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GSM CAR CLUB OF SOUTH AFRICA
October 2005
Newsletter No: 22
Hi GSM-fans and others,
In the very recent past, I have often heard complaints that the
newsletter was not received. I think this is a serious problem that
needs attention! Well, what should we do about it? Firstly, I think
that while we have a very competent and willing webmaster, he must
be provided with more information from ourselves. The office will
endeavor to jack-up our communication with Martin Kruger (webmaster)
in Port Elizabeth, who could then update or add to our website more
often, making it more interesting for all of us and other interested
parties as well. Although that basically means I have to pull finger
myself, it most certainly does not leave you, the member, off the
hook altogether. Secondly, Peanuts is working very hard on the “GSM
register”, and would love to receive faxes for e-mails from you
letting him know, why you are a member, where you got or found you
car, its previous history, or as much as you know about it, a
picture, not only of the car, also you and your family and what you
plan to do with it in the future! The cars have been in existence
for almost fifty years and there must be loads of stories, sad and
funny that can be shared with great interest. A special vote of
thanks to Martin for his patience and efforts with our web.
We have just completed one of the busiest periods in a long time.
Three weeks of attending motor shows in a row! Thanks to everyone
for you loyalty and often unbelievable effort braving Western Cape
weather as well as the astronomical price of petrol!
Whales and wheels, Hermanus, once again proved to be a great
success, enjoyed by all. Zim, Hein, Mias, Clarry, John E, Jeff,
Louis, and Bob’s flamingo probably formed the best represented club
on the day. Peanuts managed to bring along a large collection of
rotary engine Mazda’s that generated a large amount of interest,
supported by Koze Kellerman with a range of RX 7 Mazda’s. The new to
be opened Motoring Museum near Franschoek, joined us with a dart
that they own, and a Protea, which was a SA car built in
Johannesburg about six months before the first Dart. Only fourteen
were ever built. (Not a match for the Dart by any means.) The Protea
was awarded a trophy for most original SA car at the show. Thanks
Wayne Harley! We appreciate your support greatly. They also own a
Flamingo.
Classics in the bay, one week later did not enjoy such a large
turnout of GSM’s, but we were visited by Bob van Niekerk, who spent
some time with us. The weather was not quite as good as the previous
weekend, a few light showers, but mainly warm and sunny. Once again
Bob’s Flamingo was joined by Zim, Hein, and then Darts of Clarry,
and Mias with Bobs Dart. Mias took photos and they should soon
appear on the website.
The next weekend, GSM Club was invited to join the Cape Street Rods
at their Concourse at Parow High School. Once again GSMs were
represented by the stalwarts Hein, who won trophy for best Flamingo,
Zim who came close, Bobs Flamingo, Geoff Simpson’s Levy Dart who
also won a trophy for best Levy Dart, Clarry Taylor who won best GSM
Dart, Mias with Bobs Dart and Gert Le Roux. The Mazda rotary’s were
there too, Peanuts, Koze and Hennie Martens with his very neat 323
Rotary. Gert, all on his own represented the GSM Club in the 100
year celebrations at Goodwood while we were in Hermanus. This was in
the form of a procession through the street of Goodwood. Gert’s
daughter Nadia did the driving and was impressed by the way she was
received by the organizers. Thanks Gert, most appreciated. The Parow
event generated a large amount of public interest, and thus rather
good or more than average exposure because of mainly the position,
next to Voortrekker Road Parow, where the cars could easily be seen.
Kindly forgive me if anyone was accidentally left out!
Our next event, and I am sure gratefully to many of our members, the
second last one for the year is the Panorama Wiele Skou on the 5th
of November. This is, as you all know, possibly the biggest show of
the year, and we have been taking part in it regularly. I certainly
hope that all the regulars and then some, will support Hein who
usually organizes this show together with the MultiCar Club. Peanuts
has booked twenty spaces for GSM and Mazda rotary.
All that remains for the rest of the year, will then be our
Christmas Party on the 25th November. Thank goodness that Esta and
Dave Brown are back fro their trip to the UK, and will be able to
assist Rose with the arrangements. The party will take place at the
Multicar Club hall in Parow-North, at 19.30 for 20.00. It seems that
we will repeat last years arrangements, with a charge of R30,00 per
person, which should take care of a “finger snack” meal. Please
bring your own drinks and glasses. Tables and chairs will be
provided. Any queries or assistance to be offered, contact Rose at
930 2852. during normal office hours.
Now, what about Gariep 2007? Well, it’s not too far off, but there
still is a bit of time left. That unfortunately does not apply to
members who are preparing cars for the event, because it seems that
that sort of activity chews up time at a mush faster rate than
normal! So please do not be fooled into PLENTY OF TIME TO GET MY CAR
FINISHED! It is not true!!!!!
There is however some time to get the event organized! May I also
assure you that we are working very very hard on that. To get you up
to date on what has transpired, it looks as if the event will not go
to Gariep, but the venue will be Cape Town. The main reason is that
another “milestone” in South African history will be happening at
the same time. CAR MAGAZINE strangely enough appeared for the first
time in February 1957, selling for 2/6. The 2/6 does not refer to
the 2nd of June, but the price of the book in sterling, the
equivalent of today’s 25 cents. I doubt if you could buy two
“niggerballs” for 25c today! I hope that will not be seen as
racialist. Car Magazine, SA’s most successful motoring magazine, and
SA’s most successful sportscar, at the same time. Peanuts and I met
with the powers that be at CAR, and they have agreed to recognize
the fact that we share this wonderful happening. I am not sure that
too much of the discussions can be revealed, but what I can tell you
is that we have their cooperation, just like we enjoyed in 1957/58
when GSM launched. They are professionals in this field, and where
we would like to have at least ONE HUNDRED GSM CARS from all over
the country it was felt that organizing such a huge event “in the
sticks” would not be wise. Accommodation for example would be
difficult etc. etc. so let’s stay close to the roots of both GSM
sand CAR. The time of year is also still fluid, should be decided
upon as the program of events evolve, taking into account other
motoring events, weather patterns etc. Our website will also connect
up and at some stage link-up with CAR’s website
www.cartoday.com . Our club
will still be planning and running the entire event, with invaluable
input from Dr Con Joubert in Bloemfontein who organized the original
Gariep get together in the eighties I think. We will still be
looking for various sponsors, such as large transporters to bring
cars from Gauteng and elsewhere to Cape Town. A huge amount of work
is still to be done, but this I think is a large breakthrough! Input
and ideas from members will be welcome too. Peanuts and I will be
meeting with other clubs who have done these sort of events before,
and we shall keep you fully informed.
Just in closing we would like to wish you and your loved ones
Compliments of the Season, a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New
year. See you on the 25th at Multicarclub Hall!
Kind regards and thanks for another good GSM year, and a prosperous
2006, and a bumper 2007!
Piet van Niekerk |