Few copies left of special Kyalami book

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The first print order of the book titled Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit – 60 Years of Memories is almost sold out.

The book was edited by Roger Houghton of Plettenberg Bay, who attended the very first race meeting at the then-new Kyalami circuit in Midrand in 1961 as well as many other events held there subsequently, including all the Grands Prix.

Roger and his wife, Meg, moved from Pretoria to live in Plettenberg Bay at the end of 2020, so all the editing of the book was done online from his new home.

Roger, who has been involved in the motor industry for more than 50 years, continues to work as a motoring journalist and earlier this year authored a coffee table book on how Toyota recovered far quicker than expected from devastating flood damage at its facilities in Durban last year.

The author of the authoritative Kyalami book is Denis Klopper, who has attended all the race meetings held at the famous circuit since his first one in 1969 when he was six years old. He is in the process of relocating from Johannesburg to Cape Town.

The book documents the full 60 years of the circuit's history, including local and international events, with 225 special "Kyalami Memories" from those who raced or officiated there or who just attended race meetings at the venue. The large-format coffee table book, which runs to more than 500 pages, features more than 1 500 photographs.

Three variations of the book have been published - 62 collectors' editions, 200 publisher's editions and 450 hard-cover standard editions.

There are now only 50 copies of the standard edition available, and 38 copies of a final editor's edition, that are all individually signed by Roger Houghton.

The editor's editions are leather bound, numbered and presented in a wooden case with a set of numbered A3 prints of drawings by Ila Parvess.

For more information, click here. To order a book, contact denis@motorsportmemories.co.za; or toni@motorsportmemories.co.za.

Editor Roger Houghton looks on as Uta Blignaut, of Harkerville, reads the article in the Kyalami book that features her late husband, Alex, who was the first General Manager of the circuit.