Tuck into tasty ‘salad corner’
Oh, the joy of exploring new roads. Staff of this motoring publication have exhausted nearly all the stretches of tarmac within the Gauteng province.
Truth be told, the choices are limited. One can only enjoy the Cradle of Humankind sweeps or straights of Heidelberg so many times before the novelty wears thin.
Recently we decided to break for the border in search of more diverse proving grounds.
The not-so-well-kept secret of Slaaihoek Pass in Mpumalanga had long been on the list. A hat-tip to fellow automotive scribe Justin Jacobs, who had spoken about it in hushed, reverential tones on many occasions. And then plastered his thrilling exploits at the literally-translated “Salad corner” for the universe to see.
His subjects of evaluation at the venue reads like a wish-list for a lottery winner. It includes the Audi R8 V10 Spyder as well as his very own, immaculate BMW M5 (E39) which he allowed me to use for a special heritage feature on these pages in June.
Our friendship remains a tad strained after I had driven the car with little mechanical sympathy. All in the name of creating authentic content. Let bygones be bygones.
The ubiquity of GPS in 2018 is something to be praised, taking the drama out of finding a place as tucked away as Slaaihoek.
It is quite simple, really: from Johannesburg, get on the N3, switch to the N12 and then the N4. A short detour through Machadodorp, onto the R541 and straight on for a short while until you see that left turn. You might fancy making an overnight journey of it. The renowned Milly’s restaurant and accommodation lies less than 30km away. We recommend enjoying one of their trout dishes after tackling Slaaihoek, rather than before.
We must note that the route services the Nkomati nickel mine at the bottom of the pass — so the likelihood of it being busier on weekdays is great. On the Sunday we picked, however, there was not a car in sight. Except our Ford Mustang, as well as a Mazda MX-5 and modified Toyota Etios RSi belonging to colleagues who tagged along in support.
Best to get a familiarisation lap of the 30km pass before you opt to approach things with greater exuberance. It is more challenging than the innocuous name implies. Think bits that resemble the curviest letters of the alphabet. Elevation changes that tickle the stomach. And mid-corner undulations that may induce a pucker. Do keep an eye out for animals that roam the plains with joyous abandon. Budget around three hours to get there from the city. Be assured that the journey is a rewarding one.
And that applies even if your tool errs on the blunt side. Ford’s Mustang convertible inspires all sorts of notions of impromptu dashes for the countryside. And it delivers as a leisurely cruiser, particularly with the 2.3litre EcoBoost engine derivative.
The sinuous layout at hand revealed certain deficiencies, however. Over the twisty bits, with an enthusiastic driver, the iconic pony car feels like an ox-wagon: the steering is floaty and vague, the body flexes and the suspension wallows. Still, with the top down, taking in the brilliance of this idyllic setting in Mpumalanga, it invoked a spirit of coolness that few other cars match. Great for taking in the scenery, that Mustang. But we’ll have to return with something that complements the dynamic challenges of Slaaihoek.