KNYSNA NEWS - Classic car enthusiasts, along with automotive and motor sport fans, are in for a treat when this year's Simola Hillclimb action kicks off on 3 September, as the Classic Car Friday line-up will feature a stunning array of legendary road and race cars spanning more than six decades.
According to a Knysna Speed Festival press release issued last week, a total of 30 manufacturers will be represented on the 74-strong entry list - the largest yet for Classic Car Friday.
Among the marques that will be present, Ford is the most prolific with 14 entrants, while Porsche is a close-run second with 13 entries. Jaguar, MG and Austin have four entries each, and the line-up includes a long list of other illustrious names such as Morgan, Lotus, AC, Ferrari, Austin Healey, McLaren, Chevron, Alfa Romeo, BMW, Shelby, Chevrolet, Ginetta and Lola - so there truly is something for everyone at this year's event.
"Classic Car Friday is a unique opportunity to see some of the most significant road and race cars of all types dating back as far as 1928, gathered together for a fantastic celebration of automotive history," says Simola Hillclimb sporting director, Geoff Goddard.
"There simply isn't any other event on the local calendar that assembles such a fascinating and diverse range of cars that are not just put on display, but are driven with enthusiasm up the short but challenging 1,9km Simola Hill."
André Bezuidenhout drives his 1974 Porsche 911 RSR Martini up the Simola Hill. Photo: Rob Till
The driver line-up is equally impressive, with many of South Africa's top racing drivers of past and present relishing the opportunity to be part of the Simola Hillclimb, which is widely regarded as South Africa's premier motoring and motor sport lifestyle event.
Hillclimb regular Greig Smith's Austin Seven is the oldest car in the field. It relies on a tiny 750cc engine and stripped-down chassis derived from the "Baby Austin" - a compact road car that provided affordable mobility for the British market and abroad during the 1920s and 1930s.
Following World War II, many of these cars were stripped and rebuilt into affordable race cars and competed the world over - and Smith's 1928 model is a fantastic example.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the 2021 Simola Hillclimb will feature a 1989 Minardi MN189 - only the second Formula 1 car to compete at the event to date. The first was André Bezuidenhout's Dallara F189 from the same year, which he raced in King of the Hill in 2016 and 2017.
However, the Minardi, which is owned and driven by single-seater regular Ian Schofield, will compete in Classic Car Friday, and is undoubtedly set to be one of the top contenders for this year's Classic Conqueror crown.
Greig Smith lines up in his 1928 Austin Seven. Photo: Rob Till
According to Schofield, this particular car (chassis M189/001) has an impressive pedigree as it is probably the most successful F1 car that Minardi built. It is the only one to have started on the front row of the grid (2nd at the 1990 United States Phoenix GP), and the only Minardi to have led a Grand Prix lap (during the 1989 Portuguese GP).
The car reportedly went directly from the San Marino Grand Prix in 1990 into a private collection where it stood untouched for decades. "It is probably one of the most original F1 cars from that era," Schofield explains. "Even the paint is still original, it's a very special car."
After the car was sold, it was disassembled and brought to South Africa where it was meticulously rebuilt by Greg Canny and his team at DAW Racing. The 600hp (447kW) Cosworth DFR 3.5-litre V8 engine was also completely overhauled, with the crucial parts sourced from Cosworth in the UK.
It will be fascinating to see if Schofield will be able to match or beat the King of the Hill-winning time of 37,695 seconds set by Bezuidenhout in the Dallara in 2017, but all bets are that the current Classic Car Friday record is set to tumble.
Bezuidenhout will be competing with his iconic and very quick Martini-liveried 1974 Porsche 911 RSR.
The 2021 Simola Hillclimb takes place from 3 to 5 September, starting with Classic Car Friday, followed by King of the Hill on the Saturday and Sunday. Due to Covid-19 regulations, no spectators are allowed, but the entire event will be live-streamed.
Ian Schofield in his 1989 Minardi M189 Cosworth. Photo: Dave Ledbitter
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