This event, which attracted 114 entries ranging from historic cars, full race cars and ordinary road cars, was run over the weekend of October 22 to 24.
"The goal of the event is to bring motor sport tourists to Knysna and the Garden Route and to also donate a portion of the proceeds to charity," explained race organiser, Ian Schrosbree.
The Knysna Hillclimb is a time trial type event which saw competitors race up a 1.9km hill, "and try to set the fastest time", said Schrosbree. After three thrilling days of action, of which two saw much awaited rain, in front of an enthusiastic crowd, it was veteran racer Geoff Mortimer who emerged as winner.
Despite a very wet surface, Mortimer blasted his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 Mortimer up the 1.9km Simola Hill in 50.637 seconds to pip Wilhelm Baard (Nissan R32) by a mere 0.183 sec.
Perhaps due to inclement weather, this year saw two accidents occurring. The unfoturnate Wessel Pretorius rolled his Chevrolet Lumina and journalist Mark Holdsworth crashed the newly unveiled Renault during the Media Challenge. Both suffered minor injuries.
The accidents were not the only event due to the weather; the organisers were forced to scrap the final qualifying race and the final run was held under the threat of mist forcing the event to be abandoned.
The initial pacemaker was East London's Darren Gudmanz (Nissan GT-R) who stopped the clock on 51.895. It wasn't long before fellow Nissan GT-R driver Des Gutzeit beat his time by a mere 0.045sec to take over the lead.
Towards the end of the timed runs Baard stopped the clock on 50.820 sec and it seemed as though it was all over, bar the shouting.
Almost unnoticed, Mortimer crept towards the line and rocketed off the line for a superb and well deserved victory at an average speed of just over 135km/h. "I just tried to get away cleanly and get the right lines. The car was perfect ... better than the driver," he said afterwards.
Baard was visibly dejected, almost shell-shocked as he could not have gone faster. "I had some big sideways moments in a couple of places. It was interesting!"
Gutzeit couldn't stop explaining, with an ear-to-ear grin how he was on the limit. "At the top corner it got so sideways, all I could do was keep the power on and hope it would pull straight and it did, but I used every bit of road there was.
Jaki Scheckter hustled his Nissan GT-R up the hill quick enough to grab fifth place ahead of Fabio Tafani whose superhuman effort in the severely disadvantaged rear-wheel-drive Autohaus Angel V8 Masters car. Tafani described the run as, "scary!".
Subaru driver Anton Cronje just missed out on a top six placing, but got the biggest cheer as he'd raced at Midvaal on Saturday and driven to Knysna overnight to make the start. The fact that he'd missed both Friday and Saturday practice meant his effort was worthy of praise.
An event within an event catered for historic cars and this was almost as closely fought as the main event.
Peter Little emerged as victor as he guided his narrow tyred Cooper up the hill in 1:09.366 to pip the Ulster Imp driven by Dave Alexander by a mere 0.184 sec. Third position went to Ron Hollis in an MGC Roadster.
Petite Di Dugmore claimed fourth in her Austin Healy Sprite Sebring with Rodney Green (MGB) next, as Heyns Stead rounded off the top six in the Miller MG special.
"The second Knysna Hillclimb presented by Renault was a resounding success and attracted top class entry of a fascinating variety of cars and a large turnout of past and present motor sport stars," said Shrosbree of the organising committee. Motor sport stalwart Pater Kaye-Eddie said it was "all about the atmosphere and it is the Goodwood of South Africa".
Results:
1. Geoff Mortimer (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9) - 50.637 seconds.
2. Wilhelm Baard (Nissan GT-R32) - 50.820s.
3. Des Gutzeit (Nissan GT-R) - 51.850s.
4. Darren Gudmanz (Nissan GT-R) - 51.895s.
5. Jaki Scheckter (Nissan GT-R) - 51.964.
6. Fabio Tafani (V8 Masters) - 52.369.
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