Huffin’ and a puffin’… there’s a song that goes like that — or maybe it’s just us tackling steep hills on our bikes! This time, though, it was the Great Train Race in Heidelberg, Gauteng — and what a spectacular day it was.
Get there early! That was the directive sent out by our hosts, Motul on the day. So, we did just that – and we are pretty glad that we did, because a day like this deserves a bit of time.
We were greeted at the gate by a cool collection of Pre-war motorcycles – and we wouldn’t be able to tell you what everything was, but it is just so cool to see so many of our modern day motorcycles predecessors bubbling along with the owners proudly dressed to the nines to fit the bikes era..
Hot coffee and breakfast was on sale at the many vendors and there was a lot of laughter and general banter as we queued for our caffeine fix.
Taking a trundle down the garden path, we were greeted by a Magnum PI Ferrari taking people for little joyrides and row upon row of interesting old classic cars. It’s a special kind of enthusiast who keeps these wheels turning – a genuine love affair.
Interesting bikes were scattered all around as old friends stopped to have a chinwag and vehicle owners proudly discussed their love affair with these old machines.
News arrived that the train was going to be late because – wait for it… The diesel engine had malfunctioned, so they had to get the old steam engine up and running. Dependable old tech. But hang on….
Water ran out too (A mere 25000 litres of the stuff…) – so farmers climbed in and a water tanker was brought in to fill-er-up while we all waited.
No worries from the crowd though, there was so much to look at, cars, bikes, even two spectacular aeroplane engines were along. Those were started up to wow the peeps.
Magic!
We wandered across to chat to the Rovos Rail peeps – a big sponsor of the day – they offer magnificent trips for the well-heeled all around SA and from everything that we’ve heard, it’s always a spectacular outing.
While we were there, Harvard stunt planes were roaring away overhead giving the crowd a show as they wrote messages in the sky.
An Alouette chopper was offering passengers a birds-eye-view of proceedings.
It was seriously, very cool.
In the far distance we heard whistle… and we noticed great plumes of steam rising up into the overcast highveld air. It was a rush to the old Heidelberg platform to get the best view as a live re-enactment of a 1930 wager between a Woolf Barnato’s Bentley Speed Six and the luxurious Le Train Bleu, a famous French overnight express train race drew to its conclusion.
Beautiful vintage cars, motorcycles and a Highland Pipe Band marched alongside the puffing Rovos Rail train before it drew to a halt and disgorged some very happy, smiling passengers.
Who won the race? Well we aren’t really sure, but who actually cares really.
It was time to chill as the Stacattos,South African longest running band, formed in Johannesburg in 1961 by Brian Le Gassick took to the stage and…
Nature took over as the early summer rain started to fall.
It had been a great day. Absolutely worthwhile, it’s so cool to step back to another era, just for a day.
“Thank you for choosing Heidelberg,” said Executive Mayor Cllr Mluleki Nkosi. “Local businesses benefited, the Taxi Association has already expressed their thanks, and the economic spin-off was real. We’d love you to make Lesedi your permanent home.”
The following day, the real adventure began with a rolling display of classic cars and motorcycles covering 4,000 kilometres through towns that might never see them otherwise.
“It’s a moving display of history linking Kimberley, Augrabies Falls, the Valley of Desolation and more. Lambert Bay seafood to the rock pools of Montagu… most South Africans haven’t seen these places. This tour is about discovering them in a classic car or on a classic motorcycle, the way they were meant to be seen” said Yugandhar Prasad ‘Yuvi’ Jasti, The Great Train Race Director and Co-founder of sponsors Paysure Brokers.
“The dream is to reconnect people with the golden age of travel; this weekend proved the appetite is huge,” said Christopher Van, Founder of The Great Train Race. We’re looking forward to what we can do together to make the 2026 edition even more memorable!” For more details and to see this year’s photos and videos, visit:
It is a seriously cool day out. See you there next year and with a bit of luck and forward planning, we’ll join them for the ride next year…
Black Rock Studio took most of the pics. Enjoy!
