SA’s only international road racing series is happening right now, with the first round held at East London last weekend the 26th and 27th of January 2024 and the next and final round at Kyalami this coming weekend the 2nd and 3rd of February 2024. Deon VDL went along to the East London leg to watch the fun. See you at Kyalami on Saturday for round 2.
Our journey started on Wednesday morning the 24 January as we gathered at AMI Logistics to load ten of our local boys’ bikes on the big Volvo 440 big rig owned by Ettienne Louw from Vyfster Carriers, and the anticipation really started building. With all the gorgeous classic race bikes wrapped, strapped and ready to go I joined the driver as his co-pilot and hit the long road to East London.
A little bit of history: In 1924, YES…. exactly 100 years ago, the first S.A Classic TT was held. Names like Moore, Hammerton, Loader, du Toit, Paton and Zurcher to name a few were a part of the first race that brought U.K riders to come and take on our S.A racers. Yes there were a few interruptions to proceedings here and there, a couple of World Wars and this and that…. But 100 years ago was the first throw down and the rivalry is still as strong as ever 100 years later – How amazing is that? Did you know that the East London Grand Prix Circuit is the oldest and only unchanged Grand Prix Circuit in the world still in regular use?
Back to the long trip down – 13-hours in, we stopped in Queenstown and got to take a little nap at 1:15 Thursday morning – and hit the road again at 4:01 for the last stretch of road. Big respect to the truckies, we actually don’t realise how hard these folk work to bring us our food, clothing, fuel, and electronic gadgets from all over the country.
Entering East London and turning into Potters Pass, my enthusiasm was boiling over. We stopped in the pits and got right down to business as the guys started to offload. Wandering into the International rider’s pits I was greeted by Robert Burns. We spent quite a bit of time in their pits watching the bikes being taken out of the crates, very cool. The rest of the day was a day where riders from all over the country came to join and get everything ready for the weekend to come… what a weekend this was going to be.
Early Friday morning, people were scurrying around prepping for a much-needed practice day to get their eye in, get acquainted with the track and set their bikes up to be the best they can be. It was surreal to be a part of this Historic event. Getting to see some of the U.K legends I met last year and meeting new ones joining this year was really special.
During Round 1, the fans got to see the likes of Steve Parrish, Gordon Grigor, Robert Burns, Ian Simpson, James Ellison, Simon Howton, Howard Selby, Adrian McCarthy and Danny Webb blasting their bikes around the extremely fast East London Circuit.
It was a very warm day with a welcoming ocean breeze that made for a great day to watch local and international racers flying down the track to get man and machine tuned for Race Day. The day made for an impressive display of what was to come. Danny Webb set an early pace time of 1:23.819 and second fastest local rider Sheridan Morais’ 1:25.160 for the top class. After a successful day of practice there was a buzz of appreciation in the pits. Sharing stories and adventures, all I could do was stand there and soak up the history and tales of yesteryear. The stories I heard and lessons learned not only about the series but the History of the track were quite something. After a lekker day at the track, we headed off to Shabanga Guest Farm for a good night’s rest and an early morning rise with a cup of coffee before making our way back to the track for an epic day of racing.
Arriving at the track on Saturday morning, it was already teaming with die-hard fans, setting up gazebos all around on the banks of the circuit and/or walking through the pits hoping to meet or lay eyes on the legendary riders.
Race Day started off with a cool cloudy day, a few raindrops giving a glimpse of a wet race.
8’o-clock saw the fast bikes head out for their 15 minute warm up session followed shortly by the rest of the bike’s warm up. The rain drops disappeared leaving overcast weather that didn’t last long and we were left with a nice scorching-hot sunny day.
Race 1:
Superbikes & Intermediate:
The guys lined up and roared off. Serious racing, with plenty of skills on display. Superbikes & Intermediate Class went out first. #2 Nkululeko Majola won the race, the only race for this class for the day
Next up was SA TT F1 & New Era: Our own Sheridan Morais took the race to the guys, banging elbows… a class act and so great to see him and his dad Ricky swinging spanners on the track and taking 2nd place overall. AJ Venter was out racing alongside his TT competitors maybe just to suss them out. It was great to see Gordon Grigor on “Boris”, his 1216 Suzuki Bandit that he nearly lost due to a recent crash at East Fortune Race Circuit in Scotland. The bike got badly burned but the Rooster Racing crew got it all restored to its former glory. A great battle took place between Adrian McCarthy, James Barson and Howard Selby. #99 Danny Webb had a perfect day as he took pole and the race win.
F2 & F3 started as the racers roared off the line, John Kosterman had to race his Suzuki GSXR with only a quarter fender kit after being struck by something on the track that took a whole chunk off the right hand side of his bike. #91 Fergal McAdam won the F2 race. F3 winner was #174 Johan le Roux. Guy Mylchreest made his comeback to racing after his huge accident at Redstar last year.
