Record turnout of cars in the park this year
This year's Cars in the Park (CITP) motoring extravaganza, held recently at the Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria, saw the biggest turn-out of vehicles on show and spectators in the 39-year history of the event.
Frik Kraamwinkel, The Pretoria Old Motor Club’s chief organiser of this year’s event, said the club estimated that more than 15 000 people either had vehicles on show or came to Zwartkops as a spectator.
“It is estimated that between 2 500 and 3 000 vehicles were on show, with paid attendance of almost 8 000 people, while we had 130 other exhibitors, food stalls and the like,” added the hard-working Kraamwinkel.
This year’s Cars in the Park had the benefit of excellent weather and no significant clashing events, but it also underlined the growing number of people involved in securing our motoring heritage, as most of the exhibitors are members of motor clubs. More than 120 clubs were represented this year.
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The Pretoria Old Motor Club (POMC), which was established in 1966, organised its first Cars in the Park in 1980 at its clubhouse on the Pioneer Museum property in Silverton, Pretoria, and club members displayed nine cars.
One-make clubs were invited to display their vehicles at this annual show from 1982. More than 80 clubs were represented by 2005 and members displayed about 2 000 cars, which packed out the Silverton premises, so the POMC realised a change in venue was essential to cater for further growth. The event was moved to Zwartkops Raceway in 2006 and this has proved an ideal venue.
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Substantial changes have been made to the parking facilities in recent years and an additional access road was in operation this year. According to the organisers there were very few complaints about access to the show. “Our commercial exhibitors were also happy,” added Kraamwinkel.
Partinform claims to have the “cream of the crop” in terms of branded, quality automotive products, so the involvement of this organisation was a further indicator of the ongoing success of Cars in the Park.
Currently it is the biggest motor show in South Africa in terms of vehicles on display, and also the largest event of the year at Zwartkops Raceway.
