The international visitors arriving at Zwartkops on Wednesday were greeted with pouring rain, but all the containers from the UK, Western Australia and Brisbane had safely arrived – not so, Vern and Copper Williamson, who had flow Emirates via Dubai, only to be diverted by fog to the desert resort airfield of Al-Ain, and an eight hour wait in the aircraft, much if it without air conditioning, as the terminal was too small to cope with the sudden influx of unexpected visitors!

Meanwhile the Johannesburg visitors found heavy traffic, but no sign of random crime- in fact the most dangerous things were the olive stones, necessitating dental visits for both Peter Boel and Margaret Ealand. Most overseas visitors were staying at the Southern Sun Hotel in Sandton, although Duncan and Mair, as well as Dickon Daggitt from the Cape, were being very kindly hosted by Richard and Leslie Baker in Bryanston.

Except for the Williamsons and Boels, there was a hive of activity on Thursday matching crates to cars, and learning an albeit wet track with a succession of free practices, interspersed with the occasional dry spell. Heading the field, and taking advantage of every minute of track time were the Swiss contingent of Philipp Buhofer (Lola Mk 5A) and Marc Amez-Droz (BT6), under the care of Steve Humble from HARP Motorsport.

Team Baillie had Marcus Mussa (with Joelle) (Brabham BT2) and Doug Mockett (Cooper T56) in hand, Robin Longdon (and Sue) had organised all the social side of the tour, and brought the Lola Mk 5A. Malcolm (and Jill) Ricketts had the faithful Lotus 22 as did Paul (with Susie) Smeeth. Paul having sold his Elva 100, is in the hunt for a Ford powered front engine FJ – and perhaps a sports racer as well. John (with Alison) Boyes had the beautifully restored ex-Scandinavian Lotus 20 in original drum brake trim, while Chris Drake (and Angela) arrived late afternoon to give Elva 300/003 a run under the watchful eye of Iain Rowley who was tasked to tend the bulk of the 26 visitors.

It was good to see Roger Woodbridge back in the fray. For him it was only a short flight down from Lagos where he works for Standard Chartered Bank, while the Ausper T.4.700 was looking resplendent in correct green / gold after a full restoration with Motor Racing Medics. Vern Williamson’s T3 Ausper and John Chisholm’s Mk 3A Gemini made up the UK rear engine contingent.

From Australia came the Lotus 20/22 of Neil McCrudden (with Mandy), Australian organiser David Reid (with Annie) and the blue/white Cooper T59, Peter Boel (with Bev) in the red Lola 5A. Don Thallon (with Jeanette) had the MRC 22 running well. Lotus 18’s were for Roger Ealand and Kim Shearn, while WARM also brought the McEntree for Lance Cawardine (as well as the ex-Steve Thompson B17 C Chevron and Macon 1600 t/c for the Historic Single Seater races), and Bill Hemming in his familiar Elfin Catalina. Sole South African Juniors at Zwartkops were Dickon’s ex-Yorke Motor Museum T56, now for sale, and only needing a change of front brakes from drum to disc, and Springbok Series organiser Brian Tyler with the ex Rhodesia Cooper Mk 6 – 10 – 52 with Ford engine, while Johannesburg Loss Adjuster, Richard Baker had the long time owned Mk 5 V Twin Cooper.

Finally there were 3 front engined cars, Duncan’s Alexis, Ned Spieker (with Carol) in the Lola Mk 2 (tended with the 23 Sports, by Norman and Candace Thersby) and Norm Falkiner’s red Stanguellini S00156.

The Scorpion – DKW will appear at Killarney, Dickon having sold the car out of his long term ownership to Howard Robinson.

The only casualty of the day was Brian Mitcham (with Vanessa) and the Wainer 63 when a hub sheared.

Lunch and tea was provided for all the visiting drivers, hosted by Marge Viljoen (wife of SA legend Fanie Viljoen) and on Thursday night there was a splendid sit down braai and a chance for the locals and visitors to socialise.

Friday was an early start, with more free practice sessions before official qualifying in the afternoon. Peter Boel’s Lola developed serious problems necessitating an engine change, while David Reid’s engine seemed to be affected by the high altitude – we were after all at around 5000 feet – almost Mexico proportions!

It was quite a surprise – albeit a very pleasant one – to see the two Swiss cars at the head of the lists, Marc Amez-Droz heading friend Philipp by just 0.007s, but both were half a second ahead of 3rd place, Marcus Mussa, a seasoned regular of the Baillie / Piper winter RSA tour. A splendid show from Chris Drake on his 3rd lap took him ahead of John Chisholm’s Gemini, but that was it for Chris; a doughnut failed, while Brian Mitcham just made it out for 2 slow laps before the welded hub gave way again. John Boyes was going very well in the 20, just ahead of the 2 18’s. Ned headed the front engine brigade from Duncan, with Roger Woodbridge, having lots of fun back in the driving seat of the T4 Ausper. Next up Richard Baker was full of enthusiasm in the Cooper JAP; indeed too much so, and a suspected over rev brought valve trouble again, on the last lap, while Brian Tyler, once in 4th gear, couldn’t get out, and then the gear linkage broke altogether!

