Patensie outing and drive test July 2005
We travelled in convoy to Patensie where we had a fun driving test at the parking lot of the KO.OP. packing sheds. This was a fun driving test with 2 cars going at the same time in opposite direction. No reversing or timing .
After the driving test we proceeded to the Ripple-Hill lodge for lunch.
Lunch Menu. Steak.egg & chips with salad and Ice cream & chocolate sauce for desert.
The M.G. Car club was invited to join us on this run as well, providing you come in a classic or vintage car as only classics or vintage cars may compete in the driving test ( N0 Plastics)
Was it the A- Team’s slogan which said :” So nice when it all comes together!.”
The July outing can be hailed as a 3 in 1 success…..or is it a more in one … as it included a good Sunday 100 kms plus outing for the cars ….a driving test ( which turned out to be a memory test for some of our old-time( Alzheimer members) ….a good steak, egg and chips -lunch thrown in ….then to add to the bonus …an opportunity to meet some of the members of the MG Club, who accepted our invitation to come on the Run to Patensie..and then they walked off with all the prizes !
Appreciation must be extended to busy Frikkie who co-ordinated the event and the organization…right down to the end of the event announcement: “ Don’t leave now, the Patensie Co-op have sponsored all the participants with a bag of oranges “ . The latter was sponsored by Anton van Zyl, CEO of the Patensie citrus packing sheds, who also permitted the Club to utilize the parking area at the sheds. We are indeed grateful to him for making these facilities available . Nick, manager of the Ripple Hill Motel, ( i.e the local Patensie watering hole,) and his bar and kitchen staff must be thanked for a great steak, egg and chips meal…and the Gamtoos home grown salad main course … This was topped with that SA favourite menu finale ….ice cream and chocolate sauce.
The MG Club was represented by Roy Harrision in his MGB-GT, Robin and Sylvia Dunstan ( MGB Midget) ; Terry and Lyn Estment in their green MGA and Ronnie and Deirdre van Eck in that potent MGB GT V8.
The most interesting car of the day was certainly that midget red kit car of Hannes Bezuidenhout .A real bit of art work and ingenous engineering with Hannes fitting a Golf 16 00 cc engine in a project that took him over 300 hours to complete . Well done Hannes we hope to see more of you and your wife and that smart kit car.
Least the Scribe again gets wrapped over the knuckles for not mentioning in dispatches the TSCC club members who were present …here is the attendance register (just incase our Sabrina scribe (jimm- ied) lost his attendance list)
Jon and Lesley ( TR7Spider) ; Jimmy and Daria ( TR7); Mike and Anita ( TR7); Godfrey and Jackie (TR7); Frikkie and Carolyn ( TR6) ; Leon and Carol ( in the TR4) ; Deon and Yvonne (in the TR4.) Mike and Lorinda in the ( Spitfire Mark 3) and Bob ( in Ole Yella.)
As can been deduced from the register, members brought out the big TR- guns out of the garage for the trip with all the TR7 in the club honouring the N2 westward. On the way home Four TR7’spassed Ole Yella heading hastily eastward to their respective stables…….Observers could have been of the opinion that it was wragtig a TR7 -Outing. It was a big surprise to see Leon and Carol out in the white TR4. ( It must have taken some doing maneuvering to get the the TR past all the MGs cluttering up the garage !) With Mike, in the red 5-box Spittie, keeping up with the big guns in the convoy, Bob in Ole Yella at 3500rpm, is becoming convinced that the Mark 4 needs an 5-speed box upgrade..
The Driving Test on the packing sheds parking lot was a fun event and thoroughly enjoyed by drivers and spectators alike .( It should be noted that some of the Patensie locals joined spectators to cheer on the Ferrari’s or was it the Ferreira’s? .) Yvonne must be thanked for organizing the prizes for the various fun events included in the driving test. The MG – Ladies : Deirdre, Sylvia and Lyn reigned supreme in the ladies events and were suitably capped, proving that their men allowed them greater freedom and access to the vintage MG cars than the TR men allow with their Triumphs. In the mens section visitor Ronnie van Eck took the honours in the V8* MGB GT , followed by Mike in the immaculate TR7 and Terry Estment in that magnificent green MGA . Well done, to the Engelse Motors !
In this event the le Mans start once again showed up the lack of fitness of some members who profess to attend the local gyms on a regular basis, then the memory span of some of the oldies … . and Frikkie’s GPS system in plotting the mirror-image figure of 8 circuit …….is questionable.
Nevetheless it was a great fun day which was enjoyed by all. Well done Frikkie and all those who made it a GREAT outing .
