42 replies to this topic

[fw07c]

I am currently researching for any races in Southern Africa for local championship or stand alone races where Formula 2 cars competed upto 1960, along with local specials and from 1961 where Formula 1 cars then competed with locally built specials. I believe that there were various Rand Trophy’s Autumn, Spring, Summer and Winter races and Rand and South African Grand Prixs like the following

1961
South African Grand Prix
East London 2 January 1961
1st Bruce Johnstone Cooper Alfa Romeo
2nd John Love Cooper Maserati
3rd Wolfgang Seidel Cooper Climax

Has anybody more information about this and others

[petefenelon]

Originally posted by fw07c
I am currently researching for any races in Southern Africa for local championship or stand alone races where Formula 2 cars competed upto 1960, along with local specials and from 1961 where Formula 1 cars then competed with locally built specials. I believe that there were various Rand Trophy’s Autumn, Spring, Summer and Winter races and Rand and South African Grand Prixs like the following

1961
South African Grand Prix
East London 2 January 1961
1st Bruce Johnstone Cooper Alfa Romeo
2nd John Love Cooper Maserati
3rd Wolfgang Seidel Cooper Climax

Has anybody more information about this and others

I would strongly recommend getting hold of a copy of Sun On The Grid which covers South African international racing up to the late sixties.

[D-Type]

Have you tried the 'Search BB' button? I'm not being facetious - there is a wealth of information on this forum already which may well answer some of your queries.

[Michael Oliver]

Originally posted by fw07c
I am currently researching for any races in Southern Africa for local championship or stand alone races where Formula 2 cars competed upto 1960, along with local specials and from 1961 where Formula 1 cars then competed with locally built specials. I believe that there were various Rand Trophy’s Autumn, Spring, Summer and Winter races and Rand and South African Grand Prixs like the following

1961
South African Grand Prix
East London 2 January 1961
1st Bruce Johnstone Cooper Alfa Romeo
2nd John Love Cooper Maserati
3rd Wolfgang Seidel Cooper Climax

Has anybody more information about this and others

Some other resources:

Springbok Grand Prix by Robert Young - grids and results plus lots of photos, concentrating on the international races held in South Africa.

A Record of South African Formula 1 Racing 1960-1975 by Peter McIntosh. This includes domestic races and GPs and is very detailed with entry lists, grids and results. However, from personal experience I have found it to be fallible in that entry numbers are sometimes incorrect, or the cars and chassis numbers noted down for a particular driver are wrong. Nonethless it is probably the best work of its type available. It is also a little hard to find.

BTW, according to the McIntosh book, the race you are referring to above was known as the Pat Fairfield Trophy, rather than the South African Grand Prix.

Good luck!

[Rob29]

Date for 1961 race is wrong.SAGP is AFAIK the only race held twice in same calendar year!
Dates from 'Sun on the Grid'

Dec27 1934
Jan 1 1936
Jan 1 1937
Jan 1 1938
Jan 2 1939

Jan 1 1960
Dec 27 1960
Dec 26 1961
Dec 26 1962
Dec 29 1963
Jan 1 1965
Jan 1 1966
Jan 2 1967

[fw07c]

Correction
It should be Pat Fairfield Trophy 1961 and not South African Grand Prix 1961. I have now obtained a copy of "Sun on the Grid" it is a great help

[fw07c]

In respect of the 1961 Pat Fairfield race on January What was the capacity of Alfa Romeo Maserati and coventry Climax engines of the first 3 finishers as well as the next three namely

4th H Menzler Lotus Borgward
5th Tony Maggs Lotus Climax
6th L D Serrurier Cooper Alfa Romeo

Cheers for all the information sofar

[Charles Helps]

Try this Cooper-Borgward

[fw07c]

African Races
Does anyone know the following information about the 1956 Rand Grand Prix. How many laps the lap and race distance and winning speed?

Many thanks

[David McKinney]

40 laps x 3.8 miles = 154 miles
Don't know the winning average, sorry

[humphries]

The 1956 Rand GP was won by Antonio Pinheiro in an Austin Healey 100. It was a handicap race and Pinheiro had 8 credit laps plus 2 minutes and 8 seconds start. He did his required 32 laps in 1 hour 48' 50''. AFAIK the organisers did not offer an average speed!

