MOTORING NEWS - The eighth Heritage Tour, undertaken by the Southern Cape Old Car Club (SCOCC) and proudly supported by ReCollection Rides, took place from Friday to Tuesday, 20 to 24 September, along a circular route from George to Graaff-Reinet to Jeffrey’s Bay and back to George.
Day one began at Halfway Toyota in George, where local enthusiasts could view these beautifully and lovingly restored treasures dating back over 100 years. As the tour threaded its way through the charming Karoo towns of Uniondale, Willowmore and Aberdeen, the rising heat (which peaked at 40°C) tested the cars to the limit, but they all arrived safely in Graaff-Reinet.
A stop at the Apple Crate Farmstall, a bright little farmstall at the junction of the R62 and the N9, certainly helped vehicles and drivers brave the heat.
Fortunately, the weather was bearable on Day two, when the group participated in the annual Car Show hosted by the Midland’s Car Club. The drivers and support crew were delighted to be joined by the management of one the tour’s main sponsors, Halfway Toyota, for a day of good company and food.
On display were veteran (pre 1918), antique (1919 – 1925) and classic cars (post WW2 and no longer in production, with the cut-off date December 1975). The show was another opportunity for members to display their beloved vehicles, rebuilt and sometimes in a better condition than the day they rolled off the production line.
The next morning, after a sumptuous breakfast sponsored by Recollection Rides during a visit to The Village and The ReCollection Rides Museum, the tour set off for New Bethesda, home of the famous Owl House. Just outside the village, at Tot Hier Toe Padstal, the participants were treated to a farm-style lunch consisting of a spit braai and curry, rounded off by that all-time South African favourite, malva pudding.
With full tanks, the tour returned to Graaff-Reinet just in time for a Sunday afternoon nap.
An early start on Monday morning saw the tour depart for Jeffrey’s Bay for the prize-giving and gala dinner. Stops at the Kleinpoort Pompstal and the Cheetah Sanctuary near Kirkwood kept the tourists fuelled up for the journey.
The gala dinner was an enjoyable evening of wining, dining, fellowship, dancing and, of course, prize-giving. Mike and Susan Alexander drove away with the prize for the most originally and appropriately dressed.
Tuesday saw the tour take a leisurely drive back to George, bringing to a close another hugely successful ReCollection Rides Heritage Tour.
The love for these old cars is passed on from generation to generation.
Chris van Staden, George Marx and Pierre Olivier have completed all eight tours, driving the same car every year. Kobus Halliday and Pierre Conradie have also completed all eight tours, albeit in different vehicles.
For more information, either visit the SCOCC website, or contact Pierre Olivier on 082 872 6456.
In parting, Olivier summed up the sentiment of all concerned: “When an elderly man stops you along the route and tells you that he once owned the same model, it’s a wonderful feeling. What better way to celebrate Heritage Day?”
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