Classic Car Friday back in all its glory
Expect a thrilling tussle between Andre Bezuidenhout and Franco Scribante, along with a brace of other serious challengers, for Classic Car Friday glory during this year's Simola Hillclimb event, which is in its 14th year.
There is an exceptional line-up of cars across the nine classes, from thoroughbred single-seaters to legendary tin-tops, ranging from 1926 to 1994 - all happening in Knysna from 2 to 5 May.
The Simola Hillclimb always delivers an exceptional showcase of some of the most spectacular cars in South Africa, whether it's a monstrous modern machine taking on King of the Hill or one of the vintage old-timers blowing out the cobwebs and competing for glory on Classic Car Friday.
The opening event for this annual event is always captivating, as iconic cars spanning no less than 98 years of motoring and motorsport in South Africa, piloted by a mix of enthusiast and professional racing drivers, are given full steam each time the flag drops for the timed 1,9km runs up the winding Simola Hill.
From stripped-down road cars dating to the pre-World War II era to some of the greatest machines from the heydays of saloon car, single-seater and sportscar racing, there's truly something to excite and delight everyone.
"We had an amazing response with the number and quality of applications received this year, and we were oversubscribed for the maximum of 65 slots available for Classic Car Friday," says Simola Hillclimb sporting director Geoff Goddard. "This allows us to choose a line-up that keeps the event fresh and entertaining for the spectators, which is an integral part of the Simola Hillclimb's growth and success over the past 13 editions."
Having claimed his first Classic Conqueror title in 2023, to go along with his six consecutive King of the Hill crowns in the single-seater/sports prototypes category, Andre Bezuidenhout is likely to once again be the man to beat. He clocked a winning time of 41,715 seconds to take the win in his immaculately prepared Cosworth-powered 1976 Lola T460.
Bezuidenhout's closest title rival was multiple champion Franco Scribante in his rapid 1970 Chevron B19 sportscar, with very little separating the two legends of the Simola Hillclimb on the timesheets during the practice sessions. Ultimately the challenge ended abruptly during the qualifying runs when the Chevron suffered engine failure - but Scribante is determined to take the fight to Bezuidenhout this year.
"We opted to rebuild the engine locally instead of sending it overseas again, and we are hoping it will have a bit more power," Scribante says.
"Of course, my goal is always to win, but to get a sportscar to beat a single-seater is a tall order, and Andre seems to have the Lola well sorted. That said, Andre's winning time last year was slightly slower than our quickest time with this car, so I'm sure it will be very close between us."
The two titans of Classic Car Friday will compete for overall victory and the prized Classic Conqueror crown in the final allor-nothing Top 10 Shootout, as well as the class win in H9 for single-seater, sports and GT cars up to 1980.
They will be going up against two previous winners in a pair of Formula Atlantic single-seaters, comprising Charles Arton in the 1979 March 79a and Ian
Schofield in his 1977 March 77b, along with the Lotus-engined 1973 Chevron B20 Formula 3 car driven by Josh Dovey, and a 1979 Van Diemen Rf Formula Ford with Robert Wolk behind the wheel.
Rui Campos is consistently the fastest tin-top competitor in his powerful 1974 Porsche 911 RSR replica, and he will be fighting for top honours in class H8 for racing saloon cars up to 1995 with six cylinders and above.
A new entrant in this class is Stefan Wintershoven who will be competing in an original 1991 Chevrolet Corvette alongside Simola Hillclimb regular Enzo Kuun in a 1994 Ferrari F355.
More information and online ticket sales are available on the Simola Hillclimb website: www.simolahillclimb.com