Pretoria - This Sunday Zwartkops Raceway will host the 36th annual Cars in the Park meeting, with an expected record-breaking turnout.
At last year’s event more than 15 000 spectators and in excess of 3000 classic and special-interest cars turned out for the show, but organisers are expecting an even bigger turnout this year. Cars in the Park caters mainly to classic cars and enthusiasts, with the general rule that displayed models should be 30 years and older, but also caters for various other types of special-interest cars such as muscle cars and hot rods.
The show is arranged by the Pretoria Old Motor Club which each year sends out special invitations to specific car owners to form a display in the centre of the track in the pit area. This year the accent is very much on cars that are more than a century old, although there are a couple of exceptions.
With a number of special invitations going to the owners of very early Fords, it will be possible to trace the lineage of “the car that put the world on wheels” right back to pre-Model T days. Fords scheduled for this display are extremely rare, with two Model N cars whose owners have accepted invitations. These are the only two Model Ns in the country, both pre-dating the Model T and built in 1907. There will also be two Model Ts on show, along with one Model A (the T’s successor) - a pristine 1927 Roadster version coming in from the West Rand. Another special invite from the Ford stable will be the first V8 that Ford produced, a 1932 V8 Phaeton.
HUNDREDS MORE TO DROOL OVER
Also on the special guest list are a 1912 Buick, a 1937 Packard (one of only seven in the world) and a 1913 Cadillac. The Cadillac is one of the most interesting cars in this section as it was the car that introduced the electric starter for the first time. Prior to this, cars had to be started by hand with a crank-handle.
But there will be hundreds more to drool over, ranging from Maseratis to Daimlers to Alfa Romeos to Bentleys and even to giant off-roaders such as Unimogs. It is believed that the biggest gathering of classic Unimog all-terrain vehicles will take place at this year’s Cars in the Park.
The gates will open at 6am for exhibitors; drivers of classic cars will gain free entry. Spectator gates will open at 8am with entry at R100 for adults and children under-12 free.
The show will last all day, but to see the best entries it’s advisable to get there early, as some of the “old timers” begin leaving at about noon.
Extra car park areas and access roads have been created to cater for the increased traffic. More than 100 car clubs have booked special areas and as far as commercial interest is concerned, more than 150 stall holders will be displaying and selling goods at the venue.
The Zwartkops Raceway is located on the R55, west of Pretoria.
Star Motoring