Veteran Tour attracts teams from far afield

THE 12th Veteran Tour of the George Old Car Show will take on the Prince Alfred Pass next month, featuring several cars which date back more than a century.

The tour leaves Uniondale on the eve of the two-day show on Friday, February 10 and covers 145km, passing through the Prince Alfred Pass, which will include 40km of dirt road, before travelling via De Vlugt to Herold.

In the village of Herold, the tour group will stop to have lunch before leaving for George, where they are expected to arrive at 3pm at the show venue at PW Botha College in York Street.

“This year’s tour will definitely be much different because we will travel through the magnificent Prince Alfred Pass that was built in 1861 by father-and-son Thomas and Andrew Bain, with the help of 270 prisoners,” Veteran Tour organiser Philip Kuschke said.

Sixteen vehicles have so far been registered to take part in this year’s tour, with participants from as far afield as Harrismith in Kwa-Zulu-Natal, East London, Kimberley, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Cape Town.

Uniondale residents interested in having a closer look at the old cars, dating from 1909, can do so at African Aloe Cafe, where the overnighting group will gather at 5pm on Thursday, and depart again at 9am on Friday.

A 1909 Nordenveld – the only one of its kind in the world – belonging to Nick Middelman of Botrivier, is the oldest vehicle taking part.

Other vehicles include eight Model T Fords, dating from 1912 to 1923, two Model A Fords dating from 1927 and 1930, as well as a 1913 Buick, 1916 Chevrolet, 1923 Dodge, 1925 Bullnose Morris and 1926 Austin Chummy.

“For the first time, an all-women team will take part, with the driver, navigator and passenger all being women,” Kuschke said.

The women are respectively from Johannesburg, Pretoria and George.

The idea to organise a tour for vehicles and motorcycles manufactured without front brakes on the eve of the George Old Car Show originated in 2005.

For further information about the Veteran Tour, contact Kuschke on 082-856-5152 or (044) 871-3373 (after hours).