Source: Motorpress /Stuart Johnston Communications
Tickets bought through iTickets are R120 for adults
Classics from all over South Africa are expected at the 42nd Cars in the Park at the Zwartkops Raceway, located south west of Pretoria on the R55. Over 2 500 classic and special-interest cars are expected at the show to arrive from 6 am on Sunday, August 4, while the show will be open to the public from 8.30 am.
While entrance at the gate costs R140. Children under-12 are admitted free of charge
“The biggest surprise this year in the weeks leading up to the show is how many enquiries we have had from all parts of the country, from classic owners wanting to show off their cars,” says Frik Kraamwinkel, chief organiser of the biggest car show in the country, which is once again being hosted by the Pretoria OId Motor Club.
“Every year we have seen the show gaining a new momentum, as classic cars become more and more a part of our modern culture. Last year we had about 10 000 spectators at the show and this year we are expecting to match that.”
For this reason, and to ease traffic flow on the day, owners of classics who wish to show their vehicles are required to arrive at Zwartkops between 6 am and 8.30 am. After that the gates will be open to the public, with separate parking for spectators’ cars.
The owners of classic cars of 30 years and older who wish to show their cars will be admitted free of charge, as well as one passenger. Admission price for the day is R120 for adults, while children under-12 are admitted free of charge. Tickets are available through iTickets and spectators are advised to pre-book for convenient admission through the gates. Tickets bought at the gate will cost R140.
One of the reasons for the success of Cars in the Park is that the Pretoria Old Motor Club took the decision many years ago to open the show to modified old cars such as hot rods, interesting motorcycles, and special-interest cars of more recent manufacturing age. In the past, old car shows were very prescriptive about classics, vintage and veteran cars having to conform rigidly to original status, but it was realised that there was a need to cater for other groups of enthusiasts, who may have a different perspective on presenting their cars.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about passion for motoring” says long-time POMC member Emil Kuschke, whose task at the Cars in the Park for a number of years has been to organise the Special Invite selection of the cars displayed in the Zwartkops pits.
“I had one enthusiast contact me who showed me pictures of his beautifully restored kit car from the early ‘70s, quite a rare and much admired model. I could see he had done a wonderful job. But with the Special Invites section each year my job is to establish a theme, and this year the theme is Cars from the pre-World War Two era. So that kit car owner will have to arrive early and find himself a prime parking spot outside the pits”
Emil has assembled a collection of stand-out original cars from this pre-War era, focussing on the immediate post-vintage years from 1931, to cars built until 1939. This was a wonderful period of development in the history of the motorcar, where the shape of cars evolved from up-right boxy shapes reminiscent of the old-horse-drawn carriage days to sleeker designs with flowing mudguards and body shapes. A highlight of this display is bound to be the magnificent presence of four Rolls-Royce machines from the 1930s, built in an era when Rolls-Royce’s engineering standards fully justified its reputation as “the best motorcar in the world.”
“The theme is not hard-and-fast regarding manufacturing dates, more of a guide-line. For instance, after World War Two many manufacturers continued building pre-war car shapes beyond 1945, until new designs could be developed. These sorts of cars will also fit the theme for this year.”
One such car is the 1946 Fiat 1100 Balilla, one of the oldest Fiats in South Africa, being brought to the show by Fiat Club Chairman Ian Huntly. This old Fiat, more formally known as a 1100B was actually the fourth car Fiat assembled at the old UCDD plant in East London after the war, and it is completely original, apart from having had a respray. It never been disassembled.
The Fiat Club has a big display of between 30 and 40 cars planned for this year’s Cars in the Park, as the Italian make celebrates its 125th year anniversary in 2024, having started building cars in Italy in 1899. Other makes with big milestones achieved this year, include Chrysler, which built its first car 100 years ago in the USA, while individual models are also celebrating landmarks world-wide.
One of these is the Ford Mustang, which is expected to have an impressive display in the Zwartkops pit area. The Mustang turns 60 this year, having been launched in America in April 1964. The Mustang Club Gauteng numbers many of these 1960s classics among its membership, and they are expecting a big turn-out of iconic Mustangs.
The giant Unimog off-roaders celebrate their 75th anniversary this year, and a strong turnout of these celebrated vehicles is expected at Zwartkops.
One of the biggest supporters of Cars in the Park in recent years has been the Lazarus Motor Group, and once again Colin Lazarus will be showing many classics in his collection, notable for his trio of Ford GT supercars through different generations. The original Ford GT40 celebrates 60 years in existence this year, since the GT40 made its debut at the 1964 Le Mans 24 Hour. Other iconic cars celebrating milestones are the Mercedes-Benz 300SL (70 years), the Ford Sierra XR8 (40 years) the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint (70 years) and the Alfa Romeo Sprint GT (60 years).
Over 100 specialist classic car clubs have booked space around the Zwartkops track for their members. Apart from the cars, there will be lots to amuse the expected crowd of 10 000 spectators. One of these will be a rally stage for pucker full-sized rally cars organised on the Zwartkops karting circuit.
“Once again there has been tremendous support from vendors of all sorts of goods, including lots of food and drink “says Frik Kraamwinkel. “This year we have 140 stalls booked, which is a new record, and many humanitarian services organisations are also show-casing their activities, such as the South African National Blood Services Blood Drive, the Community Emergency Response Team, the Honorary Game Ranger organisation, Owl Rescue, the MOTHs, and our long time partners in this event, The Lions.”
This year the Cars in the Park gates at Zwartkops will open at 6 am on Sunday August 4 for the admission of old-car owners to display their cars. Classic cars for display need to arrive before 8.30 am. The general public will be admitted from 8.30 am onwards. The show will end at 4 pm on Sunday.
