POWER SERIES 2 – FOUNDERS DAY DELIVERS (6 APRIL 2024)

On 24 December 1751 three ships left the shores of Texel in The Netherlands and on 5 April 1752 the 82 men and 8 women on board the De Rejiger, De Goede Hoop and Dromedaris sighted land and though they would physically and on 6 April 1752 it would only become a public holiday in 1952 (300th anniversary), it would become Founders Day in 1980, but has pretty much been ignored since 1994. Othe than the fact that Johan Anthonisz (Jan) van Riebeeck now gets blamed for almost everything! Bottom line is, without Founders Day 372 years ago none of us would be here. That despite the fact that 11 days was lost on the September 1752 calender!

The day does present itself as the birthday of many individuals with a motorsport connotation locally and the 83rd birthday of American drag legend, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, leads the list whilst Oscar Piastri celebrated his 23rd. More locally former WP Argus Modified Saloon Car Champion, Dirkie Kotzé, was present to celebrate birthday 100 and ? and former WP Rally Navigator, Johan Barnard, even had cupcakes on hand to celebrate his 74th birthday! Brad Bodsworth a little younger!

Leading up to the weekend there was serious concern about the traditional stormy weather that follows Easter, but somehow it dragged it’s clouds in arriving and the cool temperatures actually left the circuit in perfect racing condition. The guys SE wind possibly making braking into T5 something of a challenge as it was not consistent. The Cape of Storms certainly living up to its reputation on Sunday though!

The Kaltron Formula Supercars and Kaltron Fine Cars stood over for 27 April 2024 and with many regulars currently preparing for “away” events numbers possibly took a ding in every category except the Laude Classic Cars.

Sealpro Winelands SBK / Masters / 600cc Motorcycles 2×9 Laps
As unlikely as this may sound the absolutely dominant 19 Missile Motorcycles Honda CBR1000 of Kewyn Snyman found a very determined Slade van Niekerk 111 Project 60 Kawasaki ZX10R suddenly making a real nuisance of itself and it would be fair to say everyone looked extremely keen to celebrate Sealpro Winelands as the new title sponsor of the Superbike / Superbike Challenge / Masters and 600cc motorcycles.

We are spoiled with MotoGP and Superbikes on television but motorcycle racing in the Western Cape certainly hold it’s own with respect sheer spectacle. These riders are truly giving it their all at all times.

Diving to the inside of Kewyn Snyman going into Pertamina Fastron (Turn 5) on the final lap looked somewhat optimistic from quite far back and the incredible sight of watching them exit on their back wheels made predicting a winner almost impossible and a mere 0.013sec would separate Snyman from van Niekerk at the flag! The closest finish of the day!

Getting closer every event is Tristin Pienaar on his very attractive 50 Stocker Trailers BMW S1000RR with another great performance from Jason Linaker aboard the ever improving 93 RST Honda CBR1000. Ronald Slamet unfortunately fell ill on Friday and decided to not risk racing and Trevor Westman also failed to start.

Veteran Malcolm Rapson, 46 Racebase Suzuki GSXR1000, finished fifth overall whilst UK visitor, Jonny Towers, took the 600cc honours in sixth spot aboard his 17 RST Honda 600. Keana Strode seventh on his Kawasaki ZX6R and birthday boy , Brad Bodsworth, eighth on his 41 Bad Bee Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory (recovering from a broken wrist and also celebrating two years of racing). First SBK Challenge was ninth placed Piers Canuté aboard the Catman Project 60 Kawasaki ZX101R with Gerhard Vrey tenth on his 21 Sealpro Winelands Kawasaki ZX10R.

Keana Strode and Quinten Weening (85 Bulldog Racing Yamaha R1) made contact out of Turn 5 Pertamina Fastron but both remained upright with shock the biggest damage sustained.

