There is a little town in the Kalahari called Hotazel, (hot as ‘ell), where the average temp is around 41 degrees centigrade… in the shade- That would have been a much welcomed relief from the blistering temperatures the riders, support crew and spectators had to deal with at VKC during the last round of the of the SASCS for 2023.The sun was out in full force, the racers were raring to go right from the word go, with some serious action right from practice and qualifying.
Blistering heat or not Racing will go on.
Championship contender Ryan van Nieuwkerk pushed hard in practice and took a huge tumble. Blake Robert had a spectacular off in the first heat. Thankfully both riders walked away from both crashes. Racing was thick and fast for the whole day; this is a super slick event with excellent control and planning. The senior marshal for the day at VKC was a very strict Oomie who took no nonsense from anyone, his marshals were on point, the medic was on his toes and everybody toed the line. As the last rider of each race exited the track the next class was lined up almost instantaneously and were underway within minutes. It has to be this way with so many classes and heats to get through for the day.
Ryan van Nieuwkerk back in action after his tumble.
Blake Robert off and back on again.
Every body listening to the Strict Oomie.
As a first timer, I was a little bit confused by the Brolly Dollies on the grid. My colleagues at the office keep telling me they are really a very pretty bunch of “Lookers” …???? All I saw were a bunch of hairy legged, moderately portly blokes in Christmas pyjamas…. WTF?? The guys in the office do have some strange fetishes.
Brolly Dollies
Sexy Christmas Pyjamas.
Brolly Dollies ready for action.
Otherwise, albeit it a bit quieter than the usual numbers and fanfare it was a lekker day out for the whole family, with families supporting from the side lines and wearing championship winners T-shirts for their favourite riders. Lots of smiling faces everywhere, mostly keeping to the shade where they could. Next year should be fantastic if this is what they consider to be a quiet racing weekend.
Here are your top three results per class for the day:
CLUBMANS 1 & 2:
1st – #33 Mitch Mortimer
2nd – #21x Arno Erasmus
3rd – #11 Bohlale Mafokate
Ready to start the days racing with the Clubmans
Mortimer just to much for Erasmus.
Arno Erasmus rode well to take 2nd.
Little man Mafokate on fire
PW50 & NOVICE:
PW50:
1st – #550 Marnitz Otten
2nd – #135 Jessica Oosthuizen
3rd – #33 Jaco Coetzee
Marnitz Otten on his way to take the Championship
Jessica Oosthuizen sporting her brothers Champion shirt making her way to 2nd in the PW50 class.
Jaco Coetzee showing the crowd why he took 3rd.
NOVICE:
1st – #39 Ajay Venter
2nd – #100 Tanner Oosthuizen
3rd – #4 James Nijmeijer
Ajay Venter maybe faster than his dad as he took 1st place.
Tanner Oosthuizen the new Novice Champ Followed by his sister.
James Nijmeijer hold his own to take 3rd.
SM2:
1st – #24 Kyle Robertson
2nd – #52 Troy Tonking
3rd – #31 Luan Weterman
Kyle Robertson riding his way to the to of the podium
Troy Tonking stayed on course to take 2nd
Luan Weterman denies his brother a podium spot
SM JUNIOR 65 & 85cc:
65cc:
1st – #711 Tristan Swart
2nd – #101 Keaton de Jagger
3rd – # 11X Luca Bergover
Tristan Swart was just fantastic as he won the 65cc's
Keaton de Jagger rode a good race for 2nd place.
Never far behind Luca Bergover 3rd.
85cc:
1st – #99 Adam Naidoo
2nd – #373 Murray Smith
3r – #33 Mitch Mortimer
Another great way for Adam Naidoo to make his way to 85cc glory.
Murray Smith making sure to take 2nd in the 85cc class.
85cc 3rd place for Mitch Mortimer.
SM MASTERS & GRAND MASTERS:
MASTERS:
1st – #84 Christian Caravello
2nd – #43 Quinton van Wyk
3rd – #1 Michael Louw
The master of the Masters Christian Caravello.
Quinton van Wyk the Masters' 2nd place
Michael Louw to Take 3rd.
GRAND MASTERS:
1st – #32 Kyle Robertson
2nd – #17 Tom Maritz
3rd – #24 Peter Ward
GM's winner Kyle Robertson
Tom Maritz with a well deserved 2nd in GM
Peter Ward had to fight to take a GM 3rd.
150 CUP & 150 SENIORS
150 CUP:
1st – #21 Arno Erasmus
2nd – #57 Diego de Ponte
3rd – #52 Troy Tonking
A good start for Arno Erasmus and even better ending, 1st
Diego de Ponte and Troy Tonking
Tonking giving all he had.
150 SENIORS
1st – #93 Leungo Gaorekwe
2nd – #181 Callynn Swart
Leungo Gaorekwe on line to victory
Callynn Swart taking 2nd for the day but, took the Championship.
The battle for 1st got intense between Gaorekwe and Swart
SM JUNIOR 50cc:
1st – #1 Keaton de Jagger
2nd – #26 Ethan de Freitas
3rd – #550 Marnitz Otten
Keaton de Jagger with a spectacular win
Ethan de Freitas even with a broken bike in Heat 3 still came 2nd.