SuperHatch was privileged enough to be part of the very first Festival day at Zwartkops on Wednesday the 21st of March… Human Rights day, and it is our Human right to go racing. The day was so busy and with the carnival type atmosphere, we had so many new spectators to see us do our thing, and loads of interest to.
With 37 cars on the grid, a host of new drivers and cars including a new Renault Megane, another lady driver, a national 15 year old Bike rider, another 15 year old member and a few new members and new cars, as well as a number of drivers who have been missing racing due to other commitments, the day was going to be great.
The morning warm up was a turn up for the books with the Wealth Avenue Golf of George Economides topping the time sheets in class A and overall with a 1:15:500, followed by youngster Hilton van Nieuwenhuizen in the ASAP Peugeot and the ADL Ceilings man Andre de Lange.
Class B had the previous race winner on top. ASAP Renault Clio Scois Joubert on a 1:18:108 ahead of Nic Martin in the RDG Opel Kadett and Ishmael Baloyi in his brand new TAR Honda Civic in third.
Class C was all about Vernon Stoltz in his AFW Engineering Opel Kadett, who was quickest with a time of 1:19:280 ahead of Pieter Pienaar in his black Golf and newcomer to the series lady race Louise Joubert in 3rd in her Carbon King Ford Fiesta.
Class D’s only entrant Andrew Heyes did well to post a time of 1:21:950 in his Ford Lazer.
RACE ONE
As usual, the top 5 per class from the previous race finishing order were reversed giving us a very different grid to warm up times, van Nieuwenhuizen was on pole in A with Garland next to him in his JSR Honda Civic. Everyone got off to a good clean start and class A made a clean break from the rest of the classes within no time, Mark du Toit (TAR Honda Civic) got to the front and van Nieuwenhuizen was staying with him, while de Lange and Garland were fighting for 3rd. Economides had a problem and Chris Davison (Opel SuperBoss) and Mel Spurr (ASAP, George Economides, Harness co, Agip, Drivelines Opel Corsa) got past, then Garland made a mistake into turn 8 and took himself and de Lange off and Spurr and Davison got through, they crossed the line with du Toit taking the flag from van Nieuwenhuizen and Davison.
With class B having 17 cars it is the class to watch. Raynere Joubert (ASAP Renault Megane) was on pole and alongside him was Jaco Kriel in the Superboss Auto spares Opel Superboss. Another nice clean start from the boys in B and the battle started immediately between Joubert, Martin and Pierre Lubbe (Harness Company Golf) and Ryan Quan-Chai in his Leeson Panelbeaters Honda Civic joining in the fun to after a long layoff. The front runners made a break from the rest of the field, but the racing throughout was tough and great to watch.
Class C’s front row had Walter Menin (West cars Golf) on pole with Pieter Pienaar alongside him, Walter took full advantage of his position and took it to the flag, while James Fuller (New Age Tyre Specialists Golf) and Vernon Stoltz battled all the way for 2nd and 3rd. Andrew Heyes gets quicker and quicker each time he is out on track and was in the mix of class C.
RACE TWO
And the front row was all about the black cars. De Lange was on pole and Spurr alongside him, the two of them had a great start and pulled a very small gap on the rest of class A for the first lap and a bit, du Toit and van Nieuwenhuizen were chasing hard though, and Davison and Garland had a coming together in turn 1 that caused Davison to retire immediately although Garland managed to get going again. There were more problems as van Nieuwenhuizen got stuck in 4th gear. At the flag it was de Lange first ahead of du Toit, van Nieuwenhuizen and a fast improving George Eysselein in 4th. Our guest driver Chris ‘Krutch’ Wall, editor of Speed & Sound, came home 6th in class in the Lenses Only Ford Fiesta ST.
Class B had the Superboss of Kriel on pole alongside Quan-Chai, it was just a matter of time though until Joubert and Martin got through, Lubbe retired with engine failure and Kriel completed the podium a great result.
Class C front row went to Pienaar and Menin, James this time, and the class C battle resumed as it has for the last half of last year and again this year with James Menin and Vernon Stoltz, going side by side for much of the race, Fuller and Walter Menin were there to, newcomer Joubert rounded up the 5th spot, with Class D driver Heyes finishing 24th on the road.
Results for the day
Class A – Mark du Toit, Andre de Lange, Hilton van Nieuwenhuizen
Class B – Scois Joubert, Nic Martin, Ryan Quan-Chai
Class C – James Fuller, Vernon Stoltz, James Menin
Class D – Andrew Heyes
The next round of the SuperHatch championship will take place at Zwartkops on the 26th of May as the only non-National category on the National WesBank Super Series race day.
But in April we will be doing our bit for charity again, when we go on our annual fishing weekend 20-22 April and this year we will assisting animals in need.
See you all trackside.