, on his second run with a time of 52.6 seconds and beat Mike 

Nurse in his Tojeiro Bristol into third place with the time of 53.4 seconds. Arnold Chatz, driving the Lawson’s Organisation's 

Renault R8 seemed to fly up the hill, clocking a time of 54.7 seconds. There was nothing in the saloon 

car classes that could touch this time. Colin Hedges Cortina GT driven by Peter de Klerk put in a time of 55 seconds 

which was rather a good time considering that it was his first appearance at a hill climb. Willy Falke recorded 

a time of 56.4 seconds in his Anglia car powered by a Zephyr motor through a Tanus diff. with a Volvo gearbox. 

The Valiant of Lebero Pardini clocked a good time with 57.9 seconds considering is somewhat of a big car to 

throw around such tight corners. The Lourenco marques entry of Carlos da Silva driving a Porsche super 90 put a 

time of 58 seconds on his runs. In the standard productions category Wille Plomp recorded a time of 60 seconds 

in his Alfa Julia with Conrad Spamer in a Porsche Coupe setting a time of 61.4 seconds. It is with pleasure that we 

can say that there were no unforeseen incidents and no reruns. 

Close runs were fought between two darts, Willie Plomp—Alfa Julia _60 seconds; Frank Rundel—Studebaker 

Lark _ 60.6 seconds; Leon Botha—Volvo 122 B18—60.4 Seconds; Paul Strijdom—Volvo B18—60.6 seconds; and 

the two latter competitors 61.8 seconds and 61.9 seconds respectively. Carlos da Silva Porsche super 90 58 seconds; 

Hans Beetge—Alfa Spider—58.6 seconds. It was a pity that Trevor Blockdyks Cooper Alfa blew up in the 

practice for it would have been interesting to see if he could have given Steve Mellet a run for his money. 

27



Despite this, shortly after the British race McLaren's experienced team manager Teddy Mayer decided not to continue with Villeneuve 

for the following year. His explanation was that Villeneuve "was looking as though he might be a bit expensive" and that Patrick 

Tambay, the team's eventual choice for 1978, was showing similar promise.[16] Villeneuve was left with no solid options for 

1978, although Canadian Walter Wolf, for whom Villeneuve had driven in Can-Am racing, considered giving him a drive at Wolf 

Racing and also recommended him to the Ferrari team's founder, Enzo Ferrari. Rumours circulated that Villeneuve was one of several 

drivers in whom the Italian team was interested, and in August 1977 he flew to Italy to meet Ferrari, who was immediately reminded 

of the pre-war European champion Tazio Nuvolari: "When they presented me with this 'piccolo canadese', this minuscule 

bundle of nerves, I immediately recognised in him the physique of Nuvolari and said to myself, let's give him a try."[17] Ferrari was 

satisfied with Villeneuve's promise after a session at Ferrari's Fiorano test track, despite the Canadian making many mistakes and 

setting relatively slow times, and Villeneuve signed to drive for Ferrari in the last two races of the 1977 season and the 1978 season.[18] 

Villeneuve later remarked that: "If someone said to me that you can have three wishes, my first would have been to get 

into racing, my second to be in Formula 1, my third to drive for Ferrari..."[13] 

Villeneuve's arrival was prompted by Ferrari driver Niki Lauda quitting the team at the 1977 Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport having 

already clinched his second championship with the Italian team.[19] Villeneuve retired from the race after sliding off the track on 

another competitor's oil. He also raced in the Japanese Grand Prix, but retired on lap five when he tried to outbrake the Tyrrell P34 

of Ronnie Peterson. The pair banged wheels causing Villeneuve's Ferrari to became airborne. It landed on a group of spectators 

watching the race from a prohibited area, killing one spectator and a race marshal and injuring ten people. After an investigation 

into the incident no blame was apportioned and, although he was "terribly sad" at the deaths, Villeneuve did not feel responsible for 

them.[20] 

The 1978 season saw a succession of retirements for Villeneuve, often after problems with the new Michelin radial tyres. Early in 

the season, he started on the front row at the United States Grand Prix West, but crashed out of the lead on lap 39. Despite calls in 

the Italian press for him to be replaced, Ferrari persisted with him. Towards the end of the season, Villeneuve's results improved. 

