Our September newsletter featuring the following articles: Sarel oiled up, Oily Rag Run, SEFAC Cape visit, Heritage Day run, Aftermarket, Exhaust blips.
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SAREL OILED UP



On August 26 the Franschhoek Motor Museum played host to an unveiling of a new painting by world renowned artist Nicholas Watts featuring SA racing hero Sarel van der Merwe driving the Dunlop sponsored works Porsche 962C at the 1988 Le Mans 24 Hour. The image, painted in oils, depicts Sarel in car number 8 heading the sister car and, in the background, the race-winning Jaguar down the Mulsanne Straight during the twilight hours.
 
The fine art study is the first in a series by Watts that will highlight “South Africans who have lit up the racing circuits of the world,” said UK-based Watts’ local representative John Dalton at the unveiling, held in the museum’s Hall D appropriately enough close to FMM’s own Porsche 956 Le Mans car (the 962’s predecessor). Sarel himself was present to reveal Watts’ work and was honoured to receive a framed print for his personal collection. Sarel then entertained the audience with his memories of the race, delivered in his usual straightforward and humorous style. John also presented Sarel with a 1:43 scale model of the car, adding with a smile that when Supervan had previously seen the model he complained that it had the wrong racing number... After the presentations, wine, coffee and snacks were served as attendees milled around recalling great moments in SA motor sport history.

Only 40 individually numbered 700x600 mm prints of the original will be made and all available only in SA. Prices are R2 850 (framed) and R2 250 (unframed) and available from pdalton@mweb.co.za. MM

OILY RAG RUN




Dickon Daggitt’s much anticipated Oily Rag Run took place on 14 September, starting from Crossley & Webb in Cape Town and running through Milnerton, Durbanville and Klapmuts to the finish in Franschhoek at the museum. An excellent entry of 23 pre-1960 unrestored cars included four from FMM – Lorenzo Farella and Marco Barrera in a 1956 Studebaker, Deon de Waal and Elton Botha in a 1954 Citroën, Shawn Botha and David Maqqwanti in a 1948 Mercedes-Benz and Wilfred Tarentaal and Wenzly Wicom in a 1926 Chrysler, with Wayne Harley doing duty as the ‘breakdown’ car.
 
Along the route participants collected bread, cold meats, cheese and cupcakes to be enjoyed in a sunshine picnic on the lawns at FMM at the conclusion of the run, which was ‘won’ by the oldest car entered, Adrian Denness’ 1919 Ford Model T pick-up. Thanks to the initiative and leadership of Dickon and with the valued support of Crossley & Webb and FMM, the success of this Oily Rag Run could be a precursor to similar events in the future. To witness so many original cars still being enthusiastically driven was a real pleasure. MM  

SEFAC CAPE VISIT

Image from http://4c.alfaromeo.com/



The Cape chapter of the Ferrari owner’s club SEFAC visited FMM on 7 September. No less than 31 cars arrived at L’Ormarins where a start-up and running display of the museum’s 250 Lusso Competition, 275GTB, F50 and the Enzo took place as well as, just for interest, the McLaren F1 road car. The 71-strong attendees enjoyed a wine tasting tour around the farm followed by lunch and a big-screen viewing of the Italian GP, which, sadly was not one to be remembered by the tifosi. WH

HERITAGE DAY RUN

Vintage, veteran and classic car and motorcycle owners are reminded that on Heritage Day, Wednesday 24 September, across the country there is a national ‘Drive It’ campaign. Cape Town is joining in the spirit of the occasion with an old car run and display. Pre-1979 vehicles are eligible to participate and they will convene at Rondebosch Common at 09h30 to move off at 10h00 for the end venue at The Castle. Entry into The Castle is free and together with the display of cars there will be an indoor vintage/antique market, films, food stalls, live music, art, a kiddies play area and more. MM

AFTERMARKET

In August’s newsletter an old Firestone advertising flyer for radial tyres was shown and I mentioned that, sadly, it was not dated. Well, indicative of just how far and wide this newsletter travels, I received the following e-mail from overseas from part-time SA resident Mike Zoeppritz.

“When I saw the Firestone sales flyer in the August newsletter I sent it to Bill Taylor for advice with regard to the dating of this document. Bill succeeded Peter Morum in the positions of sales director (it was Morum’s name that appeared on the flyer) and later as MD of Firestone South Africa (Pty) Limited. I was privileged to work with both during my tenure in Firestone Europe OE engineering from the late-1960s. Bill suggests that the flyer must be from 1963/4, which matches the time frame in which the Firestone F100 was advertised by Firestone affiliate companies in Europe and South America according to similar documents on sale though the www.”

Thanks a lot for the feedback, Mike. MM

EXHAUST BLIPS


The August/September issue of Classic & Performance Car Africa magazine there will be a feature on FMM’s recently-acquired ex-SA presidential Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet and, to celebrate 80 years of the Traction Avant, a story on the museum’s 1954 Citroën Light 15. 
 
TopCar magazine’s series of articles on historic South African race circuits features Cape Town’s Rietvlei, Noordhoek, Pollsmoor and Paarden Eiland tracks in the September issue with Gunner’s Circle, Sack’s Circle, Eerste Rivier and Killarney beginnings appearing in October, which goes on sale later in September. MM


DATES TO DIARISE:

September 20: Regional racing, Midvaal, Nino Venturi 082 774 4285
September 20: Regional racing, East London, Carol Radloff 083 411 2866
September 20: Regional racing, Scribante, Port Elizabeth
September 20-24: Overdrive Festival, Port Elizabeth, idrisathome@telkomsa.net
September 21: Piston Ring Swop Meet, Modderfontein
September 24: National ‘Drive It’ day
September 24: Cape Town Heritage Day Drive and display
September 24: House of Classic & Sports Cars auction, Nelson Mandela Bay Soccer Stadium, PLZ, wendy.r@hocasc.co.za
September 24: Festival races, Kyalami, Elvene Coetzee 082 390 6016
September 27: National Super Series racing, Killarney
September 27: Historic Tour Night of the Stars awards dinner, Wanderers Club, Paige Lindenberg 072 229 7331
September 28: Buick/Cadillac/Oldsmobile meet, VVC Orchards, Johannesburg October 4, Cars in the Park, Welkom hazel@starstruckautos.co.za 
October 5: Air-Cooled Motor Show, POMC, Silverton, Pretoria, Jan 082 703 5898
October 11: Historic racing and Springbok Series, Zwartkops, Elvene Coetzee 082 390 6016
October 11: Regional racing, Killarney, Joy Hoskins 021 557 1639
October 11: Regional racing, East Londo, Carol Radloff 083 411 2866
October 11: Regional racing, Scribante, Port Elizabeth
October 25: Traction Avant 80th anniversary display, FMM, Henri van Schaik 082 372 8786
October 25: Regional racing, Midvaal, Nino Venturi 082 774 4285


(Clubs are invited to send details of upcoming events to mike4m@telkomsa.net for inclusion in Exhaust Blips.)

WHERE, WHAT TIMES
AND HOW MUCH

The Franschhoek Motor Museum is situated on the L’Ormarins Estate along the R45 in the Franschhoek Valley in the Western Cape.

The opening hours are Monday to Friday 10h00 to 17h00 (last admittance 16h00), Saturday and Sunday 10h00 to 16h00 (last admittance 15h00), and the museum is open on most public holidays

Admission prices are R60 adults, R50 pensioners, R30 children. An on-site delicatessen offers refreshments and A Rupert Wines can be enjoyed.
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Newsletter text by Mike Monk.

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