KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna Slot Car Club survived a difficult year, saying goodbye to founder member and chairman Marc Rudy, one of its up-and-coming youngsters, Brendon van Oudtshoorn and the treasurer Bernie Griesel.

The rest of the committee - André Vercueil, Gary Laughton, Syd Armstrong, Leon de Klerk and Nito Valentin - provided some excellent support throughout the year.

The year started with hosting the first leg of the SA nationals in March, where the locals had home advantage and the Knysna team did very well.

The second leg was held in Newcastle, Natal, in June with Marc Rudy, Gary Laughton, Kevin Laughton and Brendon van Oudtshoorn representing Knysna.

Unfortunately with it being a difficult track and without much set-up and practice time, the team didn’t perform as well as was hoped. In September the third leg of nationals was held in East London and again Marc Rudy, Gary and Kevin Laughton and Nito Valentin represented Knysna.

PRIZES
Here the team performed better and walked away with some prizes.
Marc Rudy (B Class) 1st for Production 1-24 and Historic Sports, 2nd GT 12 and Scalex Touring;
Gary Laughton (C Class) 2nd for Production 1-24 and Historic Sports, 2nd GT 12 and Scalex Touring;
Nito Valentino (C Class) 1st for Production 1-24 and Historic Sports, 1st GT 12 and Scalex Touring;
Kevin Laughton (Junior Class) 3rd Historic Sports Cars, 5th for Production 1-24, GT 12 and Scalex Touring and Production 1-24;
Brendon van Oudtshoorn (Junior Class) 1st Scalex Touring, 4th for Production 1-24 and Historic;
Sports and GT 12 abd Scalex Touring.

TEAM BUILDING
Towards the end of October the club held a fun team building afternoon for Thesen Saw Mill for 13 staff members. The event was run by Graham Vos of the Plett Slot Car Club. They are planning some more corporate team building events for 2011. The estimated cost of such an event is R1 000 for the first six people, thereafter R100 per person. The company gets a slot car body that they can paint and brand. These cars will be kept at the club and used as club cars for people who want to race, but cannot afford a car.

The club has also hosted a number of successful children’s parties. These parties are for children of 10 and older and for a maximum of 12 children. The involvement of parents is essential for the success of the party as they are needed as marshals and to help with discipline and respect for the equipment.
Knysna Slot Car Club is hoping to find retired or semi-retired car-lovers who would be interested in dedicating time to building the club.

"The club has one of the best facilities countrywide, but all committee members have full-time business commitments. Everyone who has been to the track has been full of praise for the facility. It is considered one of the best tracks in the country," says committee member André Vercuiel.

"Not only is this club a way of getting the kids and dad off the couch, away from the TV and out of the house, it is also extremely good for concentration, hand-eye co-ordination and can also assist children with attention problems."
The club hopes to arrange some interclub events between Knysna and Plett this year.

Graham Vos runs a very successful club in Plettenberg Bay at the old Mike’s Kitchen complex.

If you are interested in viewing the facility or becoming a member, the club is open on Monday nights from 18:30 to about 21:30 for practice and on Thursday nights from 18:00 until 22:00 for racing.
The cost for new visitors is R20 per practice or racing evening. The cost of member-
ship is R200 a month for adults and R100 for juniors of school going age.
For any queries or more details, phone André Vercueil at 082 565 4618 or Gary Laughton at 083 277 34343.
Anyone interested in the Plett club, may phone Graham Vos at 083 262 5839.


Nito Valentin (left) and Kevin and Gary Laughton