Masters & Grand Masters: One East London racer left the pit lane late and as he tried catching up to the pack, he had a crash and the Masters & Grand Masters race was delayed.
I positioned myself on the embankment outside the main straight waiting for the start of the race when I saw the bikes enter the pit area. It all eventually restarted and the bikes were back on the grid and racing continued for most of the pack until Paul Jacobs Honda started to give gearbox trouble and he eventually had to retire, and sadly that was it for the Honda man, with gremlins getting mischievous with his classic bike during Fridays practise rendering it uncompetitive as well.. #117 Dave Veringa won the Masters Class and #44 Johan le Roux won in the Grand Masters.
F4 class is strictly a parade class.
The F4 class was not a racing session, more of a 15 minutes parade.
This is where we got to see #6 Steve Parrish on his iconic 1979 RG 500 a U.K legend and #32 Terry Barson, a local legend who rode his Norvin.
Fergal McAdan, Ettienne Louw, Dean Kemp, Pieter “Lofty” Pretorius on his Ducati 1977 Replica, one of the prettiest bikes on the track. Uncle Lofty, who Shared so much history of the track with me, had me hanging on his every word, but that is another story to be told all by itself.
Race 2:
SA TT F1 & New Era: The S.A vs. the UK battle resumed in fury. Morais kept pushing Webb, Webb at one stage made a mistake just before turn 5 and went onto the grass, managed to keep it on two wheels and joined the track again just in front of Morais. It would appear that AJ Venter, James Ellison and Matthew Herbert liked the smell of each other as they stuck together the whole day. I had to wonder if there might have been some tension in the UK camp as Gordon Grigor and Simon Howton wouldn’t stay off one another’s tail pipes. Same with the S.A guys, as Mike McSkimming and Fergal McAdam went head to head in one battle. Norman McFadden and Wessel Kruger slogging it out. Danny Webb took a double win. There was also a possible little family feud as Dean Kemp with his uncle Kevin Kemp having a go at family supremacy. The hometown crowd even got a show after one of the races as Hilton Redelinghuys did a burnout until he got lost in all the smoke before riding off doing a little dance as he stood up on the pegs flowing through a few bends celebrating his win in the New Era class
F2 & F3: Seeing all those beautiful old school bikes lined up ready to race sent shivers down the spines of all who joined in on the fun. Fast Mike McSkimming and Fergal McAdam once again were at each other’s throats with Fast Mike crossing the line just ahead of Fergal winning the second race in the F2 class. In the F3 Class Gerrie Havenga and Roberto Janse van Rensburg had a good day as they had their own little race within the race, this is all good and well but, Johan le Roux had the last laugh as he took the win.
Masters & Grand Masters: The Master Class rider Dave Veringa had to keep a cool head as he was challenged by Graigen Nel but crossed the line in front and 1st overall. Johan le Roux rode like a champ and that is how he finished taking another win making it a double win for the day as well. Absolutely crazy racing thrills these guys displayed in both Race 1 & 2. Thanks for the show, I tip my hat to you great gentlemen of the sport we love so much.
(Unfortunately there was a bit of a problem with the timing, and we can only give you the provisional. So we can only give the top 3 overall results for the day.)
Top 3 Overall Race Day results:
Superbikes & Intermediate:
1st #2 Nkululeko Majola; 2nd #11 Gordon Harmer; 3rd #23 Shane Hempel
SA TT F1 & New Era:
SA TT F1
1st #99 Danny Webb; 2nd #32 Sheridan Morais; 3rd #439 AJ Venter
F1 (CSRA Members only)
1st #439 AJ Venter; 2nd #96 Matthew Herbert; 3rd #67 James Barson
New Era:
1st #87 Hilton Redelinghuys; 2nd #7X Sharief Reynolds; 3rd #369 Norman McFadden
F2 & F3:
F2:
1st #91 Fergal McAdam; 2nd #71 Fast Mike McSkimming; 3rd #7 Ettienne Louw
F3:
1st #174 Ewoud Pienaar; 2nd #27 Gerrie Havenga; 3rd #170 Roberto Janse van Rensburg
Masters & Grand Masters:
Masters:
1st #117 Dave Veringa; 2nd #25 Graigen Nel; 3rd #32 Travis Warne
Grand Masters:
1st #44 Johan le Roux; 2nd #369 Norman McFadden; 3rd #11 Gordon Harmer
At the end of the day all the fans were left satisfied and had a chance to finally wipe the drool from their mouths. I think I can speak for everyone when saying that Round 1 left us boiling over with excitement for Round 2 at Kyalami on Saturday the 3rd of February. Round 2 is going to be one for the history books if the East London round is anything to judge by.
Until then we can’t wait to see you all at Kyalami.
