Summarize

The Aldo Scribante Racetrack will have more than just a little spring in its step when motor racing returns to Port Elizabeth 15 September with a special V8 race attracting entries from around the country among the Historic & Pre-’90 saloons race, headed by a legend of South African motorsport as none less than Willie Hepburn heads down from Johannesburg with his fearsome former WesBank Modified Chevrolet Rekord V8. 

Willie and his red and white supercar need no introduction, but there are a few locals keen to show him their taillights, not least of those being another Supercar exponent and Knysna Hillclimb regular, Darron Gudmanz in his wild Ford Capri Perana, while Border driver Brett Franklin will be making the trek from East London with his Ford Granada Perana. Never ignore multiple regional and club champion Brendan Smith racing his ‘Little Chev’ Firenza Can Am out of the Gudmanz stable. 

SA’s youngest historic V8 racer Danian Staffen races his Ford Capri Perana and 6-time SA Stock Car Champion Eddie Banks and Matthew Gudmanz will want to get their wailing Mazda rotaries ahead of the rumbling V8s among 20 local entries and 15 East London visitors around the recently resurfaced Aldo Scribante.

It’s also all to play for in the Eastern Province Saloon Car Championship with tight championship tussles through the classes. Class A leader Nick Davidson will have to keep an eye on Celso and Aldo Scribante’s similar former Production Racing Audi S4s, while Class B leader Ian Riddle has likes of Kevin Kelly’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evo lurking with intent. 

Gordon Nolan’s VW leads Class C ahead of James Mattison (BMW) and Rufus Neethling (Polo) while George van Baalen’s Polo leads Class D. Class E is all about overall championship leader Neil Roos (Polo), who has his hands full with Daniel Bright (Golf 1) and Stephan Aucamp (BMW) and Derik Gouws’ BMW leads Class F.

The EP Sports & GTs are another regular source of epic Aldo Scribante entertainment ready to entertain 15 September and there Kean Barnard leads the title race in his Class B Lotus 7 ahead of Jeandre Marais (Class T VW), Class C Lotus 7 men Alwyn Kretzman and Anton Ehlers and Tanya Watts’ Class C Subaru. Also watch out for East London visitor Gary Marais and his exotic Nardini-Volkswagen, Ashwin Harri (Lotus 7), Dean Ball (BMW), Patrick Hanley (Lotus 7) and Garth de Villiers (FVW).

The AMSC Coastal Challenge sees the likes of Rane Berry (Skyline) and Shaun Rudolph (Escort), while Deon Gouws (Kadett GTE) will be dicing the far bigger Opel Rekords handled by Ian Thompson and Gordon Bennett. Neil Van Eyk (Escort), Alistair Mew (Mazda), Paul Griffin (Alfasud), Tom Flynn (Cortina) and Alfa Romeo duo, Mark Schulpfort and Ari Bezuidenhout should also be in the mix as usual, among an entertaining and varied Port Elizabeth tin-top race class.

Aldo Scribante’s Street & Fine Cars are another entertaining racing class, where Gordon Nicholsen (Nissan GT-R), Duncan Lethbridge (BMW M5) and Francois Wium (BMW) impressed last time out and Dave Thorn (Alfasud), Andrew Greenland (Datsun 1200), Riaan Van Huyssteen, Jeff Guscott, Stephan Aucamp, Tertius Wium and Robin Venter can also be expected to provide spectacle.

Two-wheel fans will also be catered for when the EP Historic, Masters and Breakfast Run Motorcycles take to the track with 650 man Paul Jansen (Kawasaki) and Masters A rider Jan Dorfling (Suzuki) tied on points in the championship lead with historic class leader, Malcolm Burrows (Suzuki), 400cc rider Ray Wood (Honda) and Masters B man Dominic Doyle (KTM) all within 5 points of the top of the title chart. Don’t ignore Kevern Farley, William Kew, Richard Hawkins, Irfaan Johnson and Mattie Wood among the several riders ready to entertain on the bikes.

So why not head to Aldo Scribante for another great day’s racing Saturday 15 September. There is of course much more happening around the racetrack, with catering and braai facilities at the ready, so pack that braai, the cooler box, deck chairs, the family and as many friends as possible  and head for Aldo Scribante off Kyalami Road, Coega — that’s just off the N2 on the R335. Tickets are on sale at the gate at R50 per person or book in advance via www.westway.co.za.