BATT Tech STC650 & SSP300 Motorcycles 2×9 Laps
Jamie Hall, MGA Racing Kawasaki ER650, rode in customary neat and tidy fashion to claim overall victory from a determined Braddon Hutchings on the 74 HSC Racing Kawasaki ER650 and had mechanical maladies not stopped Paul Medell and the 5 Trac Mac Kawasaki ER650 the podium may well have been a much tighter affair. Andre Symes claiming third aboard his 52 Genasys Kawasaki ER650. Reinardt Burnett fourth on yet another Kawasaki ER650.

Adrian Solomon still the dominant rider in the SSP300 category on his 4 Pool King Kawasaki Ninja 400 in fifth overall with Stavro Michel sixth overall on his 24 Ballistic Uniforms & Apparel Suzuki SV650. Raymond Alexander seventh on the 11 Rayder Cycles Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the first lady rider, Elme Mostert, ninth overall on her 94 Lucky Strike / Samurai Racing Kawasaki ER6 and the top ten completed by Mario Ferreira on his 44 Willies Service Centre KTM390RC.

API Property Group GTi Challenge 2×8 Laps
If ever there was an appropriate title sponsor for a series API hit the jackpot as the top six drivers in class A desperately tried to claim the exact same piece of tarmac as their own for sixteen laps. Against all odds they almost succeeded in doing so without appearing totally hooligan or desperate.

There was some pushing, shoving, leaning and off course driving but strategically it was Marco Busi who succeeded in being at the right spot, at the right ime to claim overall victory in his 41A Simtech Motorsport VW Polo 6R. It would seem he has the magic code as he also won the opening round overall!

Nathan Victor (71A Summit Racing VW Polo 6R) started on pole whilst EC visitor Jeandré Marais (95A Summit Racing) rued not doing the Imperium Auto Spares Rally at Aldo Scribante as he would not start at Killarney.

Schalk Geldenhuys (10 G&A Motorsport VW Polo 6R) just pipping Jurie Swart (39A Alpine Autohaus VW Polo 6R) to second overall with Nathan Victor (71A Summit Racing VW Polo 6R) fourth and Clinton Bezuidenhout (57A Progress Precision Engineering VW Polo 6R) fifth. The top six completed by Dillon Joubert (44A TAC Steel VW Polo 6R).

Class B won by Ryan van Eden (28B RVE Digital Marketing VW Polo 6) from Mohammed Khalfey (14 MAD Performance VW Polo 6) and Kyle Wiltshire (54B Bloomsbury Investment Cars VW Polo 6) in third spot. Mario Roux (17B Automar Automotive Selling VW Polo 6) home fourth, Faizal Jacobs (40B Century Karting VW Polo 6) fifth and the top six completed by Daniel Sandenbergh (49B Eiekstad Panel Beaters VW Polo 6).

Class C saw Mark Fontini (31C Goch Cooper VW Golf MkI) headed the field from Daniel Munna (33C API Property VW Golf MkI) and Tristan Joubert (90C Powder Coating World VW Golf MkI). Dylan van Eden (55C RVE Digital Marketing VW Golf MkI) in fourth, Adriano Ferroli (4C VW Golf MkI) fifth and Zac Laden (64C Angri VW Golf MkI) sixth.

Formula Libre 2×10 laps
Dee-Jay Booysen dominating proceedings in his 20S Dico Reynard FVW. His only real opposition at the front of the field suffered gear selection problems and Storm Lanfear could only finish seventh in his 27S Mantelli’s Reynard FVW.

Kelly Fletcher nabbing second overall in her 22 Dolphin Engineering Forza FVee with Donovan Ramsay third in his 95 Kerston Foods Sting FVee. Cyril Somerville (61 Liqui Moly Rhema FVee) fourth, Ricky Anderson (Forza Fvee) fifth and in sixth it was Zane Amundsen (30 Alpha Precision Engineering Lantis FVee). Zane having a 30sec Jump Start penalty added to his first heat result

Laude Classic Cars 2×8 Laps
Sporting the biggest entry for the day does speak volumes for the Laude Classic Cars who are currently enjoying great support and quality entries. And there are more in process!

