George car show 21st
More than 1 000 rare old beauties, 12 000 visitors expected
THE George Old Car Show, driven by Oakhurst Insurance Company Ltd, is celebrating its 21st year of existence on February 11 and 12 this year. “This annual event of the Southern Cape Old Car Club [Scocc] will celebrate the show’s 21 years with an exhibition of more than 1 000 vehicles,” organising committee chairman Phillip Rosser said.
It is also expected that last year’s record number of 12 000 visitors will be exceeded this year, as enthusiasts from all over South Africa attend one of the biggest car shows of its kind in the country.
This year, the focus will be on German-manufactured vehicles, with the prized item an 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen.
“This was the first vehicle manufactured with an internal combustion engine,” Scocc president Kobus Harris, who has been collecting vehicles of German manufacture since 1983, said.
“This is one of only 10 replicas in the world and belongs to the Mercedes-Benz SA factory in East London.”
Mercedes-Benz SA has been manufacturing vehicles in South Africa since 1955. The W212 190 Sedan, which was completed on January 31 1958, was the first vehicle to be manufactured here.
“Benz, who was at the forefront of manufacturing, soon developed more models and other manufacturers followed their lead,” Harris, who has visited the factory in Germany, said.
At present, only the Mercedes-Benz C Class is manufactured here.
Two of Harris’s prized vehicles from his own collection will form part of the special exhibition, namely his red 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL convertible and his maroon 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220 S Sedan.
Other special Benz models on exhibition include a 1901 Benz Ideal.
Mercedes-Benz Club SA president Dr Waldo Scribante, an ardent collector from George, will display three of his vehicles, namely a 1913 Mercedes-Benz, a 1935 Mercedes-Benz 130 H, and a 1938 Mercedes-Benz 320.
Volkswagen, another German vehicle manufacturer, will also display vehicles at the show.
“We approached Auto Pavilion Volkswagen Museum in Uitenhage to exhibit Volkswagen vehicles, and they are bringing two Volkswagen Beetles dating from 1949 and 1979, the latter being the last vehicle manufactured in Uitenhage,” Harris said.
BMW will be represented by two models, dating from 1936 and 1938, and there will also be a 1938 DKW and a 1935 Opel Cabriolet. Also, Oakhurst Insurance Company Ltd is on board for the second consecutive year.
“The George Old Car Show, driven by Oakhurst Insurance Company Ltd, is one of the greatest annual events in the whole of the Western Cape, and given our love of all things familyorientated and very specifically car-related, we are absolutely thrilled to be part of it once again,” the company’s managing director Peter Grindlay said.
Oakhurst will launch its new Classic Car Insurance at the show.
George executive mayor Melvin Naik, speaking at the launch of this year’s show, confirmed the municipality’s continued support of the show.
“We would like to foster the relationship with the George Old Car Show and see what other incentives can flow from this relationship,” Naik said.
Another highlight of the show is an exhibition of more than 5 000 model cars. Besides precious private collections, retailers will also offer miniatures for sale.
As part of the theme of the special exhibition, miniatures of vehicles of German manufacture will take pride of place.
This year’s Veteran Tour, which takes place on Friday February10, will start in Uniondale and end at PW Botha College during the late afternoon.
Owners of vehicles that were manufactured without front brakes will travel from all around the country to take part in the tour of some 180km.
Another highlight is a Drive-Thru through Thembalethu and Pacaltsdorp on Saturday February 5.
A group of old cars, accompanied by Scocc’s fire engine, will take part in this special event, during which Herman Ungerer, the club’s announcer, will promote the show.
The SAB Beer Tent, managed by George Rotary, will provide cold drinks in a shaded area, while a number of stalls will sell food, soft drinks and a selection of merchandise.
Young children will be kept busy in a safe area at a minimal fee.
The George Old Car Show will be held at the PW Botha College in York Street, George. Parking is available. Entrance fees: Saturday: adults R50, pensioners R40, children R20;
Sunday: adults R20, pensioners R15, children R10;
Weekend package deal: adults R60, pensioners R45, children R25.
Gates will open on Saturday from 7am to 6pm, and on Sunday from 8am to 1pm. For further details contact Phillip Rosser on 082-410-5490 or Chris van Staden on 082-491-5254, or visit Scocc’s website at www.scocc.co.za
‘ This year, the focus will be on Germanmade vehicles