16th Passion for Speed International @ Zwartkops Raceway
30 January 2017
By Ronel Moodie
This past weekend, January 27-29, Zwartkops showcased South Africa’s largest historic racing extravaganza. Many might still refer to this event as the “David Piper Day” and rightly so, as it was David Piper and Mike Knight, who inspired the Series in 1988 as the Pre-1970 International Sports prototype Club.
The chequered flag appeared to be hoisted continuously for three days of consecutive racing action. Thus the three day event program kicked off on Friday the 27th – with the official qualifying and practice sessions, Saturday the 28th – racing of the cars and last but surely not the least, Sunday the 29th – racing of the bikes (Day of the Champion). Passion for Speed event saw more than 450 race cars and motorcycles take to the tarmac, with some 40 or so, hailing from abroad.
With no doubt, the enticement for the weekend event was the two races of the SKF V8 legend Production Cars. Why do you ask? Well, our very own Sarel van der Merwe, who made his annual racing comeback in a Ford Galaxie, took a top entry in this challenge.
“Passion for Speed” created a whole new industry by recreating and restoring some of the great icons of the sixties e.g. Ford GT40’s and the Production Cars of that same area. Visitors were able to meet these great Legend Cars, Motorcycles and drivers, in the pits or paddock area, as they prepared for competitive racing. Off the track there were much more than just Motorsport happening; with a flea market, live entertainment and a kiddies play area. The organizers did an excellent job ensuring that you had no excuse not to be part of the action.
To see what you have missed, watch some video’s, on some of the Motorbike racing action on the 29th: https://youtu.be/aPkytOy39mQ & https://youtu.be/t2d1fWAcZ2Y
If you were there, please see if we caught you on camera: