Historic Inland Championship ends on a high note at the Zwartkops Raceway

04.11.2024 07:32

Zwartkops Raceway

This year’s Historic Inland Championship ended on a high, if overheated, note at the Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria.

The events, held in searing heat, kept a reasonably sized crowd happy.

Top billing belonged to the Marlboro Crane Hire Pre-1966 Production Cars, with old-timer Ben Morgenrood winning race one with his Morgenrood Ford Mustang.

Saturday’s races for Marlboro Crane Hire Pre-1966 Production Cars saw veteran Ben Morgenrood (Morgenrood Ford Mustang) win both heats from Jonathan du Toit (Trans Africa Chev Nova). Picture: Dave Ledbitter

He was chased to the line by Jonathan du Toit (Trans Africa Chev Nova), Hennie Groenewald (Kameeldoring Escort RS2000), Seef Fourie Junior (Chevelle), Mark du Toit (Trans Africa Ford Fairlane) and James Temple (Lindenberg Ford Escort RS2000).

Morgenrood and Jonathan du Toit again finished first and second in race two, this time followed by Temple, Fourie Junior, Mark du Toit and Alan Poulter (Tom Campher Volvo 122S).

After leading, Larry Wilford’s Fuchs Lola T70 dropped out of the opening heat for Pre-1974 Sports Racing Prototypes.

Jonathan du Toit (Trans Africa Chevron B9) won both races for Pre-1974 Sports Racing Prototypes. In race two he was chased to the line by Mark du Toit (Trans Africa Lola T70). Picture: Dave Ledbitter

That left Jonathan du Toit (Trans Africa Chevron B9) to win ahead of Peter Bailey (Porsche 917), Mark du Toit (Trans Africa Lola T70) and Warren Lombard (PEP Boys Ford Cobra).

Jonathan du Toit won race two as well, this time ahead of Mark du Toit, Lombard and Andre’ van der Merwe (Evapco Porsche RSR).

The opening Evapco HRSA Sprint race went to Andre’ van der Merwe (Evapco Porsche 911 RSR), leading home Hennie Groenewald (Kameeldoring Escort RS2000), Stuart Konig (Northern Bolt VW Scirocco) and Andre’ ten Napel (TNMC Medical Scirocco).

The opening Evapco HRSA Sprint race went to Andre’ van der Merwe (Evapco Porsche 911 RSR), leading home Hennie Groenewald (Kameeldoring Escort RS2000) Picture: Dave Ledbitter

Van der Merwe won race two as well, this time chased to the line by Ten Napel, Gavin Lundin (Lube Guys Datsun 1200 GX) and John McLachlan (Hamiltons Datsun 1200 GX).

Deon du Plessis (KTM X-Bow) won the first Clubmans race ahead of Adriaan le Roux (Caterham Super 7), Dirk Lawrence (JDM Tuning Honda Ballade) and Steve Venter (Nash MVWS).

Le Roux won race two from Du Plessis, Lawrence and Anton Bitzer (Mazda RX7).

Adriaan le Roux (Mercury Engineering Lotus Super 7) scored podium places in both Clubmans races. Picture: Dave Ledbitter

Behind them Eugene Gouws (Master Mowers Chev Firenza V8) took the Midvaal Historics category from Johan Coetzer (Magnum Spring (Datsun 1200 GX), Dale Blignaut (Draper Ford Escort) and JJ Venter (VW Jetta).

Gouws won race two as well, followed by Coetzer, Blignaut and Venter.

The opening SPS Silvercup 2.0 race went to Marius Jacobs (AAA Recovery Tigra), ahead of Marnus du Plessis (Forklift Spares Nissan Primera), Paul van Niekerk (Dub VW Golf Mk1 Turbo) and Anton Bitzer (Bitzer Bikes Mazda RX7).

The opening SPS Silvercup 2.0 race went to Marius Jacobs (AAA Recovery Tigra). Picture: Dave Ledbitter

Giulio Airaga (Desco Toyota Spaceframe) took the next race, followed by Riaan Draper (Draper Toyota Beams), Jacobs and Karel Stols (Rotrix Mazda RX7).

Both of Saturday’s Liqui Moly INEX Legend races saw Tyler Robinson (AF Fans Legend) win from Jayden Goosen (Pta Noord Legend), Richard van Heerde (Browndeck Roofing Legend) and Gavin Botha (Pta Noord Legend).

The wild, KTM engined Namib Biltong Formula M of JM Gerber easily won the first Formula Libre race.

He was followed by Neville van den Berg (Formula M), Damien Archer (McNeil Plastics Ray Formula GTi) and Adrian Morrow (Chaplin Eye Formula M).

In Race two Allen Meyer (Formula VW 2002) finished second behind Van den Berg, while ahead of Archer and Morrow.

Andrew Horne (Ecurie Zoo Royale RP31) won both the Historic Single Seater races from Paul Gerber (Rosso Sport Ray 83), Ben van der Westhuizen (Royale RP21) and Patrick Dunseith (Merlyn Mk25 FF).

David Jermy (Blue Bubbles Taylon) took the first Lotus Challenge heat from Rudi Barnard (Barnard Properties Birkin), Andre’ Human (Adlem Auto Birkin) and Tinus Botes (CSI/ESI Birkin).

Jermy, Barnard and Human filled the podium after race two as well, this time ahead of JP Nortje (N4 Autocraft Birkin).

The event’s overall Evapco HRSA Pursuit Challenge victory went to Wynand du Plessis (Porsche 944 S2), ahead of Rob van Aarle (Ford Escort Mk1), Jannie van Rooyen (VW Scirocco), Gerrit Murray (Alfa Romeo GTV6), and Gary Stacey (Ford Sierra XR8).

The last event at Zwartkops this year will be the final round of the 2024 Regional Extreme Festival on Saturday, 16 November.

Andre’ de Kock

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