Legends of sport connect
It is one of those pinch me once in a lifetime moments when one gets, not only to attend a dinner in Kariega at the only technical high school in South Africa to offer motorsport as a school sport, but also to rub shoulders with some of motorsports most iconic legends, many from the Eastern Cape.
The brainchild of Rudolf de Vos, together with motoring veteran and ex VW race engineer, Mike Barnard and Pierre Van Rensburg, Chairman of the Concept Car Crew, the evening was a double celebration. Firstly, to present the school with the FIA President’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award Motorsport South Africa won last year for their outstanding commitment to the implementation of diverse and inclusive practices and activities that foster equitable, sustainable, and measurable change and secondly to honour nine of South Africa’s absolute racing legends.
With Colin Hastie on the couch the evening stretched over four hours with nostalgic conversation and banter between Geoff Mortimer (20 Rally wins,1 SA Championship), Serge Damseaux (74 Rally wins 10 SA Championships between 1989 to 2007) , Hannes Grobler (8 Rally wins 2 SA Championships, 14 Off road wins in a row), Terry Moss (Team manager, 31 years in racing and mentor to Tschops), Tschops Sipuka (2003 FVW Germany, first black South African Motorsport Champion to represent his country at the international championships, 25-hour cup race at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium, Sportsman of year 2002), Jan Habig (35 Rally wins, 6 SA Championships SA Titles), Enzo Kuun ( 1986 – 2016 20 Rally wins, 2 SA Championships, 5 Sasol wins), Hergen Fekken ( 10 Rally wins, 2 SA Championships 2008 & 2009, Transvaal Champions 1995, Joined VW 2001, 2008 and 2009 – Mega Wins – 25% success rate , Tara Rally – 2008 + 2009 win) and Chris Aberdein (Won first Turbo Cup event, team mate of Sarel van der Merwe and Terry Moss).
“It really was a last minute flash in the pan idea seeing if we could call some of our oldest friends to come and support the school and the MIWA Motor Mech Competition and Alles Op Wiele show which was taking place on the Saturday,” says Barnard. He says they all jumped on the phone to see who was available and were delighted at the enthusiastic response. “Our special thanks go to our main sponsor, Container 4 U from Humansdorp, without the support of owners Rudolf and Sylvia de Vos the evening would not have been possible,” he says.
Kola du Toit, Principal of Daniel Pienaar Technical High School, speaking from a heart overflowing with pride, admiration and gratitude, commented, “This was a truly magnificent weekend – unprecedented in the almost 130-year history of our school. The Down Memory Lane dinner (hosted on Friday evening) was a historical moment. To have nine racing legends on a stage together was incredible, and to have Mr Anton Roux, Chairman of MSA here to hand over the FIA award to Daniel Pienaar was unforgettable.
We were also privileged to have Miss Martina Biene, MD of Volkswagen, on stage. DP has enjoyed tremendous support from Volkswagen since even before the school started occupying the new campus in 1975, therefore it was wonderful to have Miss Biene here when we received the FIA award from Mr Roux.
The evening was dotted with fun anecdotal recollections and proved the old adage – Legends never die — they just reconnect and remind everyone just why motorsport is fantastic.