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GSM CAR CLUB OF SOUTH AFRICA
22 March 2006
Newsletter No: 24
Hi GSM fans and members
After closing off a very busy 2005 and a rather energetic start to
2006, it has been a while since we as members have done anything
together! Well, most of us enjoyed the well attended Christmas
party, but we have not involved our cars on a run.
The “historic weekend” of Piper day was also well attended by
members, and many of them brought cars. Thanks to all that attended
and a special thank you to those who attended with their cars.
Special mention to Vic Levin with possibly one of the oldest Darts
around. Chassis # 5809.
This particular car was the first Dart ever to be entered in the RDM
9 hour races at Grand Central in Johannesburg. The car was
originally a striking blue colors, owned by Tony Kotze who entered
it in the 9 hour, to be co-driven with Fritz Le Roux. Equipped with
the Willment overhead inlet valve conversion on the 1172cc 100E Ford
Engine, it ran very well for the first few hours. Although I was
part of the “pit crew” 1958 was so long ago that only the important
facts are still in the memory bank. I can’t even refresh my memory
as Fritz sadly passed away a few months ago. At what I think was
about halfway into the 9 hours, the gallant little motor lost power,
and came into the pits with a blown cylinder head gasket. Under
normal circumstances that would or should have been that! But, that
was in the late fifties and one never just gave up! Somewhere a
gasket was produced and the “pit crew” proceeded to change the
gasket. In what I remember took less than an hour, the Dart was on
its way again! Running sweetly but not for too long. Normally one
would re-torque the cylinder head bolts, but there was no time for
such trivial details and the gasket blew again!
This time it could not be changed again, so the overheated little
motor was filled with water and out it went! About five laps later
it was back in the pits! It was not boiling ‘cause there was
absolutely no water in it. We had a forty liter can of water in the
pits, this was poured over the redhot motor and away it went again.
This was repeated about every four of five laps, and the car
finished the race, but way out of the results. The engine got so
hot, the plug wires melted and the insulation ran down the side of
the block! How it never ran bearings and threw a rod, no one will
ever know!
Zim Geldenhuys green Flamingo was also present, looking and sounding
good. Zim recently had a “film company” hire his car for a shoot,
and just ask him how they manhandled the car. It cost Zim a pretty
penny getting it back to its pristine condition again. So, be
warned……., if someone wants your car for a shoot, make sure you know
exactly what they are going to do with it.
Peter du Toit, the owner of the Zwartkops Circuit in Gauteng, owns
four Darts, and he brought a very good looking blue Alfa Dart,
around a ’59 model down with him that was raced by himself. This car
was raced at Zwartkops the previous weekend by 5fm DJ Sasha
Martinengo, who won his class in it. Peter has also joined our
section of the Club.
John Damant and 002 GSM EC, another very neat red Famingo also
attended the Killarney Piper gathering. Congratulations John, the
car looks great and I certainly hope it will become a regular at our
get-togethers.
Negotiations with various companies are going ahead as far as the
Golden Jubilee is concerned, more about the detail once we have more
finality. I can assure you we are cooking-up exciting things. You
will approve. The only problem seems to be that 2007 is approaching
much too fast!
Sunday 23rd April seems to be an event free day as far as racing is
concerned, and I would like to suggest a “Brunch Run” with our cars.
More details at a later stage.
Clarry and Madge are touring Europe. They are in Greece at the
moment; hopefully they will soon be back with us.
In closing, please let me have some stories about you and/or your
cars for the newsletter. I am sure some strange things happen to you
while driving your unusual cars at times. Let’s hear about it. I
recently talked with a young lady whose father actually raced a Dart
in the 50’s and she was surprised to learn that the Dart and
Flamingo were designed and built in Cape Town! Just shows you.
Kind regards
Piet van Niekerk |