October 29, 2020
THE WITNESS
Tight budget rallying
Roof of Africa cancelled
Natal Rally Club’s ‘picnic races’ aim to put the ‘all’ back into ‘rally’ with affordable entry fees ALWYN VILJOEN
Tough final offroad race in Parys The South African National Cross Country Series (SACCS) ended on a high note with the Toyota Gazoo Racing SA Vaal 400 which took place on Saturday, October 24 at Parys in the Free State and while championship titles were clinched, there was disappointment for others after a day that formed the second of two demanding days of racing. The newly crowned Production Vehicle Champions, Henk Lategan/ Brett Cummings (Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux) claimed their fourth overall victory of the season while they also walked away as the FIA Class winners. They finished in a total time of 3:17:57. Their team-mates, Giniel de Villiers/Alex Haro, who competed together again for the first time since the Mpumalanga 400 in February this year, posted the fastest time after the Pirelli Qualifying Race and opened the road, but lost time when they encountered two closed gates while they also lost time with a flat tyre. They were eventually only two minutes and nine seconds behind the double champions. The overall and FIA Class podium was rounded off by Brian Baragwanath/Taye Perry (Century Racing CR6) who were only 40 seconds behind De Villiers/Haro after a cautious race. The winners of the Ford Parys 400 on Friday, Chris Visser/Danie Stassen (Total Excellium Toyota Hilux), finished fourth overall and in the FIA Class (3:23:43) despite a flat tyre,with Gareth Woolridge/ Boyd Dreyer (Ford Castrol Cross Country Ranger) rounding off the top five after a clean race, two minutes 11 seconds behind Visser/ Stassen. Class T title battle The Class T title battle was hard fought and the Fourie’s were followed by three Class T teams with Malcolm and son, Frans Kock (Neil Woolridge Motorsport Ford Ranger) who stepped onto the second place of the Class T podium. Terence Marsh/Letshego Zulu (Red-Lined Motorsport Nissan Navara) had the ride of their lives starting from the back of the field after not being able to complete the Pirelli Qualifying Race. They rounded off the Class T podium with only 62 seconds separating them from the Kocks. Gary Bertholdt/Geoff Minnitt (Total Excellium Toyota Hilux) also had to fight from the back after a problematic qualifier and they were fourth in Class T and 13th overall in the Production Vehicle Category. There was also some bad luck for Lance Woolridge/Elvéne Vonk (Ford Castrol Cross Country Ranger) who qualified fifth, but the left front suspension failed a mere four kilometres from the finish and they had to limp home. There was also heartache in the Neil Woolridge Motorsport camp when Jacques van Tonder/Sammy Redelinghuys rolled their Ford Ranger while teammates, Wors Prinsloo/André Vermeulen, winners of the Ford Parys 400 on Friday could not see out the distance. “If I look at what we’ve achieved with our team and our current car, which is not up to the latest specification of our competitors, it has been a brilliant year,” says NWM team principal, Neil Woolridge. It’s the end of the era for the Ford Ranger V8 in the premier class of the SACCS, as NWM will use Ford’s twin-turbo 3,5 EcoBoost V6 engine for the 2021 SA Cross Country championship. — WR.