The scratch element of the race was won, of course, by Peter Whitehead and he completed the 40 laps in 1: 52' 40'' at an average speed of 88.3 mph.

John

[David McKinney]

On that basis, I make Pinheiro's average a whisker over 67mph

[fw07c]

Where is Pietermaritzburg. I believe there was a race in 1963 called Dickie Dale Memorial on 9 February 1963 and Pieter de Klerk in a Alfa Special won.

[barrykm]

Originally posted by fw07c
Where is Pietermaritzburg. I believe there was a race in 1963 called Dickie Dale Memorial on 9 February 1963 and Pieter de Klerk in a Alfa Special won.

This would have been at the Roy Hesketh circuit. Pietermaritzburg is 50 miles inland from Durban, which in turn is on the east coast of SA, in the province of Kwazulu Natal.

[Hieronymus]

Originally posted by Michael Oliver



A Record of South African Formula 1 Racing 1960-1975 by Peter McIntosh.

It is Macintosh.

[fw07c]

African races
Aftern 1976 when the african races were switched to formula atlantic did the retain the same

race titles i.e rand autumn and spring trophies and the rest.Were any locally built racing

cars used?

[zakeriath]

They kept the race titles for quite some years after 76, until when I am not certain. In 2000 I went back to SA for a visit and they still had the Spring Race meeting. With the name changes in the new SA, I would doubt if they still have the Rand meetings as the "WitwatersRAND " does not exist any more, they now call it Gauteng.

Most of the Atlantic cars where either March`s or Chevrons with the odd Modus or Wheatcroft. Tony Martin at one stage ran the SA1.



But this was based on a Chevron (info LDS in previous thread SA1 Formula Atlantic )

Prior to July 79 they ran with DBA`s after they changed to SA built engines, most ran the Ford V6 and others including Scheckter ran a rotary Mazda engine.

[paulhooft]

what a nice body...
PcH

[fw07c]

what was the size of engines used in the African races in the following years. As 1960 was open formula?
1960
1961
1962
1963
1965
1976
1988

I am trying to see whether ther was a capcity limit or bring what you had racing

[Rob29]

Originally posted by fw07c
what was the size of engines used in the African races in the following years. As 1960 was open formula?
1960
1961
1962
1963
1965
1976
1988

I am trying to see whether ther was a capcity limit or bring what you had racing

1961-63 F1 -1.5 litres 65 3 litres 1976 F. Atlantic(1600cc)1960 seems to have been open formula but visitors were restricted to F2(1500cc)

[D-Type]

Did I read somewhere that the 1961-63 South African (national) Formula 1 was limited to 4 cylinder cars?

[Hieronymus]

Originally posted by zakeriath
With the name changes in the new SA, I would doubt if they still have the Rand meetings as the "WitwatersRAND " does not exist any more, they now call it Gauteng.

Incorrect. Witwatersrand is a region within the Gauteng province. The University of Witwatersrand is also still very much with us...for the time being.

[rwhitworth]

Originally posted by Hieronymus


It is Macintosh.

Anyone got any leads where I could get hold of a copy of this book? I'm particularly interested in the 1968-1973 period of South African Formula 1 - which is just too late for Sun on the Grid.

[Hieronymus]

The only chance of perhaps finding this book is if you look from time to time at www.usedbooksearch.co.uk

Only a few were printed...

[Patrick Fletcher]

A question please for South African historians concerns a very well built special the 'Coopin' - similar to a Cooper Mk VII
The car was imported to New Zealand in 1958 from South Africa and was purchased for the 1926 Indian Altoona race engine which has since been used elsewhere.
No race history in NZ but the new owner in Australia is keen to find out if anyone can help with any history in South Africa prior to 1958.
Thank you if you can help.

[Killarney]

A question please for South African historians concerns a very well built special the 'Coopin' - similar to a Cooper Mk VII
The car was imported to New Zealand in 1958 from South Africa and was purchased for the 1926 Indian Altoona race engine which has since been used elsewhere.
No race history in NZ but the new owner in Australia is keen to find out if anyone can help with any history in South Africa prior to 1958.
Thank you if you can help.

In all the reading I have done on racing in SA, I have never come across this Coopin. Do you have any other details, previous owner, or a picture. What engine does it use?

