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GSM CAR CLUB OF SOUTH AFRICA
April 2004
Newsletter No: 15
Hi GSM fans
Well, although I had hinted in our October newsletter that someone
else would write the next one, here I am once again to tell you what
has happened in our club during the last six months!
The Panorama Wiele Skou turned out to be a bumper show and a large
success, even for our little club.
We were given a very good site, close to the entrance, and we could
not be missed by anyone that Attended the show on that day. Our
usual "backbone members" and their cars were there, putting up an
impressive display of about eight cars. The very interesting albums,
put together by Peanuts, proved to Attract an unusual amount of
attention.
Where The GSM Motor Company is almost fifty years old, 2007 will be
the 50th anniversary of Darts, with Flamingos only five years later,
we are at a stage where the younger generation knows nothing about
our extremely proud history! The more senior visitors, people in
there late fifties and sixties, are looking at some sort of "Kit
Car" built in a garage by some enthusiast. UNFORTUNATELY OUR
MOTORING CORESPONDENTS ALSO FALL IN THE YOUNGER GENERATION, TOTALLY
IGNORING A LEGEND OF WHICH THEY KNOW NOTHING! Part of our job, is to
get these very important people to realize that they actually missed
a unique part of South African history, which may never be repeated.
As a matter of fact IT CAN NEVER BE REPEATED!
I am probably prejudiced but I fail to understand how our own
citizens can get so exited by foreign imports, that were blown into
the weeds, by GSM Darts and Flamingos on every race track in South
Africa and even abroad, by a car designed and built right here in
Cape Town, South Africa, by South Africans!
Right next to the GSM stand, there was a collection of Rotary
Mazda's, proudly owned by Peanuts Fouché, also attracting a fair
amount of interest, with the pretty R100 earning itself a trophy for
one of the most original cars on show. Congrats Peanuts! Well Done!
Thanks Hein van der Watt for the hard work and effort put into this
show on behalf of its members.
Now we come to out Christmas Party on the 22nd November. Well, Rose
and her supporters did a wonderful job of preparing and decorating
the hall, Peanuts phoned and invited personally……..Thanks Rose and
Peanuts and the few people that turned up! A great time was had by
about 20% of our members! I suppose it is a bad time, at the end of
the year, but REALLY!!!!
Enough said.
Financially, things are looking great. We have about R9,000.00 in
the bank, all the Dart windscreen have been sold. We still have a
few GSM caps, Dart bonnet badges, Dart springs, front and rear,
etc..
The Dart windscreen posted to Canada did not make it in one piece!
Yours truly is not a packaging expert! Dr Ted Carden agrees! Our
next order for Dart screens need only to be for five, not ten
screens as before.
Thanks to all members that renewed their membership, also the new
people that have joined, we are again around fifty members, AND
PLEASE TAKE NOTE, WITHOUT YOU WE ARE NOTHING! WE NEED YOU. KINDLY
EXCUSE THE MOANING!
In closing………We get to the Gariep Dam Nationals. When we originally
mentioned the possibility, the enthusiasm was great! As time got
closer to the 19th March, interest started to decrease….. Around two
weeks before the due date I was keen on canceling the whole weekend,
until Peanuts said "Piet, there is something you don't seem to
understand. If nobody goes, I will be going!" That remark prompted
me to do exactly the same.
Eventually, seven cars left early on Friday morning from Cape Town.
We met at the Engen One Stop outside Brackenfell and set off! Well,
not quite. Rose and Patricia in a Dart, Kozé Kellerman and Christina
in a Dart, Ronnie Roberts who owns a Flamingo that he is rebuilding,
in his Hyundai station wagon, and Zim Geldenhuy and Martie with his
Flamingo on Peanut's trailer, towed by the Fouché Engineering V6
bakkie, myself in Bob van Niekerks daughters silver Flamingo.
Peanuts was still rebuilding his Dart, almost ready, only waiting
for Tiger Wheel & Tyre to set the wheel alignment, back in Parow.
Slowly, the five of us set of to the Nuy Kelder, where we met Louis
Buys and Talita in his Dart.