He finished second on the road at the Italian Grand Prix, although he was penalised a minute for jumping the start, and ran second 

at the United States Grand Prix before his engine failed. Finally at the season-ending Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Île Notre- 

Dame (a circuit that was eventually named after him) Villeneuve scored his first Grand Prix win after Jean-Pierre Jarier's Lotus 

stopped with engine trouble.[21] As of 2012, he is the only Canadian to win his home race. 

In the 1979 French Grand Prix Villeneuve and René Arnoux had a memorable duel for second place. 

Villeneuve was joined by Jody Scheckter in 1979 after Carlos Reutemann moved to Lotus. Villeneuve won three races during the 

year. The 1979 French Grand Prix is remembered for Villeneuve's wheel-banging duel with René Arnoux in the last laps of the 

race.[22] Arnoux passed Villeneuve for second place with three laps to go, but Villeneuve re-passed him on the next lap. On the 

final lap Arnoux attempted to pass Villeneuve again, and the pair ran side-by-side through the first few corners of the lap, making 

contact several times. Arnoux took the position but Villeneuve attempted an outside pass one corner later. The cars bumped hard, 

Villeneuve slid wide but then passed Arnoux on the inside at a hairpin turn and held him off for the last half of the lap to secure second 

place. Villeneuve commented afterwards, "I tell you, that was really fun! I thought for sure we were going to get on our heads, 

you know, because when you start interlocking wheels it's very easy for one car to climb over another."[23] At the Dutch Grand Prix 

a slow puncture collapsed Villeneuve's left rear tyre and put him off the track. He returned to the circuit and limped back to the pits 

on three wheels, losing the damaged wheel on the way. On his return to the pits Villeneuve insisted that the team replace the missing 

wheel, and had to be persuaded that the car was beyond repair.[24] Villeneuve could have won the World Championship by 

beating Scheckter at the Italian Grand Prix, but chose to finish behind him, ending his own championship challenge. The pair finished 

first and second in the championship, with Scheckter beating Villeneuve by just four points. During the extremely wet Friday 

practice session for the season-ending United States Grand Prix, Villeneuve set a time variously reported to be either 9 or 11 seconds 

faster than any other driver. His teammate Jody Scheckter, who was second fastest, recalled that "I scared myself rigid that 

day. I thought I had to be quickest. Then I saw Gilles's time and — I still don't really understand how it was possible. Eleven seconds!"[25] 

The 1980 season was a complete disaster for Ferrari. Villeneuve had been considered favourite for the drivers championship by UK 

bookmakers,[26] but only scored six points in the whole campaign in the 312T5 which had only partial ground effects. Scheckter 

scored only two points and retired at the end of the season. 

For the 1981 season, Ferrari introduced their first turbo engined F1 car, the 126C, which produced tremendous power but was let 

down by its poor handling. Villeneuve was partnered with Didier Pironi who noted that Villeneuve "had a little family [at Ferrari] but 

he made me welcome and made me feel at home overnight ... [He] treated me as an equal in every way."[27] Villeneuve won two 

races during the season. At the Spanish Grand Prix Villeneuve kept five quicker cars behind him for most of the race using the superior 

straight-line speed of his car. After an hour and 46 minutes of racing Villeneuve led second-placed Jacques Laffite by only 

28



0.22 seconds. Fifth-placed Elio de Angelis was only just over a second further back.[28] Harvey Postlethwaite, who was hired by 

Ferrari to design the follow-on and much more successful 126C2 that won the Constructors' Championship in 1982, later commented 

on the 126C: "That car...had literally one quarter of the downforce that, say Williams or Brabham had. It had a power advantage 

over the Cosworths for sure, but it also had massive throttle lag at that time. In terms of sheer ability I think Gilles was on a 

different plane to the other drivers. To win those races, the 1981 GPs at Monaco and Jarama — on tight circuits — was quite out of 

this world. I know how bad that car was."[29] At the 1981 Canadian Grand Prix Villeneuve damaged the front wing of his Ferrari and 

drove for most of the race in heavy rain with the wing obscuring his view ahead. There was a risk of being black flagged but eventually 

the wing became detached and Villeneuve drove on to finish third with the nose section of his car missing. 

