V8’s tear up track
It seemed that Ronnie’s car was aptly named as the ‘Beast,’ as just when everyone thought the night was up for the car after two major faults, the ‘Beast’ rose up again once more, eventually allowing him to race away with the trophy.
The deep purr of the two-litre engines was muffled by the sound of pure petrol-head intoxication as the V8-powered monsters bellowed around the oval track on Saturday night.
Adrenaline levels rose when the cars came alive. Their echoes resonated throughout town and gave the crowd a real taste of high-speed indulgence.
With six different classes gracing the track, spectators’ passion for speed was well and truly fuelled by the barrage of burnt rubber and smoking exhaust systems.
Hot rod driver, Hendrik van der Merwe stole the show in this division, as he stuck to his guns, and eventually took and held the lead, after Fred van Dyk crashed out in the final heat. Had he not crashed out during the first heat, his second and first place finishes in the second and third heat would have granted him top honours at the end of the event.
Jeanne Bruin managed to win the 1600 stock division confidently, but a good talking point was up-and-coming new driver, Cathleen de Jager, who managed an excellent fourth place finish, and sent a clear message to the drivers near the top. Watch out guys, there is a new driver on the track.
André Greyvensteyn managed to take the second and third heats of the 1660 class, which guaranteed him his place on at the top of pole position. The excellent Wimpie Bezuidenhout and Liefie Bester followed him on the pole in second and third place respectively.
The two-litre class races gave the crowd a real showing of close racing. Drivers battled to get the inside line, and afforded themselves the opportunity to take chances by overtaking on the outside; a true motoring spectacle. Pieter Bester showed his son, Liefie that his father was still one of the best in town, and managed to claim the overall first place in the class.
Tiaan Buys the young magic driver, tore his way around the track, and showed his immense potential, as he grasped the first place position in the rookie division.
The main course of the night was served up in the form of two V8-monsters, driven by Ronnie and Panna Greyling.
It seemed that Ronnie’s car was aptly named as the ‘Beast,’ as just when everyone thought the night was up for the car after two major faults, the ‘Beast’ rose up again once more, eventually allowing him to race away with the trophy.
Legend of the Oval Track, Stefaan ‘Boet’ Buys, managed to pull a first heat for himself despite racing against much bigger cars than his own.
“It was a great race, and a great night. All of the people who didn’t come down missed out a lot,” he said.
He encouraged other Newcastillians to join in the fun, as a night at the Oval Track proved to be a lovely outing for the whole family.
