Velocette enthusiast Kevin Robertson from Pretoria underlined his extraordinary ability in motorcycle regularity trials with an unprecedented sixth win in the 'centenary edition' DJ Rally from Johannesburg to Durban, which finished in the coastal city on March 9 after overnight stops in Newcastle and Nottingham Road.
This year, South Africa's premier international annual competition for vintage motorcycles celebrated the 100th anniversary of the original road race between the two cities, which was first run in 1913. Twenty races were held before the authorities put an end to the DJ in 1936 by banning racing on public roads as being too dangerous.
In 1970, however, the DJ was revived as a regularity trial, with all the competing motorcycles having to be 1936 or earlier models. This year there were several machines that were more than 100 years old, with the two oldest, Humbers with pedal assistance, both completing the route.
In all, 187 riders started from the Mall@Carnival with 135 qualifying as finishers after the 750km regularity rally where the riders had to average set speeds over a winding route using secondary roads, many of them part of the original race route.
E FOR EFFORT
Robertson, who rode a 1936 Velocette MSS 500 which he restored to pristine condition himself, finished with a total error (early or late arrival at the 27 marshal points) of only 163 penalty points - 31 better than Ralph Pitchford - better known as a Dakar Rally navigator - who rode a 1926 Triumph P-type 500 alongside his two brothers, David on a 1936 BSA B2 250 and Harold on a 1926 AJS A5 350, who finished 24th and 30th respectively.
Third was Andrew Lewis (1936 Norton Model 18 500), only 2 penalties behind, with Richard Lewis (not a relative) on a 1929 Sunbeam Model 5 500) a further 3 penalties in arrears in fourth. Fifth overall was Stuart Ferguson with 200 penalty points, riding a 1936 Velocette MAC 350.
Of the 11 ladies entered, the best result was achieved by Beverly Jacobs, who rode a 1935 Triumph 2H 250 to 47th, while Samantha Anderson earned an E for effort, coping with a broken and lots of pedalling to reach the finish on her 1909 Humber 500 pedal cycle.
Hans Coertse fared best of the riders on these 100-year-old machines, finishing 62nd on his 1911 Humber.
HEARTBREAK AND DISAPPOINTMENT
The 2013 DJ, as always, produced many stories of heartbreak and disappointment for the competitors, who not only had to contend with sometimes fractious machinery, but also weather conditions that ranged from scorching heat to mist, rain and even some hail.
Ron Tomsett was very well placed after the first two days, riding a 1933 BSA Blue Star belonging to his friend Gavin Walton, who had been seriously injured in a road accident before the event. But on the Saturday Tomsett was involved in a collision with another competitor that sent both into the Armco, over the handlebars and down an embankment. Amazingly, neither was injured but it put an end to Tomsett's challenge for victory.
Bentley motorsport manager Brian Gush, originally from Port Elizabeth, rode a 1931 BSA H32/9 550 loaned by Ian Holmes, chairman of the Vintage and Veteran Club. He finished 96th overall after picking up plenty of penalties on the Saturday, but said he very much enjoyed the experience.
The actual finish of the rally was in Hillcrest, but on Saturday afternoon there was an impressive commemorative mass ride to a civic reception outside the Durban City Hall where the original race either started or finished.
TOP 10 FINISHERS
1 Kevin Robertson (1936 Velocette 500 MSS) - 163 points
2 Ralph Pitchford (1926 Triumph P-Type 500) - 192
3 Andrew Lewis (1936 Norton 18 500) - 194
4 Richard Lewis (1929 Sunbeam Model 5 500) - 197
5 Stuart Ferguson (1936 Velocette MAC 500)- 200
6 Geoff Johnson (1928 Sunbeam Model 7 500) - 217
7 Dane Fraser (1935 Ariel Red Hunter 500) - 224
8 Martin Davis (1930 Sunbeam Model 9 500) - 227
9 Sean Crookes (1935 Excelsior Manxman 350) - 230
10 Mike Ward (1936 Velocette MSS 500) - 235