Franco Donadio (32A Harkers Automotive Chev Can Am V8) dominated at the front of the field, but it is believed that both Rudolf de Vos and Franco Donadio have agreed to a measure of performance restriction to allow a more balanced and realistic Ford vs Chev challenge at the front.

Michael Hitchcock did his best to defend the Blue Oval honours but missed a gear into T5 which had him trying his hand at Rally X before rejoining in the 67A Cross Cape Forklift Services Ford Mustang V8. Second overall still possible due to the absence of a few leading contenders on the day.

Trevor Momberg and the 73B All Scales Ford Capri V6 ruling the roost from Wayne Lötter in his rapid 130B Lotspeed Ford Escort MkI. Bruce Avern-Taplin third in his 77B Toyota Corolla Sprinter (just, as there was a serious cloud of smoke following this car). Ferdi Mouton only fourth in class after he too had a go at Rally X into T1 with the 68B Cross Cape Forklift Services Ford Mustang V8. Dave Alhadeff fifth in the “Winfield” 95B BMW E30 325iS. Bryon Bedien initially looked good in his 46B Bedien Racing Datsun P510 SSS and should become more of a factor once properly sorted.

Jared Thomson claimed top spot in class C with his 85C CJ Supplies BMW E30 333i from the incredibly quick 38C Leyland Mini 1275 driven by Dion Valentine. Trevor Hutchings third in the 71C HSC Racing VW Scirocco 1.8 with Brain Evans fourth in his 441C Cape Eye Laser Ford Escort MkI 1.6. Layne Hutchings fifth in the 74C HSC Racing VW Golf MkII GTi and sixth in class going to Herman de Kock in the 59C Ford Escort MkI 1.6.

Class D going to a determined Theo Claassen in his 55D Yesterday’’s Heroes Nissan Skyline GTX 2.8 with Robert Rowe second in the 11D Veldt Reared BMW E30 325iS. James Matthee third in his unique 700D Augusta Motors Honda CRX 1.6. Malcolm Pheiffer the only other finisher in the category in his 195D Alfa Romeo GTA replica.

Calvin Beekman taking class E in the rapid 42E Rob Tissington Morris Minor 1293cc with Leon van Lienden second in his 41D LJ’s Auto Repairs Alfa Romeo Bertone Sprint. The ever retiring Melt Carstens third in class with the 201D Ford Cortina MkII. Albert Cook fourth in his 40D Albert Cook Racing Opel Kadett and in fifth it was Robert Seneka in his 50D EMI Group Ford Escort MkI.
2023 Overall Laude Classic Cars champion Wynand Nell did not have a great day as his normally incredibly quick 1C Harkers Automotive Ford Anglia lost all oil pressure on the warm-up lap. A minor problem with a feed line, but for some reason he was forced to start at the back of the grid for the second race. Making up places rapidly he and Deon Conradie, 86C Flat Four Racing Toyota Conquest RSi, managed to trip over each other.

Always great to see the many family combinations in action too. Trevor Hutchings getting one over his son Layne on this occasion whilst it was good to see Brain and Jarryd Evans running close on track. Peter Hitchcock almost surprised when Michael Hitchcock got it wrong in T5!

Roger Lewis opted to run his Kaltron Fine Cars 1 MGA as Classic on the day, but it is anticipated that Fina Cars numbers will soon be improving. Marius Fourie, former Off Road Champion, acquired three Lambert Racing VW cars and then managed to blow all three engines during testing.

Pirelli V8 Masters 2×8 Laps
Fabio Tafani, 1 Club Refrigeration APV347is, blew everyone away in the first heat and then did not start the second. Rui Campos was down from Johannesburg and driving the 69 car normally campaigned by Menno Parsons to great effect. The 29 Campos Transport APV347is not required for overall victory.

