GSM CAR CLUB OF SOUTH AFRICA

19 March 2003
Newsletter No: 11

Hi all GSM fans left,

Last year I was late with the first newsletter, and if I remember correctly I promised it would not happen again. Well it did not this year I am later still!!!! Sorry…….!

Possibly this is also just due to "human nature". Let me explain my greeting, above, to those who are left. Our little club was resurrected by Peanuts after years of it barely existing, or just in name only. Suddenly, with a flourish new life was blown into the club, we grew to over forty members, started another attempt at a newsletter, had a few breakfast runs, plenty bring and braais and I must say, I enjoyed being involved. I can't speak for the others, but it seems that not everyone was all that enthusiastic. Year number two ended with about forty life and active members, and interest seems to be slipping away. Will we die a slow death again as happened before? I am asking the question in the interest of the club and the members, because I think that apart from digging out a host of cars, the activity and enthusiasm of Peanuts has resulted in what I think was a major improvement in the value of your cars. Never before was a Flamingo advertised at R100,000-00, and Darts at almost R60,000-00 and over! Thanks to John Engelbrecht we have an established website, etc. etc.

After the year end party, a beautiful letter was received by Rose, Peanuts and myself, very much appreciated, but possibly not all the members feel that we are doing things correctly. Well if anyone has a gripe, please let us know…… Maybe we can fix it. I will be sad to see the club deteriorating. Thanks again to all the members who keep the flag flying and attend all our "functions". Like they say "dit is 'n riem onder die hart"!

Last weekend, we had the Killarney meeting in our "boma". This weekend, we will be getting together at Stellenbosch Flying Club for the Centenary Celebration of Aviation. We would like to have as many cars there as possible. If members arrive at the gates before 09.00, on Saturday morning, in their cars, they will be allowed in free of charge. Although the show will stretch over to Sunday as well, cars may be removed from the stand after 16.00 on Saturday. We will have our normal display with our albums and hope to find more info about GSM cars from members of the public.

The weekend after, again a bring and braai! This time at the GSM factory in Diep River. Yes, you read correctly, the GSM factory. The name of the original factory has been registered again, and will be building interesting cars! No news in this letter, you must come and see what is happening. That is where the GT40 is also going to be built. See you there. Please make an effort.

Peanuts has started a major project where he is rebuilding at this moment, one Dart (Willie Meissner Jnr) and at least four Flamingo's, one is already sold. At the same time, John Bam is restoring a car he bought from Joe Booysen, Jan Driedijk is restoring a car from Grant Stephens. Dave Brown is busy with a Flamingo he and Esta have owned for almost forty years, even complete with original hubcaps. What a day to look forward to when all these cars are running again. I am sure the running part is does not do justice to the expectations as all these cars will be in concourse shape. With cars like Clarry's, John Engelbrecht, Hein v.d. Watt, Jim Geldenhuys, Gert le Roux, J.R. Rossouw, Louis Buys, Sidney, John Walters's two cars and Bob's three cars all on the road, wont it be tremendous! Please guys we can't let the club die now! Apart from the cars I just mentioned, there are cars about that can run or be fixed with not a lot of effort. I am thinking of Frikkie le Roux. Rob Gay, who refuses to join the club and I am sure many more. Let's get busy!!!!!

We have not heard too much of our Canadian members, maybe they can report some progress of even a few e-mail photos?

Some years ago, a "national" GSM day was held at Verwoerd Dam, I was wondering whether we should not work towards such a get together again? Lets give members some time, say twelve or eighteen months and arrange something like that again. There are cars all over the county……..lets get them together in one place.

CARS FOR SALE

1. Marie de Lange, Johannesburg, has two Darts.
   One very beautiful car, and one that can be rebuilt.
   Phone No: 011-6094744.

2. Dart 1963 for R45,000.00. Collin at Cell no: 0833262423.

3. Dart 1961 1600 BDA motor - Phone Lew on 011-6403104.

4. Flamingo 1964 - Phone Derek. Phone 041-4032391.

PS: Coming up soon breakfast run to Wijnland Auto museum.

Kind regards

Piet van Niekerk