Walton equals record with seventh rally
He is now equal with the late Kevin Robertson, with seven wins.
Gavin Walton of Springs notched up his seventh win in the Durban to Johannesburg (DJ) regularity rally for classic motorcycles made before 1937.
He recorded a score of 289 for the two-day event, which took competitors from the Hillcrest Shopping Centre outside Durban to the Benoni Northerns Sports Club from March 14 to 15.
Walton (64), who again rode his trusty 1936 model 500 cc AJS, is now equal with the late Kevin Robertson with seven wins in an event run annually since 1970 except for 1974, due to fuel restrictions, and 2021, due to Covid-19.
This year’s iTOO-sponsored event was the 53rd in the series, which commemorates the road race held between Durban and Johannesburg from 1913 to 1936. It was cancelled due to safety concerns, and today is why competing motorcycles must be built no later than 1936 – 89 years ago.
The runner-up was Adrian Hollis (1935 500cc Sunbeam Lion), with 328. (The score comprises the seconds early or late at the various control points on the route, of which there were 38 on each of the two days).
Hollis is a previous unofficial winner of the DJ Rally, having won in 2000 riding a sidecar combination with a 600cc Sunbeam motorcycle and Michelle Lange in the sidecar. However, a sidecar combination did not qualify for overall victory, and the win that year went to Leo Middelberg on a 1936 Velocette. Hollis, who rode his first DJ in 1992, got a special award this year as the rider who had finished the most DJ Rallies.
Third place was filled by Martin Kaiser on a 1934 500cc Sunbeam, with 411. Fourth was Mike Venables (1933 BSA Blue Star) on 473, and fifth was Ryan Duncan (1934 500cc Norton 18) on 475.
This year, there were 53 finishers from 76 entrant riders. Benita Palmer, riding a 1935 250cc Rudge Rapid, was the highest-placed of the five female entrants, finishing 27th overall. Justin Langley (1936 500cc Ariel Red Hunter) was the highest placed of the nine first-time entrants, taking 15th position.
The oldest rider was Clifford le Roux (87), who rode a 1936 AJS and finished 49th. The oldest motorcycle was the 1921 1 000cc Harley Davidson, ridden by Hans Coertse with his daughter, Camilla Hyson, in the sidecar. They placed 14th.
Neville Smith, the oldest entrant at 89, was involved in a collision on the way to the start and ended up in hospital with five broken ribs. Another competitor, Jaycee van Rooyen, gave up his ride to look after his friend.
Trevor Binder, the father of MotoGP riders Brad and Darryn, was again a competitor on the DJ, finishing 31st on his 1925 600cc Indian Scout.
The organisers of this year’s event, particularly route director Martin Davis, came in for high praise, with Larina MacGregor taking over the clerk of the course role from Gwyneth Cronje only two weeks before the start.
The weather was reasonable for riding, with some light rain and low temperatures, but the heavy rains in KwaZulu-Natal had fallen the day before the start, so the route was unaffected.
“It was a most enjoyable event, with tough competition over an excellent route,” is how winner Gavin Walton summed up the two days.
Brian Noik, the chairperson of the promoters, the Vintage and Veteran Club of South Africa (VVC), thanked the main sponsor, iTOO, for their support and all their benefactors and supporters.
“We also wish Neville Smith a speedy recovery and thank Hans Hartmann of KwaZulu-Natal Private Ambulance for the quick response to the accident. We also thank the municipalities, police, and traffic departments from the areas the route went through for their support.”
• Article by Roger Houghton
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