Soapbox stars to shine in Knysna next week.



Aaaah... those were the days.

Adrenaline pumping, hearts beating like jackhammers, concentration sky-high, eyes focused on the track below, white-knuckled fingers gripping the steering rope... it’s the inaugural Soap Box Derby, a highlight of the upcoming Knysna Speed Festival and arguably the coolest thing to happen in the local primary school community for many years.

It happens on Friday 20 May at Simola Hill, on part of the track that will be used for the hillclimb event taking place that weekend, but in this case, the winner will be determined by gravity, skill and nerves of steel and skill rather than automotive engineering excellence.

The event has attracted teams from local schools in the Knysna, Sedgefield and Plettenberg Bay areas, and the objective, according to the organisers, is to “build a spirit of fair and honest competition among the youth”, and to encourage engineering skills and handicraft. To this end, they have provided the schools with 16 soapbox car kits, various sponsors having donated construction materials, wheels, axles and safety equipment.

The teams will build and decorate their cars – designed by a local engineer – on Saturday 14 May at Pennypinchers in the Knysna Industrial Area. Now for a harmless plug: the organisers are still looking for additional sponsors for prizes and equipment. If you or your company would like to get involved (and it would need to happen pretty soon!), please get in touch with Anton Heymann on 082 074 6352.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So you're in the mood for more grown-up racing action? Then check out this press release from Mike Monk Motoring Media:

Battle of the Brat Pack

Six of South Africa’s drivers from the notorious days of national touring car racing in the 1990s – Mike Briggs, Geoff Goddard, Deon Joubert, Grant McCleery, Robbi Smith and Duncan Vos – who were collectively known as the Brat Pack, have been invited to revive old rivalries and compete against each other in the Renault Knysna Hillclimb on May 21 and 22. The event forms part of the Knysna Speed Festival that is being held in the Garden Route town from 13 to 22 May.

The original Brat Pack was a group of eight young actors that took Hollywood by storm in the glitzy ’80s with their performances on the silver screen in two movies, namely The Breakfast Club and St Elmo’s Fire. They did not like the title but it carried on for a while into other movies but not always with the same group of actors. The core members were Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy, some of whom went on to follow illustrious careers, some still in cinema, others not...

Just a decade later there was another Brat Pack, this one consisting of a dashing group of South African drivers that became famous (some would say infamous!) on the national circuits in the Roaring ’90s. Their ‘do or die’ approach to racing thrilled local crowds and most have gone on to live illustrious careers, some still in motoring, and others not...

So, as a special treat for racing fans, Renault South Africa has invited six of the old adversaries to compete against each other up the demanding Simola Hill in Renault Mégane RS Cup cars, a challenge that will doubtless bring down the red mist and rekindle old battle flames in a thrilling race against the clock and each other – a comeback of the Brat Pack that should not be missed! It is time to see who still ‘has it’ – and who has not...

Mike Briggs was one of the big characters of the scene and raced for Opel, winning the SA Touring Car Championship twice and was runner-up once. Mike also competed in eight rounds of the British Touring Car Championship.

Geoff Goddard was a BMW team-mate of Robbi Smith and the pairing won the 1993 Castrol 9-Hour at Killarney, going on to dominate the event for the next few years. Geoff gave the E46 its world first victory when he won in a 328i in Port Elizabeth.

Deon Joubert initially drove BMWs before switching to Opel. He once held the second-highest win rate in local touring cars. Deon raced at a WTCC round at Monza and has even driven in NASCAR. He has been awarded Springbok colours.

Grant McCleery drove for Opel. 1995 was his best season when he raced the Vectra and recorded two wins, 15 podiums and three fastest laps in 22 races, finishing third in the championship.

Robbi Smith drove for BMW and in 1987 helped introduce the Firestone Firehawk tyre to the local racing scene. Robbi won the SA Group N Class A championship in 1993 and was particularly adept in endurance racing, particularly when paired with Geoff Goddard.

Duncan Vos drove for Nissan and helped the manufacturer become the most successful in the SA Touring Car Championship, registering more than 50 wins and 50 pole positions during the period.

The Battle of the Brat Pack will take place over both days, with the winner announced on the Sunday. In addition to the Brat Pack, former 125 and 250 FIM World MotoX and AMA triple-title champion rider Jean-Michel Bayle will also be competing in a Mégane RS. Further information about the Knysna Speed Festival can be found on its Web site.

* For media enquiries, ’phone 021 558 4157 or 083 652 1386 or e-mail mike4m@telkomsa.net