[Patrick Fletcher]

Previous owner in SA unknown.
Engine when exported from SA 1926 Indian Altoona.
No known photographs when in SA.
Will email a photo of how it was when recovered in NZ.
Coopin was signwritten on small area of bodywork as recovered.

[Hieronymus]

Never heard of a Coopin. If it raced in South Africa, it surely was in a minor race and not in any major SA Drivers' championship race. I have results and entry lists for all championship races from the 1950s, but my search showed no result for Coopin. It could have been an Oval (Midget) racer?

[quintin cloud]

Never heard of a Coopin. If it raced in South Africa, it surely was in a minor race and not in any major SA Drivers' championship race. I have results and entry lists for all championship races from the 1950s, but my search showed no result for Coopin. It could have been an Oval (Midget) racer?

I have never heard of a Coppin to me it looks like a typing error from the source material, it most likely was suppose to say Copper.

what I have found to be the best source of info on SOuth african racing has been the Sun on the grid, and Rob Young also did a book that I also found to be good.
I am still trying to get a copy of the Sheldon book of SA racing from 1960 to 1975 and I have no luck, does anyone have a copy of that book?

[David McKinney]

Coopin is apparently correct
Both Sun on the Grid and the Black Book deal only with the major races, and the car would almost certainly not have competed at that level

[bradbury west]

As before, I have no hesitation in recommending Sunset on Kyalami, - google or do a BB Search on TNF-, a record of cars , races and results at that circuit in the 1960s. It is a wonderful A4 landscape format photo and report book, with many large size colour shots, and not just of the usual suspects. Photos are by the former chief scrute at the circuit. I got mine direct on issue but DCN mentioned that it is available from the ever excellent Chaters store.
Usual disclaimers, but well worth having on your shelves.
Roger Lund

[Killarney]

I can vouch for Sunset on Kyalami. Excellent!

There are another two books detailing the next 20years of Kyalami being worked on by the same author. I will definately be first in the queue when they appear.

Sun on the Grid and the Sheldon book prove to be very ellusive and very expensive. I have yet to either in the "flesh"

[zakeriath]

Coopin is apparently correct
Both Sun on the Grid and the Black Book deal only with the major races, and the car would almost certainly not have competed at that level

No luck finding it on the chaters page, do you have an isbn number by any chance

[Hieronymus]

I have collected racing results (SA Drivers' Championship races) for many years, covering the period 1930-1975 in South Africa, but my computerised search brought no results for the name in question.

I presume this was a "Special" used in minor races like foe All-Comers or Clubmans...even oval track racing. If we can get a driver name connected, it will make my search easier and one can perhaps also eliminate spelling errors as suggested.

The only worthwhile stats book is the Peter Macintosh effort that Paul Sheldon published. This covers the period 1960-1975. Not sure if you'll ever find a second hand copy, though.

[terry mcgrath]

The only worthwhile stats book is the Peter Macintosh effort that Paul Sheldon published. This covers the period 1960-1975. Not sure if you'll ever find a second hand copy, though.

I have a couple of new copies of this book here in Australia possibly interested in trading for somthing of interest
regards terry

[quintin cloud]

Hieronymus and Terry please look at your inbox's
:-)

[Rupertlt1]

SOUTH Africa's motor racing season

opened in Durban on January 20

with the fifth Pat Fairfield handicap race,

divided, as has now become the custom,

into junior and senior events. The

former was dominated by Austins, of

which nineteen competed, together with

three Singers, two M.G.s and a variety of

other machinery. The race (over 25

laps of the three-mile circuit) was won

by the Austin driven by R. Henderson

from a second Austin and a TC M.G.,

driven by T. Bremmer.

The senior race produced a field of

twenty-five cars, including a 3.7-litre

Maserati, now running unblown with six

carburettors, and Beall's 1½-litre E.R.A.

The M.G. which had finished third in

the junior event competed once again,

this time driven by H. Pierce, and com-

pleted its successful day by winning by

47 seconds from Stanley Reed's redoub-

table rear-engined Citroen Special, with

Brodie's single-seater TC M.G. in third

place. The E.R.A. put up the fastest lap

at just over 75 m.p.h., but spent some

time at its pit rectifying chassis troubles,

which robbed it of any chance of success.

