Johannesburg - Sun City is revving up for South Africa's first-ever stand-alone Concours competition, from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 September, with motoring celebrities and petrolheads of international standing lining up for what promises to be a landmark event.
They include multiple South African rally champion, Sarel van der Merwe,multiple South African single-seater champion Ian Scheckter and high profile judges, Wayne Harley -curator of the Franschhoek Motor Museum - and Marius Malherbe, Porsche and classic car collector and former Managing Director of Lamborghini South Africa.
The Concours d'Elegance has its roots in 17th century France, when the aristocracy would parade their horse-drawn carriages through the parks of Paris. With the advent of the automobile, Concours d'Elegance events evolved into competitions between automobile manufacturers, custom coachbuilders, and owners, whose vehicles were judged on the beauty of their design. To keep with this French classic feel, entrants are encouraged to capture the era of their car in their fashion too.
The concept is nothing new in South Africa, of course - every classic car club get-togther has a prize for the prettiest car on show - but this will be the first professional-level Concours in South Africa and expectations are high.
“The shapes of these classic cars are the ones I grew up with,” explained ‘Supervan’ Van der Merwe, former South African Rally and Saloon Car champion and winner of the 1984 Daytona 24 Hour endurance race in Florida.
“To me they represent individual genius in car design, rather than the more clinical shapes of today, which obviously draw a lot on computer-aided design.
“On the other hand, I love supercars too, both modern and the older ones, and I’ve owned a few in my time”, he said.
150 great cars
Concours SA will feature a collection of great cars, all based in South Africa - 150 classic and sports cars, including a very rare BMW 2002ti once owned by Nicky Oppenheimer of Anglo American fame - competing in nine categories:
Leisure & Utility up to 1980
Leisure & Utility post 1980
Sports Cars up to 1980
Sports Cars post 1980
Luxury Saloons up to 1980
Luxury Saloons post 1980
Supercars up to 1980
Supercars post 1980
American Muscle-Cars
Find more information at the Concours SA website: www.concourssa.co.za.