What Youngtimers Race Report
Where Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria
When Saturday 24 June 2023
Community Gauteng Regional
Classic Youngtimers impress against Superhatch rivals
Midwinter mist and a cold damp Zwartkops greeted Regional Extreme Festival competitors as the Ben Morgenrood Group Classic Youngtimers lined up to compete with the Superhatch regulars in Pretoria on Saturday. Qualifying soon suggested that the Youngtimers were not too far off the pace of their fastest Superhatch rivals, and an intriguing day ahead.
Mike O’Sullivan annexed the Youngtimer pole position aboard his Mosport Honda Ballade, followed by Jannie van Rooyen’s Volkswagen Jetta, Rob Clark and his Containerforce Honda Ballade, Brian Luyt in his second outing aboard his Mosport Honda Ballade, and Wimpie van Zyl’s Nissan Sentra.
The Van Zyl Nissan Sentra unfortunately ran into mechanical problems, which eliminated the car from the day, before a similar fate befell Rob Clark’s Honda, which was also retired for the day. That left just three Youngtimers facing the horde of Superhatches.
Starting five seconds behind the Superhatch grid, it did not take O’Sullivan and van Rooyen long at all to reel in the tail of the Superhatch field. Luyt had a narrow escape heading into turn one on lap two, as he avoided a loitering Superhatch, while van Rooyen took the fight to O’Sullivan with the Jetta leading the Ballade through the Superhatch pack.
Mike seized the advantage to move ahead into turn 5 on lap 4, from where he trotted off to take the win. The Youngtimers certainly proved their pace, storming through the hatch pack from behind to see winner O’Sullivan surge to sixth overall, with second and third Youngtimer men van Rooyen and Luyt ninth and tenth.
Heat 2 saw the Youngtimers set off about 30 seconds behind the Superhatch field after the starter suffered brain fade and left them were patiently waiting on the grid for the start lights! O’ Sullivan, van Rooyen and Luyt once again set about catching the Superhatch pack Mike O’Sullivan moved up to sixth with a fastest time of 1m15.351s, exactly one second slower than Karel Stols fastest Superhatch Etios. Van Rooyen finished tenth, Luyt eleventh.
Whilst Clark and van Zyl’s teething woes somewhat dampened the Youngtimer show, there is no doubt about the new class’s pace. Off track meanwhile, the fledgling Youngtimers that call back the finest days of SA saloon car racing continues to grow, with another four exciting new cars set to make their debut alongside the existing five at the Delmas’ Red Star Raceway’s 5 August Inland Historic Tour races.
Designed to be affordable, fun, and meaningful racing at a most attractive budget, the HRSA Ben Morgenrood Group Classic Youngtimers offer an affordable, competitive and enjoyable racing alternative. Contact Rob Clark clajhbg@iafrica.com for more information about Youngtimers racing.
Issued on behalf of HRSA Youngtimers
Photography by: Colin Windell
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