George hits top gear for car show
The 23rd George Old Car Show takes place on Saturday and Sunday February 9 and 10, and will be preceded by the 18th Veteran Tour on Friday.
“This year’s Veteran Tour will start at Klaarstroom, just like the very first tour in 2007,” organiser Philip Kuschke said.
The 2019 Veteran Tour is sponsored by Airo Classics, a new recreation venue close to the George Airport, which will open its doors early this year.
According to Kuschke, 20 vehicles have been entered from across the country. “It is extremely difficult to name the most special vehicles, but the following six cars are indeed most exquisite.”
These include three very rare single-cylinder cars: The Crankhandle Club’s 1901 Benz (driven by Harvey Metcalf), Ali van Jaarsveld’s 1902 Peugeot and Tom van der Vyver’s 1904 De Dion Bouton. Nic Middelmann’s 1907 Nordenfeld is the only one of its kind worldwide, and Nic’s brother Richard’s 1911 EMF is equally rare. Peter Posniak will be travelling in Ali van Jaarsveld’s 1910 Buick.
The 55 participants in the Veteran Tour will be staying in Jeremy Witts-Hewitson’s Klaarstroom guest house, in the new Klaarstroom Hotel and other furnished homes in the village. They will leave Klaarstroom early on Friday for the 150km journey to George.
Kuschke is excited about Airo Classics’ five-year sponsorship. The owner, Jacques Wheeler, is also a classic car fan and a number of special vehicles are exhibited at the company’s Airo Cafe near George Airport. Besides the excellent food and coffee, Airoclassics will also offer craft beer, gin tastings and wine on tap.
The participants in the Veteran Tour will enjoy lunch at Airo Classics after returning from Klaarstroom. After lunch, George traffic department officials will lead the convoy of veteran cars to PW Botha College in York Street, where they will form part of the special focus exhibition of rare and exotic vehicles.
Tickets for the George Old Car Show are available online at Quicket or under Events on the SCOCC website, www.scocc.co.za
Entry fees on Saturday are R60 a person (adults), R45 (pensioners) and R30 (pupils). Entry on Sunday is R25 (adults), R20 (pensioners) and R15 (pupils).
Weekend tickets are R70 (adults), R50 (pensioners) and R35 (pupils). Entry to preschool children is free.
Gates open from 7am to 6pm on Saturday and 8am to 1pm on Sunday.
Only vehicles manufactured before 1975, and which were registered in advance, will be exhibited.
● Contact Klaus Oellrich at 076-7640897 for general information on the show.