The anticipation is almost at an end. The 2010 Knysna Hillclimb presented by Renault takes place this weekend, Friday 22 to Sunday 24 October, at the Simola Golf and Country estate, situated high on a hill overlooking Knysna’s magnificent lagoon and Heads. Destined to become one of SA’s premier motorsport events, some of the country’s finest sporting machinery will be taking part with proceeds of the event going to local charities.
With the approval of the Knysna Municipality, Traffic department and Tourism Office, the 2010 Knysna Hillclimb will be held under the auspices of the Algoa Kart Club. The action starts on the Friday at 08h00 with pre-qualifying for the main event. Some 50 competitors will compete for the 24 qualifying slots. In addition, the first two of six timed runs for Historic Cars will also be held during the day. Activity will run through to 18h00 and admission is free. While this is taking place, the 66 guaranteed entries plus a number of local classic cars will take place in the streets of the award-winning Garden Route town for the extremely popular parade. The cars will run in groups of 20-25 between 13h15 and 14h00. The circular route will loop from the Knysna Yacht Club from where it turns right in Waterfront drive up to the N2, then turns left into and proceeds down Main Street before turning left into Waterfront Drive to return to the yacht club. The cars will then be on display in the Waterfront at the yacht club and the public is welcome to view the cars, meet the driver and enjoy a bite to eat and a drink. There is no admission charge.
All action on Saturday and Sunday is centred on the Simola Estate. Racing will start at 09h00 and run until 17h00 on the Saturday, 15h00 on the Sunday. The final field will be 90 vehicles consisting of modern, classic and historic sports and racing cars as well as karts – some driven by local motorsport heroes including Mike Briggs, Geoff Goddard, Robbie Smith and Geoff Mortimer – all divided into relevant categories. Compared with 2009, the climb’s start has been moved back 200 metres meaning entry speeds into the challenging first corner – a deceptive right-hander – will be faster, which, in turn, means the winning run might well eclipse last year’s winning time and speed of 43,040 seconds at 150,556 km/h, will well over 230 km/h being reached at the top of the hill!
To give an idea of the variety of entries, the list is headed by last year’s runner-up Anton Cronje in his modified Subaru Impreza WRX, Franz Pretorius’ rare, valuable, legendary and super-quick Porsche 956, Brian Tyler’s 1961 Formula One LDS, Reg Anderson’s Formula Atlantic Maurer, the NMMU’s Formula Student car (see elsewhere on carmag.co.za for more on this project car), Dave Alexander’ Riley Ulster Imp, Fred Phillips’ twin-cam Ford Escort Mk1, John Amm’s 250 cm3 PVP-Rotax kart… not to forget lady entrant Di Dugmore in an Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite, a handful of Nissan Skyline GTRs, Chev Lumina Utes, Lotus 7s and a number of V8 Masters cars, the likes of which won last year’s climb. From 1930’s classics to latter-day Ferraris, road cars to single-seater formula racers, karts to Cobras, rotaries to big-blocks, the list just goes on ensuring that there will be something for everyone to see, smell, hear and cheer during the three-day festival of speed.
Admission is R25 for adults and R15 for children under 12. Tickets are only available at the gate. All drivers of classic or exotic sportscars will receive free entry with the proviso that they park their vehicles in the dedicated area for public viewing. Spectators may bring chairs and blankets as a picnic atmosphere will prevail – hats and sunscreen are advised. Ample ablution facilities are provided and a deck will be available for disabled spectators. Full marshal control and medical facilities will be on hand and spectators will be allowed into the pit area.
On the Saturday and Sunday, close to the main spectator area there will be a Gasoline Alley where general exhibition stalls selling motoring-related merchandise will be sited along with a few manufacturer/dealer stands. Ford and drinks will also be on sale. Also new to the event will be a Marque Paddock featuring numerous groups of vehicles. Spectators stand a chance of winning a drive up the hill in a Ferrari F430 Spyder on the Sunday. All they have to do is fill out a quick survey form and post it in an entry box at the Info Centre in Gasoline Alley. Aerial entertainment will be provided by Red Bull air race pilot Geln Dell, who will thrill the crowd with some daring aerobatics on Saturday at 14h15 and Sunday at 13h55.