Second overall going to Silver class driver, Denis Gaiduck, in his 9 Knorhoek APV347is and third to fellow Silver driver, Gary Thomson. Ken Finneran, another Silver driver, in fourth with his Blockkoin APV347is. Jason Ibbotson lost a few components on the 46 Autohaus Angel APV347is but though he reported benefits in losing weight it was somewhat neutralised by ineffective aerodynamics.

For some reason these gentleman racers change character once the lights go green!

Le Joubert 100km Challenge Sport & GT
A lights to flag mind game between Steve Humble, 91 Harp Motorsport / Ravenol Pilbeam MP91 LMP Judd V8, and the nimble 15 Adjust4Sleep Nova Proto NP02 Coyota 5.0 V8, made the 100km race seem too short.

Peet van der Walt had to bring the Safety Car on track when Simeon Penev tried to launch his 77D Nissan 350Z over the Turn 1 perimeter wall, fortunately without injury and surprisingly little damage.

Veteran, André Brink, drove neatly in the 48B SSB Transport Porsche 991 GT3 Cup to claim third overall with the 72B Motul Porsche GT3 Cup of Maarten Prins fourth. The legendary 23C ELF S 06 Lotus 23 replica of Eric Salomon fifth with the 2.0 Opel powered 9D Birkin 7 of Ray Farnham sixth.

Clinton Thorne and the extremely quick 93A Fulloutput Toyota powered Lotus 7 was forced to pit midway, but really should have been third based on performance.

Given his performance in the race the scary spin out of T5 Pertamina Fastron earlier in the day had Steve Humble at his best in the race where Nick Adcock complimented him in making absolutely no mistakes. Two impressive machines delivering with some awesome driving.

Nick Adcock adding the fastest time of the day at 1min08.925 in the pretty Nova Proto.

Thermo Fires Clubman Saloons 2×8 Laps
Nian du Toit dominated in the weezing 73A NDT Racing BMW E30 328 Turbo with the much improved 10A Origen Oils / Autopro Nissan Skyline 2.5 Turbo of Steven Heydenrych second and the normally aspirated 70A Rico Barlow Racing / Philwest VW Jetta 2.0 of SA motorsport legend, Jess Huggett, a mighty third. Kyle Visser fourth in his 337X Charl Engineering VW.

Class B winner, JP Share, fifth overall in his 102B Bester Tegniese Dienste BMW E36 328i with Jaco Lambert sixth overall in his neat 29B Paint Chemistry VW Polo 1.8. Clint Rennard an unfortunate seventh overall after a great start in the fastest Farmtruck, normally aspirated, 3A G&A Motorsport VW Golf MkII. Yusuf Hendricks tested his own bravery a number of times in T5 before coming home 8th overall in his 61B MYH Auto BME E36 Turbo,

Steven Gouws ninth overall in his sneezing 34C Thermo Fires VW Jetta 3 Turbo with Dexter Bruce tenth in his 143D A&K Auto BMW E36. Veteran racer, Gary Smith, was quite entertaining enroute to 11th spot in his 68C Truckport Logistics BMW 530 whilst Zack Groenewald found power delivery on his new 43X VW Jetta Turbo rather a handful.

One had to feel somewhat sympathetic to Clint Rennard and Jess Huggett who started the first race on the front row in their normally aspirated cars and typically driving as hard as only they can. Then the turbocharged cars simply blast their way down the straights to the point where they can simply dial in enough to pass at will.

John da Silva (142E Ezi Group VW Gold MkI) won class E from Jemma Olen (36E BMW E36) whilst Evert du Toit claimed class F in the massive 651F Ford Falcon from the 97F Flynns Detailing VW Golf MkI of Michael Flynn, the 67E BMW E36 of Ley Fielding and the 24F Adam Omar VW Golf MkI.

Summary
Being April there will be a second Power Series event on 27 April 2024 at the Killarney International Raceway.

Published by: Patrick Vermaak

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