Zwartkops Raceway is ready to thunder to an historic tune as classic racing returns to the Pretoria racetrack for a fourth time this season, for the final round of the Historic and Inland Tour on Saturday 2 November. A laid-back festival of historic and local racing, it as ever has something for every race fan, from thundering Marlboro Crane Hire Pre-'66 V8 Legends with the Little Giants and U2s snapping at their heels, to the sleek Pre-'74 Legends of the 9 Hour Sports Prototypes, Pre-‘68 Le Mans Sports & GT racing with Trans-Am, and so much more.
Open wheeler fans can look forward to the Historic Single Seaters, Formula Libre, South African Formula Ms and Lotus Challenge, while the INEX Legends will add spice. Add the always entertaining Evapco HRSA Sprint races and back-to-front handicap Pursuit Challenge and International Race Supplies & Roofsure Midvaal Historics for that extra historic edge. As well as Zwartkops’ ever-popular more contemporary Silver Cup 2.0, National Sports Cars and On Track Clubmans.
If heavy metal rolling thunder is your classic thing, look no further than the giant Marlboro Crane Hire Legends of the 9 Hour, where Chevy Gang’s Novas and Camaros take on the Ford mob in their Fairlanes, Mustangs and Galaxies. Never mind a pack of other Americans, from Mercury to Plymouth and Studebaker, running interference. The big guns must be on their toes, however. The Little Giant and U2 Alfa Romeos, BMWs, Escorts or Minis are out to get them, while the Proudly South African Darts and Proteas take on thoroughbred British MGs, and the rest too.
Thoroughbred race fans can look forward to the thrill rumbling V8 Lola T70s and Porsche 917s fighting off the wieldy Chevrons on the tight confines of Zwartkops in the Pre-'74 Legends of the 9 Hour Sports Prototypes. Just as it was in the good old Kyalami 9 Hour, and Springbok Series of yore. Add the requited Porsches, Shelby Daytona Coupe and Cobras, and even a Trans Am Mustang and Camaro or two, and a swarm of surprising ‘60s Cortinas, Alfas and even a Mini, or two. Now that’s entertainment!
The Historic Single Seaters are dominated by classic Formula Fords, a few Vees and perhaps even a rasping rotary Atlantic or two. More contemporary, the Formula Libre and SA Formula M races feature a blend of modern single seater Formula Fords, GTi, Vees and Super Vees, and even some quick Formula VWs. And the 1940s style INEX Legends with hot motorcycle engines under the bonnet are always something a little different, with a few seasoned veterans taking on of tomorrow’s racing young guns.
Watch the Evapco HRSA Sprint Porsches fending off some very rapid Mazda rotaries and Sciroccos, with all the cars your mum and her pals used to drive in the ‘70s, in chase. It’s an even more Allies versus the Axis affair in the Midvaal Historics, where an army of Escorts and Anglias take on everything from a Fiat Coupe to a platoon of Alfas, with a battalion of Datsuns and Toyotas in pursuit. Speaking of the chase, HRSA Pursuit is guaranteed to deliver more overtaking than you’ve ever seen before as the fastest cars start last and then try to finish first...
It's tin-tops versus sports cars in the On Track Magazine Clubmans and National Sportscars, where Nashes, Sevens and Sports 2000s share the track with a mixed bag of tin-top Clubmen, from Subarus and Mazdas, to Hondas, Volkswagens, Fords, and more. An eternal Zwartkops favourite, Silver Cup 2.0 meantime sees a posse of BMWs, Toyotas, Volkswagens, Fords and Mazdas out to get those nimble spaceframe specials.
Zwartkops’ 24 August Historic and Inland is more than just about racing. Fans are free to visit the pits, meet the drivers and see the cars up close and personal. There’s a variety of off-track and kids entertainment, food and drink stalls and much more too.
Image: Historic Single Seaters Photo: Colin Windell
