Why was this auction of interest to me, a petrolhead? Well, our very own international race track, Kyalami was one of the properties up for auction. The fate of this marvelous race track was hanging in the balance.
The few motoring journalists that attended the event as well as the many watching via live streaming were all nervous and anxious to find out who would buy Kyalami…
After some time of watching numerous other properties fall under the hammer lot 25 was up, Kyalami. The tension in the room was felt throughout all of us. Would a property developer purchase it and turn it into another mall or housing estate? Time stood still as we watched an emotional video depicting the history of Kyalami…
The farm Bothasfontein, better known as Kyalami, is a 72 hectare property in Midrand. Kyalami (My home in Zulu) is a motor racing circuit and was first opened in 1961, the circuit has been used for various Grand Prix and Formula One races and has hosted the South African Grand Prix many times. On 6 June 2014, it was announced that Kyalami will be auctioned off on 24 July without reserve. On 17 July 2014, it was announced that, after a High Court Application, the reserve price for the auction on 24 July 2014 would be revised and set at R200,000,000.00, that’s two hundred million rand, fifty million less than Zumas new pad.
High Street Auction Company lead auctioneer Joff van Reenen opens the bid at the reserve price of R200 million rand. ‘Do I hear 201 million?’ he shouts out. ‘201 million to you sir’ he says. We all look around, scanning the room for any indication of who just placed that bid? Just then a representative on the phone shouts out R205 million. Joff calls it and asks for 206 million. ‘Going once, going twice, 206 million.’ Nothing, the room is silent the first bidder is out. ‘Sold for 205 million rand to the man on the phone’ Joff shouts. Man on the phone? Who is this man on the phone? All of this took less than 5 minutes.
We motoring scribes start tweeting and curiously start asking questions about who just bought our beloved race track. A press conference soon followed where as expected the first question asked was who bought it.
Lance Chalwin-Milton, Joint MD at High Street Auctions confirmed that Porsche South Africa has purchased the famous racing circuit. The room erupts with a loud cheer and applause. A various number of Kyalamis old veteran commentators, racers and developers all huddled together, hugging and shaking hands, acknowledging the fact that Kyalami will live on.
All remaining doubts were further laid to rest when it was made known to us that Toby Venter, Porsche CEO placed the final bid. Toby is an avid motorsport fan and appreciates the heritage attached to Kyalami.
Porsche SA spokesperson Christo Kruger said they are going to start with giving the track a revamp, “We are so glad that Kyalami can stay a race track and that motor racing can continue in South Africa.”In the future they may look at expanding with office buildings and moving their head offices there said Kruger.
It turned out to be a rather good day for motorsport in South Africa. Kyalami lives on and I encourage you to head out there, take a few laps and experience what many an F1 legend experienced. Go and watch local motorsport, support a sport as old as the car itself. We almost lost a piece of South African history yesterday but thanks to Toby Venter, his love for motorsport and fortunate position has preserved it for all of us to benefit from.
So today, as the weekend starts and as a petrolhead I raise my glass to you Mr Venter and thank you. Long live smoking tyres and wheel to wheel action, long live My Home.