The Natal Rally Club is on a mission to make motorsport affordable again by hosting monthly Rally Test Days in the scenic Midlands. These formal racing events welcome all vehicles, from highly tuned ex-works models, to quad bikes and scramblers, to stock standard cars that compete in the Clubman class. Veteran racer Dean Redelinhuys said he now races locally because motorsport has become prohibitively expensive, due in no small part to high fees to compete at national level. “Here the entry fee is only R350, which covers the marshalls, electronic time keeping, paramedic, firefighters and even a trophy if you win.” He said while the teams in their exworks cars are highly competitive and professional, drivers who compete in stock standard cars in the Clubman’s class have the most fun. A case in point is the tiny Daewoo Matiz, which this scribe entered in the race after having it pimped up with double VW GFS systems. “It stands for Variable Width Go Faster Stripes — but they seem to work,” said mechanic-navigator Lunga Sibuaya. “They made the little Daewoo at least as fast as the diesel bakkie that measured out the course!” The defending clubman champion, Braam van der Merwe, a mechanic and
a race marshall, brings an even slower Fiat Uno to the track. Van der Merwe had earlier told Witness Wheels for him it’s not about the winning, but being able to put foot on a smooth road, safe in the knowledge that a sweeper car will pick up any pieces that fell off — and that there is no oncoming tractor around the corner. Timing official and former competitor Megan Stow said the club’s aim with the affordable rally days is to put the “all” back into rallying. “Motorsport in South Africa has become so expensive that only those with deep pockets can compete. “By making a safe rally stage affordable, we hope to put the ‘all’ back into ‘rally’ so that enthusiastic drivers can enjoy the thrill of a few fast corners in safe surroundings,” she said. Fastest driver on the day, Paulo Gouveia — who’s other job is to prepare the R4 Etios for Toyota Gazoo’s multiple SA rally champion team, Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy-Lyle — challenged all mechanics and panel beaters in KZN to bring their cars and join the fun. “We call them picnic races, because that’s what the family does under the oak trees while we race in the sugar cane,” said Gouveia. The next Rally Test is provisionally scheduled for 14 October. Drivers who want to take part can inquire using the e-mail below. • alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za
Live Lesotho, the organisers of the 2020 Roof of Africa enduro yesterday (Wed) announced this year’s “Mother of Hard Enduros” has been cancelled. Charan Moore, MD of Live Lesotho, said in a statement the Lesotho Government and the Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission (LSRC) said Lesotho will remain in a level 3 lockdown indefinitely. This decision is based on the concerns surrounding a possible second wave of Covid-19 infections. “Due to these necessaryrestrictions, the 53rd edition of the has therefore been postponed until 2021,” the statement read. “We are aware of how disappointing this news will be to riders and their teams, but unfortunately the current situation has not stabilised enough and there is simply too much uncertainty surrounding the pandemic at present. “We owe it to everyone involved, and especially the people of our host country, Lesotho, to ensure that the Motul Roof of Africa does not present any additional Covid-19 risks. “Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that in the current circumstances,” said Moore. He added the title sponsor, Motul, has indicated that they fully support the postponement of the 53rd edition of the Roof of Africa until next year, by when it is hoped that there will be a much greater degree of certainty surrounding the pandemic and any ongoing precautions required to contain it. Moore thanked the sponsors, riders, LSRC, LORA and Live Lesotho team members for their support and for the hard work that has already been invested into the 53 rd edition of the Motul Roof of Africa. He committed to channelling this collective positive energy into making the 2021 Motul Roof of Africa the best yet. All riders who had secured and paid for a place in the 2020 event can carry this forward to the 2021 edition at no additional cost. Alternatively, they can opt for a full refund.
Third-placed Dean Redelinghuys and Johann de Goede of Team CTH was 3,2 seconds slower over the 12 km stage than the fastest team of the day, Paolo Gouveia and Ashley Eddy (below). PHOTOS: DES HEAD/IMAGES AHEAD Watch Team CTH’s ‘moment’ — and brilliant recovery — on witness.co.za.
The clubman class is not about winning, but having fun, as this sticker shows. ‘It’s the latest go faster tech for tuners on a budget,’ said navigator Lunga Sibiya.
Fastest team of the day, Paolo Gouveia and Ashley Eddy shows how to drift a rear wheel drive car into tight turn for the fastest exit.
