KNYSNA MOTORING NEWS - With the seventh Knysna Motor Show being held this weekend, excitement is mounting for the year's premier classic, vintage, veteran and collectable motorcycle event.
The show takes place on 29 April at the Knysna High School sports grounds, starting at 09:00 and ending at 16:00 in one of the most idyllic towns on the Garden Route.
It is being organised by the Garden Route Motor Club and is an invitation-only event that will draw close to 400 cars and motorcycles from top collectors. Every genre of classic will be represented in a feast of colour, glamour and splendour that will cater to petrolheads as well as families wishing to spend an unforgettable day.
"We have been working flat out to assemble the finest classic cars and motorcycles in the country," says the organiser, Peter Pretorius.
"We have cars and motorcycles from all parts of South Africa. And we are blessed in the Garden Route to have some of the finest classic and vintage car and motorcycle collections in our region. We have had amazing support from our community, as well as our generous sponsors, Sanlam Private Wealth.
"Without them, an event of this magnitude would not be possible. Last year the Knysna Motor Show hosted over 6 000 visitors, which is incredible for a one-day event. We raised over R150 000 for charity. We hope to surpass both of these figures this year."
A 1965 Lotus Cortina, from the golden age of motor sport.
Among the exciting attractions at the Knysna Motor Show this year will be:
- 1908 Ford Model S, the oldest car at the show;
- 1912 Bat Motorcycle, built in England;
- 1928 Bentley 3-litre;
- 1923 Rolls-Royce Doctor's Coupé;
- 1938 BMW 328;
- 1990 Lamborghini Countach;
- 1963 Corvette Grand Sport continuation car;
- unique Mazda Cosmo rotary-engine sports car from the 1960s;
- the Kobus Mostert Collection of ultra-rare American coupés from the 1950s;
- a tribute to South African special cars built only in this country;
- a special display of modern supercars, such as Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches;
- a 50th birthday celebration of the Morgan Plus 8 and a 100-year-old Morgan Three Wheeler;
- the Parnell Bruce racing car collection.
The South African display will feature a massive line-up of cars unique to South Africa, starting with the 1950s Protea sports car and the GSM Dart and Flamingo models of the 1950s and 1960s.
There will also be more modern homologation special cars like the Capri Perana V8, the Chevy Can Am and the Renault Alconi. A Sierra XR8 race car in 1985 Presto Parcels livery, built by motorsport historian Nick Sheward, will be brought from Johannesburg especially for the event.
A 1958 Imperial Crown Southampton Coupé, part of the incredible Kobus Mosterd collection.
GOLDEN AGE
There will also be a tribute to the "Golden Age of Motorsport", which includes special displays of cars from Port Elizabeth-based Hi-Tech Automotive. This collection will be showing its Corvette Grand Sport continuation racer-for-the-road machine for the first time in South Africa. At present the Corvette Grand Sport is only being built for the US market, at a cost in excess of R2-million for each bespoke car.
Hi-Tech will also show a Dan Gurney Cobra tribute car, as well as more modern sports cars built for world markets.
Lindenberg Racing will show the modern Shelby Mustang as well as classic Ford-engined racers, celebrating Peter Lindenberg's 40 years in motor sport. There will also be special examples of the immortal Mini Cooper S, Ford Escort and Renault Gordini racers from the 1960s.
Detail of an ultra-rare 50 cc Maserati motorcycle. Note the famous trident logo.
MOTORCYCLE DISPLAY
An impressive motorcycle display will showcase a number of special collections. Eye-catching cycles will include the oldest motorcycle on show, the 1912 Bat; an impressive two-stroke collection ranging from a 1929 Scott Flying Squirrel, and two early BSA Bantam machines to more modern classics such as the Yamaha RD350 and a Suzuki GT750 triple-cylinder machine from the 1970s, known as "the kettle" because it was water-cooled.
The Motorcycle Room in Knysna will be putting on a special BMW high performance display, from its collection of over 115 motorcycles housed at the Knysna Waterfront. These will include a 2009 BMW HP2 Sport "boxer" and a 2012 BMW HP4 race machine.
A unique 50 cc Maserati motorcycle from the late 1950s, recently restored, will also be arriving from Port Elizabeth for the event.
Fans of custom motorcycles will be excited at the prospect of a stunning Harley Davidson café racer on show, known as "Shelby 22". This was built by Knysna's custom king Gavin Venter.
INFORMATION
The Knysna Motor Show is a one-day event at the Knysna High School sports grounds with elegant food and drink stalls providing refreshments in keeping with the glamour of this classic car event.
The show is family orientated with a relaxed atmosphere, a beer garden and food court. Admission prices are family friendly at R50 for adults, R10 for children between 12 and 18 and children under 12 entering for free.
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