Darling Brew hosted the start of the first round of the 2022 Western Cape Club Rally Championship on Saturday 5 February.
It was great to welcome 25-year-old Subaru Somerset West as the main sponsor of the event among a host of very valued sponsors. But while officials, marshals and teams found themselves extremely busy preparing for the 09:30 start a few individuals avoided the heat.
Word spread among the senior (dare not call them old) former competitors that Darling Brew represents the ideal setting at which to show some support for the local rally championship, and most thought it a crazy idea to think that these veterans of the sport would bother to show up at all.
Also happy to report was the presence of the very first South African rally driver champion, Ewold van Bergen and his wife Minota-Ann, from Langebaan, showing the “youngsters” how by pitching up first on Saturday morning.
Van Bergen won the very first SA Rally Championship in 1960, then added three more to his tally – the final one with his wife navigating in the famous TK (Toyota Killer) Datsun P510 1600 SSS. They are still the only couple ever to win the SA Championship and Minota-Ann was the first Springbok lady in rallying. Add the many manufacturer championships won as Datsun/Nissan competition manager and the list quickly fills with remarkable feats and accomplishments.
OK, he was early too, and brought a surprise visitor with so credit to 16x Western Province Rally Drivers Champion and 10x South African Rally Drivers Champion Serge Damseaux for having imported his former navigator, Vito Bonafede, from Belgium for the occasion. Darling’s Adrian Pheiffer, the WPMC Killarney wizard, also dropped in to greet his fellow legends and actually spent some time spectating at the start! Thank you to Roy and Michelle Pheiffer for taking the time to assist.
And it did not stop there as Juan Louw, Herman Jonker, Chris Truter, Derek Sturgess, John Peiser, Shaun Jones, Thorsten Pey, Mark Palmer, Brady Dabner, Shane Williams, Abduraghman Amlay, Craig Gray, Rossouw Eksteen and Alie Niewoudt really made this a unique gathering.
Even had two presidents meet on the day, with Cape Peninsula Motorcycle and Car Club (CPMCC) president Robert Marle and Witzenberg Motor Club (WBMK) president Pierre van der Westhuizen swopping notes again. Wally Dolinschek put a rare public appearance while wife Joyce Dolinschek found herself officiating.
The meet for five minutes became quite a few hours with the super sharp wit of Ewold having everyone in stitches.
To the organising team led by Billy Thorpe and Robert Marle, compliments on a tough event.
To Danie Heese and Subaru Somerset West congratulations on your first 25 years!
To event co-sponsors Darling Brew, Marshals Delicious Minerals, Grain Carriers, CEJ Plant Hire, ValueCrete Readymix, Polyplastix, Hello Darling, Dynamic Plant Solutions, Amandla Construction and A&A Powder Coating a round of applause.
It was an honour to spend time in the company of these legends of the sport!
Expect an increase in numbers for the CPMCC Porterville Rally on 26 March.
Always a popular event, 2022 should be even better still!