Kinsey Report shows vehicle parts are getting much more expensive The AA-Kinsey Report released yesterday (Wed) shows that, on the whole, parts prices have increased above the government-stated inflation rate. “Motoring has become more expensive, certainly from a parts perspective, and the results for 2020 show that, said Pinetown-based author of the AA-Kinsey Report, Malcolm Kinsey. Kinsey said a few changes were forced to be made including how the figures were collected for the 30th annual report, now in it’s second year as the “AA-Kinsey Report”. He said with many dealerships on light duty and suffering many retrenchments during the height of lockdown, he decided to delay collecting written quotes on parts prices until September. This year he approached a few manufacturers to supply their retail prices in-
cluding VAT, which he then randomly checked at franchised dealerships. He said brands with very low sales figures were, regrettably, not included. “It must be stressed that the prices used are what a customer, walking into a dealership, would pay on that day and this rarely matches the recommended retail price listed by the manufacturer or importer,” Kinsey told Witness Wheels. He said the manufacturers did not have any input as to which vehicles he chose to check prices on, but he focused on the best sellers and the 14 models nominated for the SA Guild of Motoring Journalists “Car of the Year”. Willem Groenewald, CEO of the AA said in a statement Malcom’s fact checking provides much-needed information to enable car buyers make better deci-
sions about their vehicles purchases. “It’s important for us that consumers understand as much about their vehicles as possible, including that of replacement parts, and Malcolm’s work is providing a credible, reliable and valuable service to motorists in our country,” said Groenewald. Kinsey said “crash parts”, like headlights, rear fenders and wheel rims on some models, appear to have become a great deal more expensive. “This has a negative effect for everyone as it increases the contribution the owner pays for the insurance excess, and the write-off point for a crashed vehicle, and it ultimately increases premiums that one has to pay,” said Malcolm. He checked parts prices of 72 vehicles in nine categories. Crossovers are best
sellers and this year 27 models are featured, ranging in price from just under R200 000 to over R1,7 million. Kinsey said this year’s cheapest model to maintain is Nissan’s NP200 3/4-ton bakkie. “Its total basket price is R49 823, which makes it the least expensive of all the 72 vehicles in this year’s survey, and obviously it has a very important role in the SA pickup market, which is why its included it as a stand-alone entry.” Malcolm says servicing and repair costs are not as vital to new vehicle owners. “These costs are often borne to some extent by the dealer through service contracts which could be as long as 100 000km, or by manufacturers’ warranties, which range from a typical threeyears or 100 000 km, to Hyundai’s seven-years or 200 000 km.
PERFECT BALANCE IN ELECTRIC ROADSTER In the UK, boutique car builder RBW EV classic Cars launched a sports car inspired by the MGB Roadster of the 1960s. Managing Director Peter Swain said: ‘Our patented system places the electric motor at the rear of the car and Hyperdrive Innovation’s lithium-ion battery technology under the bonnet, which gives perfectly balanced weight distribution. ‘Not only does this give the driver much better handling of the car, retaining that sports car feel, but it also affords maximum battery volume to be housed. He said more model are already underway, with a GT version to follow in 2021, along with a second RBW electric recreation. All features a multi-function dashboard display with Pioneer’s Flagship Wi-Fi enabled built-in navigation system and a large motorised 7-inch, 24bit touchscreen. Swain said optimising Noise Vibration Harshness (NVH) in the electric roadster was especially challenging, brought about by replacing the internal combustion engine with an electric drivetrain, but RBW managed very low NVH levels to ensure a pleasant experience during pull-away, city-traffic, cruising and spirited driving in the electric roadster. Production begins early 2021 with prices starting from £90,000 plus taxes, with an initial £5,000 deposit. Orders are already being taken with RBW taking the car to clients for Covid-safe test drives. PHOTO: NEWSPRESS
arrested after receiving the money and are being held at the Makapanstad Police Station. They will appear in the Temba Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Meanwhile, two administration clerks at the Lekwa licensing authority in Standerton, Mpumalanga, have been dismissed following an internal disciplinary hearing that found them guilty of gross dishonesty and fraud. Sandy Freddah Manana and Llody Mildred Townsend were dismissed for misrepresenting information on the eNatis system by unlawfully changing particulars of vehicle owner to a bogus deal-
Kinday said prices of “crash parts” will affect owner’s insurance excess and the write-off point of a new vehicle. “It still pays to shop around. Ask for a discount from your local dealer as the motor industry, its a buyers’ market,” said Malcolm. The full list is on aa.co.za. — Witness Reporter.
