With the annual Passion for Speed now restricted to Zwartkops and Red Star it was no surprise to learn that there would be no Classic Car racing during the opening round of the Lime Property Management Power Series at the Killarney International Raceway on Saturday 1 February 2025.
Hot and windy somewhere during the 16 race program set the scene for the day and it was the motorcycle fraternity that grabbed the holeshot on the day by announcing Motul as series sponsor of the local Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli, SealPro Winelands, MGA Racing and BATT Tech. Credit to the bikers that have been growing their series steadily and the top class stepping up with good numbers for the day.
125cc Short Circuit Invitation Races 2×6 Laps
The main circuit left these 125cc machines short of breath before the end of the first lap but valuable experience was gained. Mitch Robinson using his main circuit experience to start on pole with a 1min44.237 lap at 112.831 km/h and he would improve to a race best of 1min42.638 and 114.591 km/h enroute to a double victory.
Essentially flatout from the exit of Castrol until they reach Pertamina Fastron there simply are no reserves, which makes staying upright somewhat challenging and some interesting riding positions were observed as each tried to gain an advantage.
Nathan Waddington taking second from Ewert Koorts with Jacques Rust fourth, Ethan Alexander fifth and Bernard Claassen sixth. We did say youngsters, if you consider Peter Hill young at his spritely 70 years of age!
Pirelli V8 Masters 2×9 Laps
With the senior drivers in the series either moving on to other categories to revive their motorsport careers or simply opting to retire the Pirelli V8 Masters found themselves restructuring and a small field opened their season.
On paper it should have been a walkover for Sean Moore in the green 73 Ziegler Logistics APV 347is but he managed to spin in Pertamina Fastron on the last lap whilst Mark Ridgway almost made in two wins in his 53 GetWorth APV 347is before dropping to third overall. Alister Brown finally got to be at the right place at the right time to take overall victory in his 22 NAC Helicopters APV 347is with Gary Thompson fourth in the Gold category.
Ian Parsons won the Silver category in the 69 Master Power Technologies APV 347is with Denis Gaiduk second in his Knorhoek APV 347is and in third it was Menno Parsons in the 21 Master Technologies APV 347is.
Kaltron Supercars 2×9 Laps
With the cars once again starting to look attractive and well prepared the driver then spoiled their own revival by getting all mixed up through Sarel’s Sweep.
Glen Phillips, 33 Jetmaster Opel Supercar, initially had Andrew Moffitt as shadow in Heat 1 but it would be Nashrenes Schloss who would finish second overall for the day in her 24 VCiB Insurance Brokers Opel Supercar with Shane Boscombe in third with the 18 Lime Property Management Opel Supercar.
Kyle Hallick fourth in his neat looking 31 Pro Oil version with newcomer, Leon Chetty, an encouraging fifth in the 15 Dynamic Opel Supercar.
Pirelli MGA Racing Clubmans – Classic – Breakfast Run MC 1×9 1×6 Laps
Greg Waddington started on pole with 1min20.892 and an average speed of 145.394 km/h aboard his neat 15 KTIM RC8 and led all the way to overall victory with JP Schemers second on his 63 Ravenol Kawasaki ZX10R and newcomer Zander Taljaard an impressive third aboard his 888 Toyota GR Racing Honda CBR 600 RR.
Francois Kritzinger looked impressive in fourth with his neat 77 Suzuki GSXR 750 and he was closely followed by Juan Momberg on hi 9 Motorwise Suzuki GSXR 750. Willem Louw sixth on his 86 Kawasaki ZX6R.
Only one Classic Superbike entry and John Kosterman rode the neat 81 Quality Engineering Supplies Suzuki GSXR 1100 with his normal flair. The Breakfast Run category going to Hannes Jansen on his 23 Suzuki GSXR750 with Charl Joubert second on his 47 Triumph Daytona 675.
Derek Hendricks, 57 Bikers Delight Suzuki GSXR 750, and William Morries, 13 Willie’s Service Centre Suzuki GSXR K6, failed to negotiate Sarel’s Sweep after contact. Hendricks requiring medical attention.
Spirit Invest Sport & GT Cars 2×10 Laps
Gary Kieswetter simply cruised to overall victory in his mighty 43 S1 Advanced Packaging Technology Ginetta G57 LMP2 whilst Charl Visser drove his 33A Charl Engineering Porsche GT3 to an entertaining second. Does that Porsche sound sweet!
Connor Kilbride drove his Racing Spirit 42 BMW M3 to a clean third overall with Dr Mike Verrier fourth in the 4B NDT Racing BMW Z4M GT. This car finally starting to live up to expectation. Maarten Prins in fifth spot with his 72B Motul Porsche GT3 Cup racer and the top six completed by Tristan de Nobrega in the 70X Racing Spirit BMW M3.
Gavin Gorman won class C in his neat 16C SPK Paper Manufacturers VW Nardini Sports 2.0 with Hennie Trollip a distant second in his neat 10 Toyota Lotus Seven and Simeon Penev third in his 77C Nioro Plastics Nissan 350Z. Class D won by Ray Farnham in his 9D Opel Birkin 7 with Brett Swanevelder second in his 74D Weskus Drukkers Nissan 350Z.
