The stunt rider who stars in the current Hyundai Getz TV advertisements, motorcycle racer and gifted tuner Ian Abrahams (43), died in a pre-dawn road accident on Saturday.
The car he and fellow racer Stefan Nel (40) were driving from Cape Town to Knysna collided with rear of a truck reportedly stopped on the N2 between George and Knysna. Both men died at the scene.
Abrahams was involved in the motorcycle industry for most of his life; friends recall him pulling wheelies on his 50cc motorcycle at 14. He was involved with several motorcycle shops before opening his own business, Killarney Motorcycles, in the mid-1990s.
He was a supremely talented rider who competed successfully in circuit racing, drags and gymkhanas but was best known for his work as a stunt artist, specialising in feats of skill and control rather than huge jumps or dangerous situations.
He was famous for his three-up work, pulling huge wheelies and stoppies with his life partner Monique Cloete and close friend Chris "Budgie" Crafford hanging precariously off the bike.
He did daring stunts for several movies and TV commericals - of which the most widely shown was his appearance as the blonde Suzuki rider in an advertisement for the Hyundai Getz.
He also ran a stunt-riding school where he showed extraordinary patience teaching young riders the control and balance that made them not only stunt artists but also safer everyday riders.
Stefan Nel
Stefan Nel came to serious motorcycling at a later age than most of us. He was a policeman and traffic officer in Cape Town and Blaauwberg before becoming head of security for the Grandwest Casino and, more recently, manager at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
He began racing in Western Province Regional events in 2003 on a Honda CBR600 F2, won several times then sold the bike to switch to VW Polo Cup racing.
His booming laugh and friendly banter were features of the Killarney pits on race days. He leaves his wife Ronelle and four children.
Abrahams will be buried from the Assembly of God Church in Table View on Friday 17 June. Riders are requested to meet in the car park of Guzzlers pub in Milnerton at 11.30am.
Nel will be buried from the Dutch Reformed Church in Hannes Louw road, Parow North at 8.30am on Saturday, June 18.