Hello from sunny South Africa...

[Pierre Martins]

Hey there, I'm new here and need an excuse to introduce myself. Here are some pics I took of David Piper in his Ferrari 330P at the SA tourist trophy two Saturdays ago.

The camera is a Kodak 3400 digital and I love taking pics when I'm not racing myself. I've snapped tons of pics in the pits and staging area, Ferrari's, Porsches, Lola's, McClaren's you name it. Let me know if you guys want to see more, and I'll post more if it's okay with admin.

Cheers,
Pierre.

[David McKinney]

Nice stuff Pierre
I'm sure we could stand some more!

[Pierre Martins]

Originally posted by David McKinney
Nice stuff Pierre
I'm sure we could stand some more!

Thanks David. Here's a car from your neck of the woods that raced here, Glen Price's '65 McLaren MIC -

[Pierre Martins]

Roger Newman's (UK) Brabham BT14...

[Pierre Martins]

Local boy, Bunny Wentzel's sexy Healey Turner -

[Cougar]

Great pics Piere
Welcome to the forum! Good to see a fellow South African!

[Pierre Martins]

Originally posted by Cougar21
Great pics Piere
Welcome to the forum! Good to see a fellow South African!

Thanks Cougar. Saffies rule eh?

Here are some Weissach's living is SA that you're missing out on. These cars are all owned by Franz Pretorius and his son Ruan. The 956 is for real buddy. Feeling homesick now?

[Pierre Martins]

Nigel Hulme's (UK) Lola T70. Man, this thing still goes like stink...

[Pierre Martins]

Dick Sorensen's D-Type. Dick is South African, well sort of half South African, half Australian. Director of Motorsport SA.

[Stephen Green]

They look suspiciously like the garages at Kyalami?

Welcome to Ten-Tenths Pierre.

[Pierre Martins]

Originally posted by Stephen Green
They look suspiciously like the garages at Kyalami?

Welcome to Ten-Tenths Pierre.

Thanks Stephen.

Actually it's not Kyalami, but the "new" Zwartkops, just west of Pretoria (about 30 minutes from Kyalami).

4 or 5 years ago they built a completely new track, revamped and improved the facilities. It's a short circuit, but a fantastic track. I've raced several bikes and cars there over the past few years and loved every lap. Haven't been racing last year, but I'll be back later this year in a Porsche. Can't wait.

Zwartkops' website --> www.zwartkops.co.za

Cheers,
Pierre.

[Stephen Green]

I really must try to get there the next time I visit Jhb.

[jminsh]

Hi Pierre

Any Piccies of my Mustang over there driven by Alan Minshaw.

Cheers Jase.

[Pierre Martins]

Jase, I'll tell you something about your Mustang - It is the nicest piece of Detroit steel I've seen in a long, long time. I really drooled over it. You must really be proud of it.

I've got large versions of these pics I can email you, if you want.

[jminsh]

Yes please Pierre i will PM you with my E'mail

[mickj]

Some other sites,
www.sportzpix.co.za www.shots.co.za www.motorpics.co.za
They have excellent pics of the races that Pierre went to.

[Pierre Martins]

Here's Peter Lindenberg's famous '70 Capri Perana, still in seventies Gunston livery. Super quick, this car.

Peter has a race pedigree in SA you won't believe, as well as some F1 speedboat world championships. He's also the guy behind the new Wesbank Raceway at Gosworth Park, JHB.

[Pierre Martins]

By the way, I've got many more photos hosted on xpphoto.com that I can post here, but I don't want to screw up the bandwith, or step on any toes.

Let me know if you guys want to see more, or should I just give it a rest?

Cheers,
Pierre.

[dereklola]

Piere

Did Zwartkops used to be an airforce base in the 1960/70s?

We used to live in a suburb of Pretoria called Monument Park just seconds away from the airfield. Those Mirage jets used to really waken one up first thing in the morning - about 5 million times louder than a 330SP - but not as melodious.

[JGM]

I was in South Africa a few months ago and came across the old East London track where the F1 championship of 1962 was settled. The track looked to be still in working order although it is used as part of the coast road to the south-west of East London on an everyday basis. What's it used for these days?

[Pierre Martins]

dereklola -

There is / was a Zwartkops airforce base, but Zwartkops race track was not part of it. The track's been around for a long time though.

Talking about low flying planes, I was at an airshow at Wonderboom airforce base (this could be the base you referred to) about 5 years ago. A US airforce F16 did a aerobatic display. OH MAN !!! That's the most power harnessed in the smallest vehicle I've ever seen. Compared to other jet fighters the F16 looks like it could fit into my garage. It goes like stink though. Absolutely incredible.

JGM -

The old East London track is still being used regularly and is part of all the national championships in SA. (It's the only track in SA I've never raced at.) When there's no racing parts of the track are being used for regular traffic. That must've been where you were driving.

Actually, I've got an interesting story to tell about East London race track. I can't remember myself, but my mom told me when I was a toddler Mr Bruce McClaren himself carried me around the East London pits on his shoulders, joking with the other drivers by telling them I was his newly adopted son. Man, I wish I had photos of that. I think it was during the '63 championship.

Cheers,
Pierre