2021 Roof dates The confirmed dates for next year’s event will be November 3 to 6, 2021, so riders and Enduro fans can add those dates to their diaries. For more information, including advice on carrying over an entry or obtaining a refund, riders can contact the roof team at info@roofofafrica.co.ls Riders can also visit the official Motul Roof of Africa website for more information: www.roofofafrica.co.ls. — WR.
Top three lowest-priced parts City Cars: Datsun Go, Renault Kwid, Ford Figo. Super Mini: Renault Sandero, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta. Ride hailers: Toyota Quest, Toyota Prestige, Nissan Almera. Small cross-overs: Mahindra KUV, Suzuki Jimny, Toyota Rush. Doubcle cabs: Toyota Hilux, GWM Steed, Isuzu D-Max.
WE HAVE A LARGE VARIETY OF ENGINES AND GEARBOXES TO CHOOSE FROM
STING OPERATION NETS TRAFFIC OFFICIALS GAUTENG — The National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit and the Hawks have arrested two traffic officers on charges of bribery. The two allegedly stopped a truck on the R101 last Tuesday and impounded it for unspecified reasons. They then demanded a payment of R5 000 for the release of the vehicle. An arrangement was made for the money to be delivered to the suspects at the Makapanstad traffic offices. The incident was reported to the National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit who set up a sting operation with the Hawks. The suspects were
15
WHEELS
www.witness.co.za
NWM’s Lance Woolrdige and Elvine Vonk.
|
ership to evade payment of full licensing fees that were due to the licensing authority. The state lost an estimated R4 million in revenue with these transactions. It is, however, believed that fraud and corruption at the Lekwa licensing authority have cost the state more than R50 million in unpaid fees and penalties. The two are on trial at the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court. They are part of a group of eight officials at the licensing authority who were arrested in 2019. They are to appear in court on December 11. — Witness Reporter.
MANY PERFORMANCE ENGINES AVAILABLE
QUALITY USED LOW MILEAGE ENGINES, GEARBOXES & PARTS
VIEW OUR SPECIALS - HURRY WHILE STOCK LASTS
HILUX 2.4D 2L2 ENGINE COMPLETE 4 BOLT R 20 000-00 HILUX 2KD 2X4 MANUAL GEARBOXES
R 5 500
VW GOLF 5 1.9 TDI BKC/ BXE ENGINE COMPLETE
R 17 500
VW GOLF5/ CADDY 1.6 BSE ENGINE COMPLETE
R 15 000
PICANTO/ATOS G4HD/G4HG ENGINE COMPLETE ALUMINIUM INTAKE R 10 000-00 MANUAL 5 SPEED GEARBOXES OLD TYPE METAL GEARBOXES R 2 500-00
TOYOTA COROLLA/RUNX ENGINE COMPLETE R 15 000-00 4ZZ/3ZZ/1ZZ MANUAL ALUMINIUM 5 SPEED GEARBOXES R 2 500-00
ENGINES, GEARBOXES, HEADS, TURBOS, DIFFS, LEXUS SPARES 13 BETASTRAAL, RICHARDS BAY ALTON TEL: 035 789 0464 / 035 789 0754 CELL: 084 357 1082 CRAIGH CELL: 062 633 4755 NTUTHUKO MLAMBO PLEASE CALL NTUTHUKO FOR ALL OUR VALUED ZULU SPEAKING CUSTOMERS
035 751 1430
SALES@EASTCOASTENGINES.CO.ZA @
We have in-house Workshop for Engine Exchange and Fitments WEBSITE:
DIANNE 071 677 0799 www.eastcoastengines.co.za CHARLINE 076 690 9829 WHATS APPS WELCOME