The first few races of the 1982 season were promising. Villeneuve led in Brazil in the new 126/C2, before spinning into retirement, 

and finished third at the United States Grand Prix West although he was later disqualified for a technical infringement. The Ferraris 

were handed an unexpected advantage at the San Marino Grand Prix as an escalation of the FISA-FOCA war saw the FOCA 

teams boycott the race, effectively leaving Renault as Ferrari's only serious opposition. With Renault driver Prost retiring from fourth 

place on lap 7 followed by his teammate Arnoux on the 44th lap Ferrari seemed to have the win guaranteed. In order to conserve 

fuel and ensure the cars finished the Ferrari team ordered both drivers to slow down. Villeneuve believed that the order also meant 

that the drivers were to maintain position but Pironi passed Villeneuve. A few laps later Villeneuve re-passed Pironi and slowed 

down again, believing that Pironi was simply trying to entertain the Italian crowd. On the last lap Pironi passed and aggressively 

chopped across the front of Villeneuve and took the win. Villeneuve was irate as he believed that Pironi had disobeyed the order to 

hold position. Meanwhile Pironi claimed that he had done nothing wrong as the team had only ordered the cars to slow down, not 

maintain position. Villeneuve stated after the race "I think it is well known that if I want someone to stay behind me and I am faster, 

then he stays behind me."[30] Feeling betrayed and angry Villeneuve vowed never to speak to Pironi again.[31] 

In 2007, former Marlboro marketer John Hogan disputed the claim that Pironi had gone back on a prior arrangement with Villeneuve. 

He said: "Neither of them would ever have agreed to what effectively was throwing a race. I think Gilles was stunned somebody 

had out-driven him and that it just caught him so much by surprise." Hogan's company sponsored Pironi while he was at Ferrari. 

A comparison of the lap times of the two drivers showed that Villeneuve lapped far slower when he was in the lead, suggesting 

that he had indeed been trying to save fuel.[32] 

Death 

On May 8, 1982, Villeneuve died after an accident during the final qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder. At the 

time of the crash, Pironi had set a time 0.1s faster than Villeneuve for sixth place. Villeneuve was using his final set of qualifying 

tyres; some say he was attempting to improve his time on his final lap. Some suggest he was specifically aiming to beat Pironi.[33] 

However, Villeneuve's biographer Gerald Donaldson quotes Ferrari race engineer Mauro Forghieri as saying that the Canadian, 

although pressing on in his usual fashion, was returning to the pits when the accident occurred.[34] If so, he would not have set a 

time on that lap. 

With eight minutes of the session left, Villeneuve came over the rise after the first chicane and caught Jochen Mass travelling much 

more slowly through Butte, the left-handed bend before the Terlamenbocht double right-hand section. Mass saw Villeneuve approaching 

at high speed and moved to the right to let him through on the racing line. At the same instant Villeneuve also moved 

right to pass the slower car. The Ferrari hit the back of Mass' car and was launched into the air at a speed estimated at 200–225 

km/h (120–140 mph). It was airborne for more than 100 m before nosediving into the ground and disintegrating as it somersaulted 

along the edge of the track. Villeneuve, still strapped to his seat, but without his helmet, was thrown a further 50 m from the wreckage 

into the catch fencing on the outside edge of the Terlamenbocht corner.[34][35] 