Autocar, 9 February 1951, Page 175

There is a photograph on Page 174:
"Stanley Reed's Citroen Special, with engine at rear which finished second in the

senior Pat Fairfield handicap race at Durban on January 20." #23.

See also: https://forum.studeb...cing-in-the-50s

Roy Henderson, Basil Beall, Henry Pierce, Frank Brodie
RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 22 September 2024 - 08:51.

[Rupertlt1]

Van Riebeeck Trophy Race, Cape Town, Paarden Island Circuit, 1¾ miles, Jan 1950

Heat One:

1. TC M.G. (Raath)

2. Singer (Muller)

3. TC M.G. (Sergeant)

Heat Two:

1. Citroen Spl (Stanley Reed)

2. Riley (Fraser Jones)

3. Jaguar (D. Fettes)

Result:

1. M.G. Spl (Frank Brodie)

2. Studebaker-Wolseley (J. D. Ratcliffe)

3. TC M.G. (Sergeant)

4. TC M.G. (Raath)

5. Cisaprilia (Pat Brown)

Fastest lap: Fraser Jones, Riley, at over 65 m.p.h.

Was he Ian Fraser-Jones?

https://forums.autos...n-fraser-jones/

See also

https://forums.autos...ults-1953-1964/

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 22 September 2024 - 11:34.

[Sterzo]

Prompted by the above, here is a link to a track map. Paarden Eiland is an industrial area of Cape Town.

 

http://www.silhouet....ca/paarden.html

[Rupertlt1]

"The ingenious Citroën rear-engined Special, built and raced by Stanley Reed, seen here winning the False Bay 100 Handicap at Gunners' Circle, near Cape Town, in January last."

Autosport, 2 May 1952, Page 566

For an account of the 1954 event held 1 January, Amateur Automobile Racing Club, see Autosport, 22 January 1954, Page 110. Winner Edgar Hoal, Riley.

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 23 September 2024 - 04:09.

[Rupertlt1]

Here is a yarn. I've been trying to trace Charles Page in South Africa. 

The Amateur Automobile Racing Club badge later found on his Austin Healey Sprite points to Cape Town.

His bio in the Bognor Regis Observer tells us:

"The car which he built, and sold

on leaving the country, later won

a South African grand prix."

A likely story you may say!

False Bay 100, Gunners' Circle, Cape Town, 1 January 1954

"C. L. R. Page's 1½-litre

M.G. Special threw a rod."

Autosport, 22 January 1954, Page 110.

Cape Grand Prix, Gunners' Circle, 3rd March 1956

"Into the picture now came Gordon

Phillips, who had been lapping fast and

consistently in his single-seater M.G. at

around 86 m.p.h."

"the race ran to its conclusion with Gordon Phillips (a

Capetown electrical engineer) bringing his

M.G. into first place on both scratch and

handicap, a popular and well deserved

win."

Full entry and results here:

https://forums.autos...n/#entry3190612

The car may appear in the background of the photograph in Autosport, 1 June 1956, Page 556

Is anything more known about this historic M.G.? Was Charles Page the builder of this car?

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 23 September 2024 - 07:49.

[nexfast]

As before, I have no hesitation in recommending Sunset on Kyalami, - google or do a BB Search on TNF-, a record of cars , races and results at that circuit in the 1960s. It is a wonderful A4 landscape format photo and report book, with many large size colour shots, and not just of the usual suspects. Photos are by the former chief scrute at the circuit. I got mine direct on issue but DCN mentioned that it is available from the ever excellent Chaters store.
Usual disclaimers, but well worth having on your shelves.
Roger Lund

I agree with Roger, Sunset on Kyalami is indeed a good book. Like mentioned above, it was supposed to be the first of a serie of three, but I don't think that last two were ever published. Another interesting small book about Kyalami is "Behind the  Chequered Flag" by former official Henry Schultz, published in 2016. The gorgeous "60 Years of Kyalami" is also worthwhile if you can get your hands in a copy.

[Rupertlt1]

In 1957 there were four car clubs in Cape Town: 

Amateur Automobile Racing Club

Cape Peninsula Motor Cycle and Car Club

Metropolitan Motor Cycle and Car Club

M.G. Car Club

There was also the governing body:

The Royal Automobile Club of South Africa, Church Square, Cape Town.

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 25 September 2024 - 11:44.