The CAR Concours des Automobiles Sportives takes place on the Saturday and Sunday. The concours is for vehicles of any age that have a sporting and/or racing association, with 10-12 cars being invited to participate. Judges for this new concours initiative will be CAR’s senior associate editor Mike Monk assisted by local classic car buff and restorer Don Steenkamp. As a bonus, all spectators will stand a chance of winning a CAR hamper plus a free opportunity to vote for their favourite model on show and, time permitting, on the Sunday the winning voter will be driven up the hill in his/her chosen winning car.
And still more prizes to be won. One lucky couple attending the Gala Dinner on the Sunday evening will win an all-expenses-paid trip – worth R50 000 – to Mauritius courtesy of sponsor Villas Valriche. The prize has been offered by company owner Alec Bates, who will be competing in the Hillclimb in his Ford GT40. The trip is for two people for seven days at the five-star Heritage Le Telfair Hotel at Domaine de Bel Hombre, and includes business-class air travel from Johannesburg (airport taxes included), transfers, accommodation including breakfast and dinner, free golf and spa treatment.
The Hillclimb’s new title sponsor, Renault, will be launching a hot new Mégane RS (and the coupé convertible CC) in the Knysna area over the race weekend, and a 30+ motoring media challenge will take place with the fastest six journalists participating in a final Sunday showdown up the hill in RS models. Associate editor Ian McLaren is the man behind the wheel representing CAR, and the eliminations start taking place from 15h30 on the Friday.
More information can be obtained by logging-on to www.speedfestival.co.za or e-mailing info@speedfestival.co.za or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=132220676812832. For out out-of-towners, accommodation special are being offered and for details visit http://www.visitknysna.co.za/accommodation/accomodation
Programme of Events
Thursday 21 Oct
09h00 – 17h00 Charity Golf Day at Simola
Friday 22 Oct
13h00-14h30 Parade through town
14h00-16h00 Public viewing of cars at Knysna Yacht Club
Track Schedule: Pre-
Qualifying Start time End time
Pre-Qualifying Practice 1 08h00-08h50
Pre-Qualifying Practice 2 09h00-09h50 `
Pre-Qualifying Practice 3 10h05-10h55
Historic / Vintage Run 1 11h10-11h40
Qualifying Round 1 11h50-12h40
Qualifying round 2 12h50-13h40
Qualifying round 3 13h50-14h40
Historic / Vintage Run 2 14h50-15h20
Media Challenge 15h30-18h00
Sat 23 Oct
09h00 – 16h00 CAR Concours des Automobiles Sportives Display
09h00 – 16h00 Classic and Exotic Car Display
09h00 – 16h00 Gasoline Alley Exhibitors Fair
14h15-14h25 Red Bull Aerobatic Display
Track Schedule Start time End time
Practice 1 09h00-10h15
Practice 2 10h30-11h45
Practice 3 12h00-13h15
Historic /Vintage Run 3 13h30-14h00
Car Club Parade 14h00-14h15
Qualifying round 1 14h30-15h45
Historic /Vintage Run 4 16h00-16h30
Media Challenge 16h40-17h04
Sun 24 Oct
09h00 – 16h00 CAR Concours des Automobiles Sportives Display
09h00 – 16h00 Classic and Exotic Car Display
09h00 – 16h00 Gasoline Alley Exhibitors Fair
12h00 CAR Concours des Automobiles Sportives Judging
13h00 CAR Concours des Automobiles Sportives Winners announcement
13h55-14h05 Red Bull Aerobatic Display
20h00 Gala Dinner
Track Schedule Start time End time
Historic /Vintage Run 5 09h00-09h30
Qualifying round 2 09h35-10h50
Media Challenge 10h54-11h00
Qualifying round 3 11h05-12h20
Qualifying round 4 12h25-13h40
Car Club Parade 13h40-13h55
Historic /Vintage Run 6 14h10-14h40
Final 14h50-15h17
Although the Knysna Hillclimb is naturally bound to attract thousands of motoring enthusiasts, people seeking a break from the weekend’s tyre-smoking action can spend time wandering around the Leisure Isle Family Festival being held on the Saturday and Sunday. Over 70 stalls will be selling goods including arts, crafts, toys, books, plants, confectionary, preserves and other local produce. Fun activity events are planned throughout the two days and there will be plenty of food and drink vendors offering refreshment with a magnificent view over the lagoon and island gardens. On the Sunday morning over 100 dogs will take part in an Animal Welfare Walk.
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