Tickets are available through iTickets at R120 for adults, while children under-12 are admitted free. Tickets bought at the gate will cost R140 for adults.
For more information visit the Pretoria Old Motor Club’s website on http://www.pomccitp.co.za or visit the club’s Cars in the Park page on Facebook.
“Every year we have seen the show gaining a new momentum, as classic cars become more and more a part of our modern culture. Last year we had about 10 000 spectators at the show and this year we are expecting to match that.”
For this reason, and to ease traffic flow on the day, owners of classics who wish to show their vehicles are required to arrive at Zwartkops between 6 am and 8.30 am. After that the gates will be open to the public, with separate parking for spectators’ cars.
The owners of classic cars of 30 years and older who wish to show their cars will be admitted free of charge, as well as one passenger. Admission price for the day is R120 for adults, while children under-12 are admitted free of charge. Tickets are available through iTickets and spectators are advised to pre-book for convenient admission through the gates. Tickets bought at the gate will cost R140.
One of the reasons for the success of Cars in the Park is that the Pretoria Old Motor Club took the decision many years ago to open the show to modified old cars such as hot rods, interesting motorcycles, and special-interest cars of more recent manufacturing age. In the past, old car shows were very prescriptive about classics, vintage and veteran cars having to conform rigidly to original status, but it was realised that there was a need to cater for other groups of enthusiasts, who may have a different perspective on presenting their cars.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about passion for motoring” says long-time POMC member Emil Kuschke, whose task at the Cars in the Park for a number of years has been to organise the Special Invite selection of the cars displayed in the Zwartkops pits.
“I had one enthusiast contact me who showed me pictures of his beautifully restored kit car from the early ‘70s, quite a rare and much admired model. I could see he had done a wonderful job. But with the Special Invites section each year my job is to establish a theme, and this year the theme is Cars from the pre-World War Two era. So that kit car owner will have to arrive early and find himself a prime parking spot outside the pits”
Emil has assembled a collection of stand-out original cars from this pre-War era, focussing on the immediate post-vintage years from 1931, to cars built until 1939. This was a wonderful period of development in the history of the motorcar, where the shape of cars evolved from up-right boxy shapes reminiscent of the old-horse-drawn carriage days to sleeker designs with flowing mudguards and body shapes. A highlight of this display is bound to be the magnificent presence of four Rolls-Royce machines from the 1930s, built in an era when Rolls-Royce’s engineering standards fully justified its reputation as “the best motorcar in the world.”
“The theme is not hard-and-fast regarding manufacturing dates, more of a guide-line. For instance, after World War Two many manufacturers continued building pre-war car shapes beyond 1945, until new designs could be developed. These sorts of cars will also fit the theme for this year.”
One such car is the 1946 Fiat 1100 Balilla, one of the oldest Fiats in South Africa, being brought to the show by Fiat Club Chairman Ian Huntly. This old Fiat, more formally known as a 1100B was actually the fourth car Fiat assembled at the old UCDD plant in East London after the war, and it is completely original, apart from having had a respray. It never been disassembled.
The Fiat Club has a big display of between 30 and 40 cars planned for this year’s Cars in the Park, as the Italian make celebrates its 125th year anniversary in 2024, having started building cars in Italy in 1899. Other makes with big milestones achieved this year, include Chrysler, which built its first car 100 years ago in the USA, while individual models are also celebrating landmarks world-wide.
One of these is the Ford Mustang, which is expected to have an impressive display in the Zwartkops pit area. The Mustang turns 60 this year, having been launched in America in April 1964. The Mustang Club Gauteng numbers many of these 1960s classics among its membership, and they are expecting a big turn-out of iconic Mustangs.
The giant Unimog off-roaders celebrate their 75th anniversary this year, and a strong turnout of these celebrated vehicles is expected at Zwartkops.
One of the biggest supporters of Cars in the Park in recent years has been the Lazarus Motor Group, and once again Colin Lazarus will be showing many classics in his collection, notable for his trio of Ford GT supercars through different generations. The original Ford GT40 celebrates 60 years in existence this year, since the GT40 made its debut at the 1964 Le Mans 24 Hour. Other iconic cars celebrating milestones are the Mercedes-Benz 300SL (70 years), the Ford Sierra XR8 (40 years) the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint (70 years) and the Alfa Romeo Sprint GT (60 years).
Over 100 specialist classic car clubs have booked space around the Zwartkops track for their members. Apart from the cars, there will be lots to amuse the expected crowd of 10 000 spectators. One of these will be a rally stage for pucker full-sized rally cars organised on the Zwartkops karting circuit.
“Once again there has been tremendous support from vendors of all sorts of goods, including lots of food and drink “says Frik Kraamwinkel. “This year we have 140 stalls booked, which is a new record, and many humanitarian services organisations are also show-casing their activities, such as the South African National Blood Services Blood Drive, the Community Emergency Response Team, the Honorary Game Ranger organisation, Owl Rescue, the MOTHs, and our long time partners in this event, The Lions.”
This year the Cars in the Park gates at Zwartkops will open at 6 am on Sunday August 4 for the admission of old-car owners to display their cars. Classic cars for display need to arrive before 8.30 am. The general public will be admitted from 8.30 am onwards. The show will end at 4 pm on Sunday.
Tickets are available through iTickets at R120 for adults, while children under-12 are admitted free. Tickets bought at the gate will cost R140 for adults.
For more information visit the Pretoria Old Motor Club’s website on http://www.pomccitp.co.za or visit the club’s Cars in the Park page on Facebook.
The biggest car show in South Africa is open to spectators from 8.30 am to 4 pm
For more information visit the Pretoria Old Motor Club’s website on http://www.pomccitp.co.za or visit the club’s Cars in the Park page on Facebook.