All of this went well until we got to Touws Rivier where we decided
to have breakfast and wait for Peanuts and John. Still enjoying
delicious bacon and eggs, Peanuts arrived, well above the speed
limit, never having driven a Dart on a long trip before, and leaving
Ronnie Roberts who waited for him at the tunnel far behind. He says
the bends in the Hex River Pass were a ball! At this stage Louis
Buys was having some running repairs done to the A-frame, with his
Dart hooked up behind his Kombi.
While all this was happening, Clarry Taylor accompanied by Madge,
was eating up the kms towards Gariep in an air conditioned, diesel
powered BMW limo towing his Dart on a trailer.
Ronnie Roberts and Marion were bringing up the rear, just incase
some bits fell off, and they had to pick up the pieces. With a small
glitch here and there, nothing too serious, we reached Gariep jus
after dart, fortunately just missing a heavy Karoo rain storm, and
all the thunder and lightning the folk from the Cape are not used
to.
After a very welcome shower and a fabulous dinner of Karoo lamb, we
met Ron Langfield, Flamingo from Port Elizabeth and Johan Barnard,
Dart from East London. I was fortunate to have opted to stay in the
Hotel, while the rest of our entourage preferred to stay in the
Aventura Camp site.
Pitching tents on wet grass after dark, on soggy ground can not be a
pleasure! Strangely nobody complained at all!
We were fortunate to have Dr Con Joubert from Bloemfontein and his
wife join us for the day. Con was the original founder of the GSM
Club. Our website also has very interesting info, supplied by him,
of Flamingos that he has rebuilt. Con is also looking for another
Flamingo to rebuild. He remains an avid enthusiast, and has promised
to help with the 2007 meeting at Gariep. More of that later.
Saturday morning, after breakfast we had a meeting at the Hotel,
handed each of the delegates a beautiful glass vase, engraved with
sand blasting, while they told us about their cars, and themselves.
At this stage we were joined by Hendrik Strydom that started off
from Tarkastad with his Flamingo. The car did not make it, he had
trouble with his car's differential, and left it en route. A while
later Mias Engelbrecht arrived, also from Cape Town. Mias worked at
the Paarden Eiland plant as a welder in the 60's.
Saturday afternoon, and the heavens opened again, more thunder and
lightning and wet cars and tents. Although it rained we persevered
and had a very pleasant braai, and lots of stories were told.
The weather on Sunday was not too bad, but after more rain the
campers decided to pack up and leave for home shortly after lunch.
It is a pity that the ten cars promised from Johannesburg did not
turn up, and few of the very nice Cape Town cars did not attend, I
enjoyed the weekend, as did everyone else. The car I drove never
missed a beat and was a pleasure. Finally everyone got home safely,
via a visit to the Majiesfontein hotel. I can assure you guys who
were not there that you were seriously missed and we hope to see you
there in 2007.
2007 marks the 50th anniversary of the Dart, and we would like to
see a minimum of 50 GSM car at Gariep. It is three years down the
line, but three years goes very quickly when you are building or
restoring a car. Accommodation is varied, camping or hotel, and not
too expensive, so please guys lets get our backsides in gear and
start serious planning now! Don't leave it to the last minute. On
the other hand, if it wasn't for the last minute, a lot of things
would never get done.
An opinion that our club needed a proper meeting to be held was
expressed and we have decided to do just that. Although Peanuts and
I try to do the best we can for the club and its members, it is high
time we heard from the members what they would like to see done.
Our next outing, will be a bring and braai, at Bob van Niekerk's
home in Hout Bay, on the 2nd May 2004. Next to his home Bob has a
large plot which lends itself to a picnic style get together, where
the meeting will also be held and opinions can be shared.
It would be appreciated if you could attend with your GSM, but your
presence is more important if the car can not be used. Lets meet at
Bobs place at Wellway Hout Bay at around 11.00, have a braai, and
the a "formal" meeting.
See you all on the 2nd. Drive safely. Kind regards.
Piet van Niekerk
Secretary |