Several drivers stopped and rushed to the scene. John Watson and Derek Warwick pulled Villeneuve, his face blue, from the catch 

fence.[36] The first doctor arrived within 35 seconds to find that Villeneuve was not breathing, although his pulse continued; he was 

intubated and ventilated before being transferred to the circuit medical centre and then by helicopter to University St Raphael Hospital 

where a fatal fracture of the neck was diagnosed.[37] Villeneuve was kept alive on life support while his wife travelled to the 

hospital and the doctors consulted with specialists worldwide. He died at 9:12 that evening.[34] 

29 




Legacy 

At the funeral in Berthierville former teammate Jody Scheckter delivered a simple eulogy: "I will miss Gilles for two reasons. First, 

he was the fastest driver in the history of motor racing. Second, he was the most genuine man I have ever known. But he has not 

gone. The memory of what he has done, what he achieved, will always be there."[38] 

Villeneuve is still remembered at Grand Prix races, especially those in Italy. At the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, the venue of the 

San Marino Grand Prix, a corner was named after him and a Canadian flag is painted on the third slot on the starting grid, from 

which he started his last race. There is also a bronze bust of him at the entrance to the Ferrari test track at Fiorano.[39] At Zolder 

the corner where Villeneuve died has been turned into a chicane and named after him.[40] 

"Salut Gilles" sign at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve start-finish line 

The racetrack on Île Notre-Dame, Montreal, host to the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix and NASCAR Nationwide Series, was 

named Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in his honour at the Canadian Grand Prix of 1982. His homeland has continued to honour him: In 

Berthierville a museum was opened in 1992 and a lifelike statue stands in a nearby park which was also named in his honour.[39] 

Villeneuve was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame at their inaugural induction ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel, 

Toronto, Ontario on August 19, 1993. In June 1997 Canada also issued a postage stamp in his honour. 

There is still a huge demand for Villeneuve memorabilia at the race-track shops and several books have been written about him. 

The number 27, the number of his Ferrari in 1981 and 1982, is still closely associated with him by fans. Jean Alesi, whose aggression 

and speed in the wet were compared to Villeneuve's,[41] also used the number at Ferrari. Villeneuve's son, Jacques, drove the 

#27 during his IndyCar and Indianapolis 500 winning season with Barry Green and has also used the number for occasional drives 

30



in NASCAR and the Speedcar Series. Canadian driver and 2011 IndyCar Rookie of the Year James Hinchcliffe adopted the number 

27 for the 2012 season. 

A film based on the biography by Gerald Donaldson was announced in 2005, intended for release in 2007, but as of 2012 has not 

emerged.[42] 

In popular culture 

The popular Belgian comics series Michel Vaillant by Jean Graton is set in the world of motor racing and, although largely fictional, 

often includes real-life figures including drivers, officials and journalists. Villeneuve appears in a number of stories, and in Steve 

Warson contre Michel Vaillant (fr: "Steve Warson versus Michel Vaillant") becomes the 1980 World Champion (though in the 1981 

season, covered in Rififi en F1 ("F1 in Chaos"), Graton acknowledges Alan Jones as the real Champion)[43] and Quebec progrock/pop 

group The Box based their 1984 song "Live on TV" inspired by Villeneuve's televised death. 

Helmet 

Villeneuve's helmet carried a stylised 'V' in red on either side — an effect he devised with his wife Joann. The base colour was 

black.[44] His son, Jacques, uses the same basic design, but like his contemporary, Christian Fittipaldi, he has changed the colours. 

British driver Perry McCarthy also used this design and color scheme on his helmet, but with the design in reverse. 

31 


Frank Copping eying the 

Chequered flag in his shiny 

new paint job Dauphine. 

THE ONLY ONE ‘O’ 

IS A 

RENAULT 

SOME OF THE WONDERFUL MARSHALS 

WHO KEEP US SAFE! 

32



33


Thanks all my friends who have given me moral support as a result of the wrecking of my little 

race Imp! 

