Fast and furious to hit the track
ALL systems are go as the much anticipated Ford and Friends raceday finally gets under way at the East London Grand Prix track today.
The annual event returns to East London for the first time since 2011 and a large crowd of passionate supporters is expected.
With this being the country’s fastest track some very quick racing is expected as competitors test their limits and look to entertain.
The race also marks the end of an era for South African race Legend Koos Swanepoel, competing in his last race, and he will be aiming to put on a memorable show.
A host of top SA drivers as well as racing legends will be competing in the different classes and they will also be wanting to make Swanepoel's swan song one to remember. In the V8 Masters race high class performances are expected from the likes of Marcel Angel, Franco Donadio and Richard Schreuder, while local legend Jaki Scheckter will be looking to show them how it’s done.
The Dunlops Historics is set to have 49 cars on the grid and should be a fantastic race.
Swanepoel in his Ford Anglia will look to turn back the clock on the same track that he won the first ever Eastern Province Championship 52 years ago.
Louis Powell in his Ford Escort, Chris Corolin in a Mazda Rotary, Mark Uytenbogaardt driving a V8 Mustang, Christopher Radloff in a Toyota, Claude Williams in his Ford Escort and Willie Hepburn in his Ford V8 Capri will all be aiming to put on one hell of a show.
In the Modified Car race Martin and Wade van Zummeren and Willie Hepburn, all in their Westbank V8 cars and Kosie Swanepoel, Koos’s son, in his BMW M3 will all be pushing the speed barrier.
Other races will also be held on the day as well as a host of other activities including drift demos, a drag challenge and a karting demonstration, along with the Ford Fan Park and a new Ford display and classic car display, it all adds up to a wonderful day out for the family.
A first for the Ford and Friends raceday will also be the attempt to break the record for the most father-son-daughter and even mother combinations to compete at the same meeting.
All the action will also be televised on DSTV Ignition on channel 189 for the first time.
The action gets going from 10am today with entrance costing R60 for spectators, R50 for those driving a Ford, R20 for kids, while kids U12 years old get in free.