Watch: How over 1 100 Jimny owners made history at their Western Cape gathering

Since the original, LJ10 generation’s introduction in 1970, the Suzuki Jimny has achieved cult status, globally and locally. However, as a friend, and fellow Jimny owner, of mine argues (tongue in cheek, mind): “It’s not a cult, it’s a lifestyle.” Having owned a Jimny since 2022, I wholeheartedly agree. Apart from its retro-inspired styling and go-anywhere capability, there’s much more to owning this characterful compact 4×4 — it’s the community.

Have you ever driven behind a Jimny and seen an oncoming one flashing its headlamps, with the driver waving enthusiastically? That’s for the Jimny in front of you, and just one of the unwritten Jimny rules. In fact, I’ve become so accustomed to doing the so-called ‘Jimny Wave’, at times, I’ve found myself doing it when driving a test car for work.

Non-Jimny owners will be forgiven for not quite understanding the hype surrounding this little off-roader. It’s arguably very much the case of “hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie” (they don’t know what we know), to quote South Africa’s first UFC middleweight champion, Dricus du Plessis. However, attend a Jimny Gathering, and you might just get it.

The inaugural Jimny Gathering was held in 2023 in the quaint Free State town of Clarens. Nearly 800 Jimnys, of all generations, from across the country were present. It was a blast, with owners, including myself, and their loved ones celebrating this Suzuki’s long-standing heritage, while setting a new Guinness World Record — for the most cars to switch on their headlamps simultaneously — in the process. Following the event, the anticipation for another was high.

A year later, Suzuki South Africa finally announced a second Jimny Gathering would take place in 2025, from September 25-28, in the Western Cape. We were excited.

With the rear seats folded, a decade-long friend and I loaded our luggage and road-trip essentials, including a camping fridge, in a Tetris-like arrangement into my fourth-generation 3-door GLX. Dedicated playlist loaded, we set off from Cape Town for Peregrine Farm Stall in Elgin, our first stop, to meet up with other members of the Jimny family.

Initially, the drive to our destination in the Outeniqua Mountains was smooth sailing, with the ‘Flying Dutchman’ — the name given to my car (another rule) after it caught some unexpected air while traversing the Atlantis Dunes with a bit more throttle than planned — keeping steady pace with our convoy. However, shortly after a fuel stop in Swellendam, a stone hit the windscreen, and the crack originating from it continued to expand. This did take some wind out of our sails.

With my co-driver having taken over the helm, I Googled a temporary fix. Now, while I’m cautious of following advice shared on internet forums, with what little in the way of materials we could source at the time, we had to. Although unconventional, applying nail glue to the crack and sticking duct tape over it would do the trick until we got back in the Mother City.

We finally arrived at Louvain Guest Farm, settled in and explored the grounds. A highlight was the Heritage Display, where each generation of Jimny was showcased. We joined the evening’s festivities, well-deserved cold beverages in hand, before turning in after an eventful first day.

The Friday kicked off with some eagerly awaited off-roading. Low range engaged, we scaled the adjacent mountain — as slow as possible, as fast as necessary — towards a viewing point. Although I’ve traversed more technically challenging tracks with my Jimny, I was thankful the route was more moderate; allowing even the most novice 4×4 driver, myself included, to join in. The route ended at the Woodville Trading Store. We spent the remainder of the afternoon recharging for the evening’s entertainment, which included a silent disco, and a braai at our glamping site with friends.

Well rested, we were up before the break of dawn for the headline event on Saturday. With the second Jimny Gathering, the Japanese automaker’s local arm aimed to set yet another Guinness World Record — this time for the most car doors closed at the same time.

Now, to qualify as an official Guinness World Record, 250 vehicles had to participate, with at least one door of each vehicle closed within five seconds after the starting signal. However, on September 27, a whopping 1 127 Jimnys were in attendance!

Following performances from local musicians Loki Rothman and Arno Carstens, and watching the first-ever Jimny Gathering Pageant, the time came for the Guiness World Record attempt. The countdown began.

Participants at the ready, the signal sounded and audible thunks could be heard across the field as doors were slammed shut. We waited in anticipation for Guinness World Records’ representative to announce if the record had been set. It had! A total of 1 838 doors were closed!

The celebrations continued into the evening, at the Suzuki Safari Town Music Festival in Oudtshoorn – the lineup including Karen Zoid, Jeremy Loops, Spoegwolf and Early B, among many others. Open to everyone, a non-Jimny owner seated next to us inquisitively asked about Jimny Gathering. He seemed to get it. “Man, now I want a Jimny,” he said after we told him about everything we’d been up to.

Heading back home the next morning was bittersweet. Like the previous Jimny Gathering, the second was truly memorable. With a history spanning over five decades, the Jimny has ingrained itself in car culture, and an event like this establishes just how big a following it has in our country. When the next Jimny Gathering will take place remains to be seen. However, the Jimny community will undoubtedly be ready.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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