How it all unfolded.............(or dare I say how it FOLDED!) 

Well when I first watched my friend Phil Webb, who was reunited with a quick Imp after some 

twenty years or so absence from racing, doing a fine job at keeping some larger cubic 

centimetered equipment behind him in his first heat, my emotions were filled with happiness for 

him and with a tinge of pride as to how the car was performing and how pretty it looked. 

My happiness/pride turned to sad disappointment as the left rear let go and Phil was beached in 

the kitty litter in turn four at Zwartkops in the battle of the little giants. My happiness/pride, then 

disappointment soon turned to shock when a few laps later a flying Ford angle grinder flew 

straight off the track and in a split second reduced a fine and rare race car to scrap metal! 

I manfully held back tears but inside i cried. Later my happiness/pride turned/disappointment 

turned shock later turned to anger! How could this accident have happened if all drivers were 

respecting the rules of a waved yellow Aren't they supposed to 'slow down and be prepared 

to stop' when the corner is under caution What would have happened if the marshals had been 

in the throes of extricating the stricken Imp when the Anglia ploughed into them Methinks 

serious injury would have been the least one could expect! Perhaps the reason the marshals 

decided not to remove the Imp from the firing line was a decision bathed in self preservation for 

which I blame them not one iota. 

Perhaps an apt parking for 

the Imp in its present state! 

34


There was however some good sides to the incident; the front lights are still in perfect working 

order and Phil was able to crack a few hop extract frosties well before sundown and enjoy a first 

class day's racing with family and pals. Incidentally, on March 17th I am driving another Imp to 

London and one of the charities that I am raising funds for with this trip is the Johannesburg 

Society for the Blind..... Do you think the driver of the Anglia, who obviously didn't see the 

furiously waved yellows, would be upset if I arranged honorary membership of the JSFTB 

(JOHANNESBURG SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND!) Or maybe just present him with a nice white 

Photo Dave Gomersall 

cane or perhaps a little Labrador!!! 

The extent of the damage is quite depressing; the harmonics pulley at the rear of the engine was 

hit with such a force that it was broken into two pieces. This force was subsequently driven 

through the crank and all the internals that had been so meticulously engineered by Lamco 

Developments that will require a complete engine rebuild with replacements of a number of the 

internal components. The force through the pulley and crank subsequently shoved the gearbox 

onto the rear suspension cross member breaking both mounting brackets and smashing the box 

casing up against the cross member. The block has a chunk of aluminium knocked clean out of it 

and the dizzy was ripped out of its hole and snapped in half. The water will no longer pump 

anything of value and the carbs had the trumpets clean ripped off with the force. AND THIS IS 

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN ON A CURSORY GLANCE! I shudder to think what we will find when 

we examine in detail! 

The body was saved to a degree by the well made roll cage. However even though it was struck 

on the rear end, the pillars at the top of the windscreen is broken and the passenger door 

jammed in place against the frame! The engine lid, the rear crossmember and engine mounting 

bracket were of course completely destroyed and the left rear quarter section. All the windows 

except the windscreen were broken and the entire rear of the bodywork shifted crablike to the left 

of the car. I believe i have every right to be extremely saddened by this damage; it would take a 

near miracle to get this car trackside again. 

Editor 

35

HRCR Calendar for 2013 

Date Venue M G S C 

20 Feb Piston Ring Category AGM’s 

23 Feb Phakisa (invitational) 

16 Mar Kyalami 

13 Mar Piston Ring Club AGM 

16 Mar Kyalami 

13 Apr Zwartkops 

01 Jun Phakisa 

27 Jul Zwartkops 

17 Aug Kyalami 

21 Sept East London 

19 Oct Kyalami 

09 Nov Zwartkops 

07 Dec Kyalami 

Legend: 

M = Marque Cars 

G = Sport & GT 

S = Saloon Cars 

C = Classic Thoroughbreds 

36

The Historic Times - Historic Racing South Africa

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?