Drivers race to Zesfontein

The trial, a South African Regularity Rally Association (Sarra) event, started at the Portuguese Club in Witbank and concluded at 4 Degrees East, in Zesfontein, a 225km route.

The cars went through Bethal for the first refuel stop, then to Delmas for the second stop, before heading to Benoni.

The idea of Classic Regularity Rallying is for a two-person crew (driver and navigator/timekeeper) to drive along a route set by the organisers, on public tar roads.

The crew must keep to the set speeds shown on the route schedule, which are always below the prevailing speed limit.

Organisers calculate the precise time drivers should arrive at any point on the route, if you kept to the exact set speeds, while marshals ‘clock’ drivers’ cars at various points along the route and penalise them for being too early or late at these points.

This classic form of rallying is a safe, low-cost, and exciting competitive motor sport which allows almost anybody to compete.

There was even a blind category at this year’s event, where blind navigators use Braille route schedules.

Results from the Italian Time Trial:

Class A: 1 Robin Ross (driver, 1974 Ford Cortina) and Greg Pridgeon (navigator), 2 Schalk van Niekerk (driver, 2006 SAAB 9-3) and Susan van Niekerk (navigator), 3 David Gilson (driver, 1980 Fiat 131) and Gary Berndt (navigator).

Class B and C: 1 Luisa Gomes (driver, 1978 Mini Special) and Mannie Da Rocha (navigator).

Class D: 1 Andries Scholtz (driver, 1960 Austin Healy Sprite) and Hester Scholtz (navigator).

First Italian car home: David Gilson (driver, 1980 Fiat 131) and Gary Berndt (navigator).

First novice Italian car home: Maria Ciarrocchi (driver, 1970 Fiat 124) and Charlie Porter (navigator).

Blind category: 1 Gerhard Korf (driver, Ford Fiesta) and Susan Webber (navigator), 2 Jerry Paice (driver, Chery Tigga) and Bonita Blankenberg (navigator), 3 Gregory Turner (driver, Suzuki Swift) and Reggie Small (navigator).