Basil van Rooyen GTA

Railway

Re: Basil van Rooyen GTA

Post by Railway » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 15:59

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Last edited by Railway on Tue 11 Mar 2008, 16:03, edited 1 time in total.

Railway

Re: Basil van Rooyen GTA

Post by Railway » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 16:01

That photo of Berrington-Smith's Alfa on a trailer, in the old days to the left by a piece of building there there was a gate. The cars used to go out onto the circuit there onto the back straight of the circuit. In the 70's, would that be correct Hi-Fi ?

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Re: Basil van Rooyen GTA

Post by Hi-Fi » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 16:45

What a memory you have, Railway! As far as I can remember that used to be the old pre race paddock and was all broken bricks, stones and dirt. I think you had to drive around a public toilet and through the gate to get in there

Railway

Re: Basil van Rooyen GTA

Post by Railway » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 18:07

Hi-Fi wrote: What a memory you have, Railway! As far as I can remember that used to be the old pre race paddock and was all broken bricks, stones and dirt. I think you had to drive around a public toilet and through the gate to get in there


I suppose there are things one remembers more than others. The first major thing I remember about Killarney was the Dunlop bridge. When you crossed the track towards the infield via the bridge as the first time I walked to Killarney I entered through the gates by BP, was that old double dekker bus that used to be close to the pit entrance.

The reason why I remember that pre-race lane section at the back was because I had gone to Killarney in search of a racing Can Am. I had no idea what V8 was then. I saw a car that had a similar shape and followed it to that spot where it parked waiting to enter the track with others. I walked up to the car which was idling, had Rostyles I remember that and Racecourse Chevrolet on it a white car. I told the driver who had an open face helmet that I liked this car, that our neighbour took us to school in one and that one day I will buy one. He grinned and off he went. His name was Ian Little. There were three of them another 4 door SL driver was Ian Graer. The other 4 door was a Tony Horner his was a Firenza GT. So that was where I used to hang out just to hear the cars close up even idling.

I think when one has a fascination for something it becomes very real and such moments normally stick If you asked me about Anglia’s, Escorts and the like from then I was completely Chevrolet/Vauxhall religious so I’d have to go read up to remind myself of anything I saw then relating to that.

There are many others like me. Some just moved through the era and took up fishing maybe. Others maybe went further and stayed with cars. This is what I have always meant about the souls on the “other side of the fence”.

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Re: Basil van Rooyen GTA

Post by Hi-Fi » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 18:17

Lol, Ja, it's great to have those memories. You know, Ian Little is the motoring editor of The Tygerberger. You should email him and have a chat.

That old BP bus was like a landmark at Killarney. Do you remember the old World War 2 St. Johns ambulance, that grey and white thing that was parked there for years near the pits? I can remember when they put in the subway under he main straight and also when they started building the clubhouse. Hell, they took years getting that thing finished.

Railway

Re: Basil van Rooyen GTA

Post by Railway » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 18:26

Yes that St. John's ambulance was replaced by a more nifty old Toyota Hi Ace those first models. Pal in my street where we grew up his dad did duty there when they were very much involved with events for a small donation.

I did call ian some years ago but have meant to go sea him sometime as I have a photo or two of him in his next Chev racer after the Firenza which was a Chev 3800. Also white with Racourse Chevrolet down the side. Maybe I can get him to sign that old programme I still have the day I told him I liked his coupe and wanted one sometime when I grew up !

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Re: Basil van Rooyen GTA

Post by Gunter » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 19:15

Hi Railway....interesting info about 'uncle Ian' i never knew he drove a 3800 Chev,heard stories that Ben Morgenrood drove a 4100....if you pics of Ian or Ben's car could you mail it or put it up on the site. It is especially interesting as i have a LHD 4100 chev 2 door coupe...its such a pretty car,got a 383 Chev V8 in it....
RACECAR spelt backwards spells RACECAR.....

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Re: Basil van Rooyen GTA

Post by Hi-Fi » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 19:27

Talking about all those memories - and muscle cars for that matter, can anyone remember when the first Helldrivers started at Goodwood Showgrounds? Remember when the likes of Koos Swanepoel and Peter Gough used to screem around there in their Fairlanes and the one year when David Piper drove the Galaxie of, I think it might have even been Ian Little's car?

There was a guy who drove a dark blue and white Opel Rekord at Killarney in the late 60's which had very wide front wheels. Can anyone remember who that was? He managed to get this thing going quite well.

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Re: Basil van Rooyen GTA

Post by Gunter » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 19:39

I will give you the EXACT date tomorrow...the very first race (as the Cape Hell Drivers)....my dad drove that specific 'first' night and i still has the program at my office!
RACECAR spelt backwards spells RACECAR.....

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Re: Basil van Rooyen GTA

Post by Hi-Fi » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 19:46

What was your dad's name? Maybe I'll remember him.

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