Cars prepped for the morrow, Duncan spent the evening chatting amongst the South African Historic Drivers and visitors. It was exciting to meet ex-South African F1 driver Peter de Klerk of Alfa Special Fame, and Bruce Glesby, after a three hour wait on the Zimbabwe Border: Bruce still has the ex-Gerard T52 Cooper FJ, as well as the front engined Cooper-Bristol (ex Jack Brabham, then Alta engine). Also, David Gous, son of the 60’s driver of the same name, who owns the ex-Niekirk Lotus 18-FJ-0014, Ian Hebblewhite, expert on Titans, and owner of a very quick and smart White Alexis Mk 17 FF # AM88 Avocado farmer Rodney Green, who was racing the ex-Dickon Daggitt Cooper-Bristol, Peter Dunseith, who had the SA Championship winning, ex-Bobby Scott, ex-Desiree Wilson, Merlyn Mk 25 FF, and several others.

Drivers briefing was 8 am Saturday, but the traffic was lighter and Circuit owner Peter du Toit gave us his words of wisdom and the proceedings began with a 22 race programme for the day.

Both Marc Amez-Droz and Philipp Buhofer were still angling for as much track time as possible, but sadly this was to be their downfall.

The Historic Single Seater grid was in disarray when front row man Alan Baillie stalled his Cooper T71/3, leaving Neil McCrudden in the Macon at a standstill behind, and much delays elsewhere – both Philipp and Marc were midfield, running not far apart, but on the penultimate lap, Marc came up suddenly to lap one of the National front engine single seaters, entering the pit straight, decided to take the outside line, got in the grass and bang – into the Armco, and a broken upright and 2 radius rods – Formula Junior poleman out!

The FJ’s lined up mid morning for a 10 lap race 1 – very impressive indeed were the Execuline World Series Superprix Formula Juniors!
A sad gap for pole man Amez-Droz, Chris Drake, and Brians Tyler and Mitcham, with Peter Boel with a new, but seemingly down on power engine, lined up at the back. Philipp Buhofer had Marucs Mussa on his tail or 3 laps before Marcus’ gear linkage support fractured, leaveing him with only 2nd and 4th gears, while Robin Longdon had made a bad start losing 5 or 6 places, and working back up the field.

This time, at least, Philipp upheld the honour of the Red Cross, and gave a trouble free performance to record his first ever FJ race win, but 15 seconds from a failing Mussa, and charging Longdon, less than a tenth of a second apart, with a super performance by Doug Mockett, within four-tenths of the pair of them, and John Chisholm, with the leading drum braked car, within sight. Chris Drake had appeared just after the flag, in the Elva 300, but in the haste to refit the Elva suspension, unbeknown, a split pin had gone missing and after 2 laps, Chris pulled off before the complex. Further down the field, there was some really close racing, with Roger Ealand (18) just ahead of Don Thallon (MRC) and all but a chain of Boyes, Spieker (leading front engine), Bill Hemming, Kim Shearn, and Vern Williamson (obviously no worse the wear for his desert exposure!). Further back, Duncan kept ahead of a battling Woodbridge and the Stanguellini, poor Dickon was struggling at little in the heat in his T56, while Richard Baker was pushing that V-twin again, with more bent valves to be fixed for the afternoon!

Race 2 was another 10 lapper, and Chris Drake was, this time, able to resume his normal 5th place grid slot. This time Marcus powered away with Philipp Buhofer making a bad start. However by lap 4 he was right behind Marcus, lined up to pass, but locked wheels at the hairpin and spun it away and the 18 seconds lost were too much; although he made up ground, right behind Doug Mockett in 3rd, it was too much and Marcus had a comfortable win, although Robin Longdon also caught up but missed a gear on the last corner. Chisholm was the leading drum braked again, and well clear of Ealand, indeed with Paul Smeeth’s lime green 22, between then. The two Lotus’ of Malcolm Ricketts (22) and John Boyes (20), and then Reid (T59) Williamson(T3) battles brought the closest finishers of the day, but battle royal was undoubtedly between Duncan and Roger Woodbridge, passing and repassing each other almost every lap, with Norm Falkiner menacingly in rear view as well. Peter Boel struggled round to finish, while Chris Drake lost a wheel at the hairpin on the 6th lap. Richard Baker didn’t quite get everything back together for this one, but ran, - and finished - in the second Historic Single Seater race, taking two cars on the last lap, much to the commentators’ excitement!

Prize giving in the evening was again in the Ace Cafe, and Marcus Mussa was a worthy ‘Man of the Meeting’, and Doug Mockett the best presented Junior (despite a dose of seawater damage while on the high seas!) Overall it was Mussa, Buhofer and Longdon, Buhofer just taking the 2nd place by 0.6s overall!
There was also Index of Performance awards which went to Roger Ealand, Robin Longdon, and John Boyes.

DCPR