KNYSNA NEWS - The most glamorous period in motoring history will be given pride of place at this year's Knysna Motor Show, which will be held for the eighth successive year near some of the best driving roads in South Africa.

This year a number of marques are being honoured by special celebrations of their centenaries. Cars on display will represent the halcyon era between 1925 and 1940.

Think of The Great Gatsby, Clark Gable, Marlene Dietrich and the unspeakably elegant cars they drove, and you will be on the right track!

However, other important eras and genres in the classic car field will be equally prominent.

The 2018 Knysna Motor Show drew a record number of over 400 vintage and veteran machines, classic cars and motorcycles and modern supercars, and again the organisers are aiming for a similar turnout.

A record number of over 8 000 spectators visited last year's show. This year the organising Garden Route Motor Club are on track to surpass that figure.

"It's never been just about the numbers," says Peter Pretorius, chairman of the Garden Route Motor Club and principal organiser of the Knysna Motor Show. "Primarily the focus is to put on the best classic show possible. Judging by reports from the past two years at least, I think we are working in the right direction."

Quality
Indeed, there are many enthusiasts who believe that already the Knysna Motor Show surpasses anything else on offer in South Africa. There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly the cars on show are present by invitation only, which means the quality of exhibited cars is very high.

Secondly, by making the show an invitation-only event for owners, the organisers can establish a fine mix of exhibits from the various genres of classic, vintage and veteran machinery resident in South Africa.

Another reason the show is so eagerly awaited is that various new themes within the show are introduced at the event. This ensures that it is fresh, even for people who have attended many of the preceding seven shows.

Aerial photo of the show taken last year.

Unique appeal
This year will see the anniversary celebrations of a number of great marques. There will be an extremely impressive display of Bentleys celebrating the great British marque's centenary. Another British make that will be similarly honoured is Morgan, which celebrates 110 years of being one of the world's most exclusive sports car manufacturers.

The Knysna Motor Show is traditionally held in holiday season on the Garden Route. It is also attractive to out-of-town visitors as it is held the weekend before the Simola Hill Climb, and many enthusiasts take in the show before staying on for a holiday to enjoy the competition event the following weekend.

This also applies to owners of vintage machinery from destinations far away. Last year the show drew a number of exhibitors from as far afield as Johannesburg, Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.

A unique part of the show's huge appeal to enthusiasts and the public alike is that it is held in beautiful surrounds bordering on the Knysna Waterfront, of the sports fields of the Knysna High School.

The area can easily accommodate around 400 cars and motorcycles, as well as extensive hospitality and food and beverage areas, and also includes specialised displays for companies associated with the classic car fraternity.

Charities
For the third year in a row Sanlam Private Wealth will be the show's headline sponsor.

"The show is organised primarily for the pure and simple pleasure of seeing these wonderful cars and motorcycles on display in such congenial surroundings," said Peter Pretorius. "However, our secondary objective has always been to raise money for local charities. We are very proud to announce that over the past years we have raised a total of well over half a million rand for local charities with the Knysna Motor Show. We aim to add to that figure substantially with proceeds from the 2019 event at the end of April."

The Garden Route Motor Club has been organising this year's show for some months.

However, owners of exceptional vintage, veteran and classic cars, as well as classic motorcycles and rare modern supercars, are still able to apply for entry in this year's show.

Interested car owners should e-mail their details, as well as photographs, to Peter Pretorius at peterp@afrihost.co.za.

For the spectators, it is an inclusive motor show fair for the whole family - a one-day event that runs from 09:00 to 16:00 on Sunday 28 April at the Knysna High School Sports Grounds.

For more information, visit the Garden Route Motor Club's website, www.grmc.co.za.

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