Who is guilt y? - Letaba Herald

PAGE 32 LETABA HERALD - Friday 23 May 2008 SPORT
LOCAL rally teams, Eddie Simpson and navigator,
Marco Lottering of the Simpson Motors
team, photo left and navigator, Robbie Coetzee
and Erik de Jager of the Meyjes and De
Jager team, photo right.
Local rallyists excel
THE Local Meyjes and De Jager rally team of
Erik De Jager and Robbie Coetzee claimed the
first podium position on their home event, the
Bathroom Bizarre Tzaneen rally round three of
the Northern Regions Rally Championship.
The team, however, just made it to the start
after breaking a gearbox on the previous rally.
The team had to pull out all the stops to have a
gearbox in Tzaneen by Thursday night. After a
few late nights, they had the Meyjes and De
Jager motorsport VW Citi Golf running again
with just a day to spare before the start of the
event.
Without any testing, a standard gearbox and
no Limited slip differential the team tackled the
first stage, and came out with a very competitive
time.
Stage One wasn't the best stage for the other
local rally team of Eddie Simpson and Marco
Lottering. They lost eight minutes to the leaders
in Class S1 after the Yellow Opel Corsa suffered
from an intermittent electrical problem, which
caused the car to cut out. "It is impossible to
make up eight minutes in any form of rallying,
but we will try," Eddie said after the first
stage.
Stage Two saw big drama when the BMW of
Werner Koekemoer and Dries van der Walt
collided with a tree and caught on fire. Luckily,
some of the teams stopped and helped the
stricken BMW crew to extinguish the fire. This
was also not a good stage for the Meyjes and
De Jager motorsport team as they lost all
communication in the car.
Without knowing what lies after the next
corner rallying can be very dangerous and the
team had to reduce their pace, losing lots of
time in the process. The Simpson Motors Opel
Corsa was again up to speed after the service
crew managed to find the problem, and the
team posted very quick times in their efforts to
make up lost time.
The following four stages saw the Yellow
Opel flying through the stages, but to no avail.
The deficit was just too big to make up and the
team had to be happy with 24th place overall
and 4th in Class S1.
These four stages also saw a big battle for
third in class S1erupting between Danie en
Pieter Strijdom and the locals of Erik De Jager
Local
cyclists
excel
and Robbie Coetzee.
Starting the last stage, Erik De Jager and
Robbie Coetzee had a eight second lead over
Danie en Pieter Strijdom. The Meyjes and de
Jager team pushed hard not to lose their lead.
Sometimes too hard, as the team almost rolled
the car in the stage. Unluckily for the Strijdoms
their car picked up mechanical problems and
the Meyjes and de Jager team kept their third
place in Class S1 and twentieth overall. The
Strijdom’s demise also saw Eddie Simpson and
Marco take over their fourth spot.
"We are delighted with our first trophy, but it
must be said that this wouldn't have been
possible without Robbie my navigator and the
wonderful service and support team that kept
us going," Erik said during the prize giving held
at Tzaneen Country Lodge.
The overall victory went to Schalk Burger Snr
and Martin Botha in their Subaru Wrx Sti while
Colin Wilson and Geoff Tyrer, in another
Subaru were second. Schalk Burger jnr and
Armand Du Toit took the final step to the
podium in their Toyota Corrola.
Team Meyjes and de Jager would like to
thank the following sponsors: Mr Auto Engineering,
Masenduck Construction, JCB Panel
beating, Lannie Motors, Total Primrose,
Wynand Meyjes, Dewald de Jager and a very
very big thanks to the rest of the family and
friends that also helped in the dusty service
park.
Last but not least to all the spectators,
officials, marshals and organizers.
Team Simpson Motors would like to thank
the following sponsors: *Simpson Motors,
*Motormaster, *Letaba Herald, *Romans
Pizza, *Misty River Spur and *Speedy
Phalaborwa.
THREE cyclists of Tzaneen, Prakash Kesa, Katie Butler de Wit and John
de Wit, joined 100 cyclists from Australia, Canada and others from
across South Africa to ride a 500km route in eastern Mpumalanga.
They started in Nelspruit and went via Sabie, Lydenburg, Blydepoort,
Pilgrim's Rest and Hazyview before returning to Nelspruit. The course
included conquering the infamous 50km Long Tom pass from Sabie to
Ly d e n b u r g .