Racing back on track at EL GP Circuit
Racing returned to the East London Grand Prix Circuit on Saturday as the sixth round of the Border Modified Saloon Car and Eastern Cape Historic Pre ‘80 and Pre ‘90 Coastal Challenge Club Championships took place.
In the Historics, Mike Forsyth (Cobra) grabbed pole position from Alec Gudmanz (Ford Capri), with championship leader Johan van der Westhuizen (Ford Interceptor) in third.
Gary Schultz (Ford Escourt), Ryan Gudmanz (Datsun SSS), Andrew Karshagen (Ford Fairlane) and Kyle Rose (Ford Anglia) rounded out the qualifying grid.
The opening race went the way of Forsyth, with Van der Westhuizen and Schultz following him home.
Ryan Gudmanz had a great outing, coming home fourth ahead of Rose and Karshagen, while Alec Gudmanz suffered a mechanical failure during the race.
The second race was more of the same, with Forsyth leading the way from Van der Westhuizen and Schultz at the head of the field.
Ryan Gudmanz again finished ahead of Rose and Karshagen.
Forsyth also took the third heat but this time he was followed over the line by Schultz, with Van der Westhuizen in third.
Karshagen found some speed in his Fairlane to take fourth ahead of Ryan Gudmanz and Rose.
Saturday’s races were the final points-scoring events for the 2022 Eastern Cape Regional Historic Championship.
Van der Westhuizen claimed that title from Schultz, with Graham Lessing in third.
The Historic Challenge Club Championship has one more round before the title is decided.
Forsyth, Schultz and Van der Westhuizen will fight for that honour on December 10.
In the Border Modifieds category, Bevan Schwarz led the way in qualifying, grabbing pole position from Craig Czank, with Bevan Choudree, who won all three heats last time out, in third.
RJ Green got the better of Gareth Hewitt to take fourth.
Paul Berry took sixth, just ahead of Mornay Swanepoel, with Craig Borges and Juan Nel rounding out the grid.
Schwarz dominated the opening heat, taking a comfortable win from Choudree and Czank.
Green and Hewitt had a great battle that eventually went the way of Green.
Berry, Swanepoel and Borges rounded out the finishers after Nel was sidelined just after halfdistance. The second heat was almost a carbon copy of the first, with precisely the same result. Schwarz decided to withdraw from the final heat after his car developed a problem during the second race, which left Choudree to take the win from Czank.
Green and Hewitt continued their daylong battle, this time with Hewitt finishing in front after a last-corner challenge.
Berry took fifth ahead of Swanepoel and Borges.
The Modifieds championship will be decided at their next outing on December 10.
The 45-minute endurance race was cut short early on when lighting made it unsafe for the marshals to be out on track.
There was also a motorcycle demonstration in which a huge range of bikes took to the circuit to put on a show for the fans.
Though not racing, many of the riders relished the opportunity to test their steeds without the danger of other traffic.