BATT Tech STC 650 & SSP 300 MC 2×9 Laps
Nicholas Hutchings, 72 HSC Racing Suzuki Sv650, was made to work for his overall victory by Adrian Solomon, 4 Pool King Kawasaki ER650, and these two look set to have a season long battle for overall honours .
In third it was Max Munton, 14 SunScan Kawasaki ER650, with Reinhardt Burnett, Subsidium IT Kawasaki Er650, a constant shadow in fourth spot. Zante Otto a fighting fifth on her 73 Missile Motorcycles Yamaha R7 with Abigail Bosson sixth aboard her 51 Project Sixty SA Kawasaki ER 650. The guys will have to be aware of these two ladies in 2025.
Raymond Alexander had matters much his own way in the SSP 300 category aboard his 11 Rayder Cycles Kawasaki Ninja 400 with Mitch Robinson second on his 71 Mag Workshop Kawasaki Ninja 399 and in third it was newcomer Bradley Mustoe on his 7 KTM RC390.
Thermo Fires Clubmans 2×8 Laps
Kyle Visser and Shane Smith dared each other on the brakes into Hoals Hoek with both finding the scenery before settling into a more acceptable pace. Unfortunately the really good looking 22A Truckport Logistic BMW E36 of Shane Smith cried enough in H2 and retired to leave Kyle Visser steering his 337A Charl Engineering VW Polo 2.0 to overall victory.
Michael le Sueur coming home third in his 64A New Engineering VW Golf MkI 1.8 with Dexter Bruce in second spot with his 146C BMW E36. Jaco Lambert fourth in the neat 29B Lambert Racing VW Polo 1.8, Steven Gouws fifth in his 34B Thermo Fires VW Jette MkIII 2.0 and in sixth spot it was Gary Smith in his 71B Truckport Logistics BMW E36.
Mia Bensch second in class C with her 110C Virtual 5 BMW. Jemma Olen taking class D in her 36D Bridgestone BMW E36 with Arno Michels second in his 911 BMW E36 and Anton Jacobs third in the almost small 39D All Scale Nissan Sentra STi 2.0.
Evert du Toit claimed class E in his massive 651E New Engineering Ford Falcon with Ley Fielding second in his neat 67E BMW E36 325i. Bernard Lehman winning class F in his neat 83E Opel Corsa 2.0.
Pirelli SealPro Winelands Superbikes – SBK Challenge – 600cc 1×10 Laps
Undoubtedly the main feature of the day was to be the Motul Superbikes in association with Pirelli and SealPro Winelands. This is spite of the absent Kewyn Snyman and Tristin Pienaar. Slade van Niekerk setting the bar with a Pole lap of 1min11.767 at 163.88km/h average.
Heat one delivered with Slade van Niekerk taking a hard charging first aboard his 111 Project Sixty SA Kawasaki ZX10R with Ronald Slamet (M) second aboard his 68 RSRA Yamaha R1 and Malcolm Rapson (M) third aboard his 46 Racebase Suzuki GSXR 1000. Mark van den Berg hung onto fourth aboard his neat 96 GFP Superbikes Suzuki GSXR 1000 and in fifth spot it was Brad Bodsworth (M) aboard his immaculate 41 Bad Bee Racing Aprilia RSV4RF. The top six completed by Robb Cragg on his 16 Diciples Ink Honda CBR1000R.
The SBK Challenge won by Gerhard Vrey (M) aboard his 21 SealPro Winelands Kawasaki ZX10R with Jamie Hall second on the 65 MGA Suzuki and in third it was Greg Waddington (M) on his Yamaha R1. Wayne Arendse unfortunately visiting the scenery into T3 with the 33 Kawasaki ZX10R out of action for the day.
David Goosen claimed the 600c category aboard his 12 Goos and Go Yamaha R6 with Chad Thompson a distant second on his 40 Hydraquartz Plumbing Suzuki GSXR 600 and in third it was Samkelo Liwani on his 49 Ezelifu Ltd Yamaha YZF R6.
Sadly heat two would be cancelled after a red flag was called, followed by a very serious incident on the front straight that would claim the life of the popular Bradley Bodsworth. A MSA investigation launched to determine the circumstances of this accident which left Jason Linaker hospitalised.
Our sincere condolences to all and we wish everyone injured during the day a full and speedy recovery.
Progress Engineering BMW CCCT Series 1×8 Laps
Nian du Toit simply annihilated everyone in his incredible 20A NDT Racing BMW E36 Turbo. Pole with a time of 1min13.281 sets the average speed at 160.495km/h and it would be kind to say nobody else was anywhere near.
Marco Retter second in his 50A Progress Precision Engineering BMW E46 Turbo with Mansoor Parker third in his 46B Jive BMW E46 M3 Turbo followed by Dillon Joubert in his new 44E Powder Coating World BMW E46 330i and Connor Kilbride in his 142D Racing Spirit BMW E36 328i. The top six completed by James king in his 777E Kings Auto Body Shop BMW E46 3.0.
Chris Fersch taking class F in his 85F BMW E36 328i.
Unfortunately the second heat of the series had to be cancelled.
Round 2 scheduled for 22 February 2025 where the Laude Classic Cars, Api Property GTi Challenge, Kaltron Fine Cars and BEJO Trustees Formula Libre will open their respective seasons.
Published by: Patrick Vermaak
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