First Gymkhana Full Report
The first GTi Club (Western Cape) organized event for the new year was held at Shoprite Park in Brackenfell and turned out to be a huge success. The organization was slick and quick (all credit to Grant and the committee) with documentation starting at 10h00, driver’s briefing at 11h00 and the first car off for a practice round a few minutes later. 37 cars entered, short of the record, but allowing the field to enjoy three runs each. Each competitor’s worst time would be discarded and the two best times added to determine positions and points in each class. The course was fast and flowing with all available space being well used to create a quick, but testing route. Most drivers opted to stay in first gear for the entire run choosing to use all available torque to accelerate swiftly and cleanly towards the next beacon.
A gymkhana is a very precise event and one that is incredibly difficult to master. The secret is to remain smooth and practice controlled aggression behind the wheel. Many drivers make the mistake of too much throttle which ends up in expensive tyre smoke and understeer and ultimately robbing you of precious moments when every split-second counts.
Class A started first with some benchmark times quickly being posted. It quickly turned out that if one wanted to feature in the points time of 50 seconds would have to be beaten. The other classes followed quickly in rapid succession with the entire run taking about forty minutes. H.D. Rossouw posted the single quickest time of the day with a 48.09 in his Toyota powered Birkin 7 and went on to take Open Class honours, only just ahead of Marius Smal (Opel Boss 16v) and Cape Ads’ Peter Peterson (Subaru GT S/W).
Only two ladies entered with Linda Binedell (Golf 1.8) beating Thea Smal (Opel 16v) to take home the trophy. Carlos Lawrence (Master Cams Golf) won Class A with Malcolm Hartley snapping close at his heels in second spot (same car), with Wanie Phillips showing commitment, by borrowing a car to gain some valuable points in third place.
The veteran of gymkhanas and multiple winner of these events, Grant van Eck (Sportakar Suspension Golf CTi), took Class B honours in three very quick and consistent times. Overall win for the day also went to Grant. Anton Slabbert driving brother Nicholas’ car, came in second, with Andries van Eeden (ex Anton CTi), came in an excellent 3rd place in only his 1st GTi Club event.
Greig Edwards (TOTAL Lakeside Motors Golf Sport) fought off some very tough competition to win Class C and gain some very valuable points in the process, ahead of Cobus Erasmus (Daniel’s Car) and veteran campaigner Wouter Dalhouzie (Golf GTi).
Class D was won by Cobus Erasmus (Yusuf’s SAC Golf). Cobus, competing in a 1300 Citigolf put most other drivers to shame with his smooth and consistent driving displays. He did well to beat novices Riaan Sadie and Abdull Sieed (also Golf 1.3’s)
Malcolm Hartley (Master Cams Nissan 200 SX) put on an exciting display of big power, rear wheel action by using a combination of handbrake, accelerator and opposite lock oversteer to snake and slide his way around the course. Malcolm topped off his final display of hooliganism by performing a “burnout” until the right rear wheel gave in and blew up, leaving a grinning Malcolm to limp the Nissan off the stage to a big round of applause.
The final results are to be seen on the results page. The first three in each class are eligible for trophies, which will be awarded at the next member’s meeting on Monday 5 March 2001. So get there early and claim your silverware!
Many thanks to Shoprite Brackenfell Mall for allowing us to use this wonderful venue. Our next gymkhana will be held at the same time and in the same place on Sunday 24 June 2001.
On behalf of the committee I would like to say a big thank you to all who attended this event and made it so worthwhile.
See you all soon and keep GOLFing!
Justin
Bennetts
Events Reporter