More of what to expect at the Passion for Speed
Special CAN-AM tribute car for International Sports Racing Prototype event at Zwartkops
The late sixties early 1970s produced one of the greatest open sports-racing formulas ever. There were no rules! BRM, McLaren Lola, Shadow and Porsche built monster cars with power (turbo) over 1000 HP! Grant van Schalkwyk (ex Wesbank national champion) and Wayne Exner have built a CAN-AM tribute car. It is an incredible racing machine. At Zwartkops on Sat 28th Jan see it challenge the Chevrons, Lolas and Porsche 917s.
Icon single-seaters at Zwartkops
Andre Bezuidenhout will be heading the list in his Formula 1 Dallara-Cosworth. This is a significant F1 car, before the days of paddle shift gearboxes.
The formula that should never have ended
F5000 F1 Racers were powered by production car engines (Ford, Chev 5litre V8s) which made almost as much power as the contemporary F1s. South Africa had them but then switched to Formula Atlantic in 1976. At Zwartkops, Bobby Scott will demonstrate the ex John McNicol McLaren F5000. This car has recently been restored by Andrew Thompson.
Formula Atlantics – our National Formula from the mid-seventies to the late eighties
These were scaled down F1 cars with 1600 Ford BDA and later Mazda Rotary engines. We expect at least eight of these cars to be on track – Maurer, Ralt, March, Chevron…
Special 1973 Chevron B23 from the U.K. in the ISP event
The B23 was a development of the B19 in the late sixties. This 2 litre FVC racer from the U.K. should give the local Chevrons and Lolas a run for their money. Tim Cousins and Jeremy Wheatly are leading sports racing drivers from the U.K.
Willie Hepburn to race the Studebaker Golden Hawk in the big Legends Race
Jochem Mass (ex F1 driver) was given one to race at Goodwood. Halfway through practise he parked it out on circuit and walked back to the pits – “It is lethal, does not stop, does not turn, and just can’t go in a straight line” was his comment. Well, our great veteran, Willie Hepburn will now race our Golden Hawk! Willie will take on Sarel, Hennie, Paolo, Mark, Jonathan and Michiel Campagne.
BMWs at Zwartkops
BMW conjures up great memories of the 1970s when icons such as the Batmobile raised the bar in production car racing. They are unique, powerful and became the aspiration of the motoring world. They were raced by Ronnie Peterson, Joachim Mass, Jackie Ickx, all racing greats. On Saturday our racing greats will be seen at the wheel – Mike Briggs, Graeme Nathan and Geoff Mortimer in the Kay-Eddie Estates brace of BMWs. Pablo Clarke Racing has entered the magnificent 1976 Batmobile.
The late Tony Viana’s “745” Winfield Team Car
The late Tony Viana’s “745” championship winning Winfield Team car will be raced by Paolo Cavalieri.
David Piper, Mike Knight and Peter du Toit
David Piper has visited South Africa for some 31 years as a racer and promoter. He is a Nine-Hour legend and has raced some 20 years in historic racing and has participated and attended the Passion for Speed race meeting at Zwartkops since its inception.
1968 Mazda R100 Coupe
From Cape Town comes the ex-works Mazda R100 Coupe Rotary. It was these cars, and this one in particular, which put not only Mazda but also the effectiveness of the Rotary engine on the world map. It is a great privilege to have Dave Kopke enter this car in the Pre-1984 Historic Production Car event.
Castrol Tourist Trophy Le Mans/Sebring Sports and GT Cars of the mid sixties
This is a 45 minute event with a compulsory pit stop and in many instances driver changes.
It is this event that captures the atmosphere and spirit of the endurance races of the sixties. World events that captured the imagination of world motor manufacturers – Ford, Ferrari, Lola, BMC, Porsche…
Heading the field of 32 cars today will be the two Lola T70 Spyders of Rui Campos and Mark/Jonathan du Toit. Alongside will be the big Daytona V8 Coupes which conquered the world in the early sixties, raced by Sarel vd Merwe, Mike Briggs, Peter Lindenberg. In contention will be their successor, the Ford GT40s, driven by the Swedish team, Peter Baillie and Oliver Dalias. Not to be outdone, will be the initiator of them all, the big rambling V8 Cobras of Warren Lombard and Alan Garrow.
From the U.K. come six Austin Healeys, TVR and Lotus 23 (the car that shook the world when Jim Clark beat the giants at Nürburgring). From South Africa comes Dennis McBeath in his Mpiti.
One of the dark horses of the event will be the orange McLaren MIB of Donald Duncan from the U.K. This is a dynamic and spectacular racing car. Another car to follow with interest will be the father and son team: Brian Rowlings (Jnr and Snr) in their van Rooyen profile 1965 Ford Mustang. Then of course there will be Michiel Campagne in his mighty Chev Corvette.
So the list goes on and on. This will be a great race.
The Pre-1966/68 “Little Giants” Legends of the 9-hour for Production, Sports and GT cars
We all love the little giant-killers – David and Goliath is embedded in our minds. When it comes to motor racing this is no less so. Long remain the memories of the great giant-killing acts in the 9-hour races: the Porter brother’s Renault Gordinis; GSM Darts; Mini Coopers.
Racing at Zwartkops will be 32 little giants: GSM Darts, Mini Coopers, Mini Marcos, Austin A35s (Teapot), Volvos, Alfas – you name them and they will be on track – the fast and the furious – badgers on the attack!
Pre’1974 ISP: Champion of Champions – Trans-AM
Included in the ISP event will be the Champion of Champions class. These cars heritage is one of the most significant USA Production car formulas ever when US Manufacturers fielded their “Pony Cars”, Mustang, Comaro’s, Plymouths… at Zwartkops this class will have Ben Morgenrood, Terry Wilford (Ford Thunderbolt), Thomas Falkiner (Mustang), Marius Roberts (Comaro) plus swedes…
Pre-1974 International Sports Racing Prototypes
This was the age when every race car engineer and designer had a different idea of how to build a race car. It was the age of speed, aerodynamics and advanced technology – handling and brakes had not even been thought of. This age produced the most spectacular sports car racing ever. From the no-rules Can-Am Series in the USA to the Le Mans prototypes with big V8 power (turbos were only bolted on from 1972) and the 2-litre sports cars from the U.K. the world was their oyster.
The ISP event at Zwartkops will give us a taste of those days – the big V8 Lolas, the 2-litre Chevrons, 917 and RSR Porsches, Can-Am 412 and Ecosse specials – man and spectacular machine in action.
It’s Rock ‘n Roll for the whole family at Zwartkops from Friday to Sunday
Cars on Saturday
Bikes on Sunday
The sight and sound of the Golden Age of Motor Racing is a family experience for the young and old.
Rock ‘n Roll to music which empowered the post-World War 2 generation – “Rebels with a cause“
Music, Children’s play grounds, free grandstand seating, open-plan pits, full and affordable catering.
Something for everyone.
Weekend Tickets (Friday to Sunday): Adults R200, Students R130
Tickets bought at Gate on Saturday: Adults R200, Students R130
Friday / Sunday Ticket Only: Adults R100, R80 Students
Presold Tickets from Zwartkops Office or Computicket: R180 Adults, R110 Students
Kids under 12 Free Entry
16th Historic Passion for Speed Race |