Pretoria - It's the proudest boast of the Pretoria Old Motor Club, that their annual get-together, simply entitled Cars in the Park, is now the biggest car show in Africa.
What started as a 'show and shine' for members to show off their toys has over the years attracted marque clubs, special-interest groups and specialist vendors, growing the event right out of the original park and on to the grounds of the Zwartkops Raceway - one of the few places big enough to accommodate the more than 2000 classic, veteran, vintage, custom, and muscle-cars and motorcycles that are expected at the 37th annual Cars in the Park on Sunday 31 July.
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the founding club, so the Pretoria Old Motor club has reserved a special stand in the pits area to showcase its finest and rarest vehicles from across the years, and their custodians will be there to explain to your petrolheads-in-training just what makes them so special.
It's also the 75th anniversary of the founding of Jeep, so expect something special from the Jeep Club this year. Nevertheless it is only one of more than 100 car clubs that have taken space at Cars in the Park 2016 - including, of Alfa Romeo, Buicks, Cadillacs, Cortina, Datsun, Lotus, Mazda, MGs, Triumphs and Volkswagen to name just a few.
Each year the organisers pick a theme, and for 2016 it is Pick-Up Trucks from the early 1900s to the late 1960s, chiming in with a growth in interest from customisers and collectors of postwar classics. Dozens of 'bakkies' will enjoy pride of place in a special display at the old Bridgestone pit area towards Turn 1. It is in the nature of these beasts and their owners that few of them remain standard; expect to see some outrageous custom trucks.
Get there early
In addition to the more than 2000 cars on show, there will be hundreds of stalls selling motoring paraphernalia, car-related clothing, food and drink, and plenty of live entertainment for the whole family.
But if you snooze, you lose. Convenor Frik Kraamwinkel says that each year enthusiasts pitch up earlier and earlier to grab the best spots from which to see and be seen. This year the gates at Zwartkops will open from 6.30am on the day - and Kraaamwinkel expects to find a queue when he gets there.
Entry will be R100 per adult, free for under-12s, and the driver and driver and passenger of qualifying show cars (that's pre-1985 or special-interest modern classics, just so's you know) will also be admitted free.
Motoring.co.za
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