From The Driver's Seat

By Joe Janssen

This year I decided to take my 280SL to the George Car Show. The trip started early Friday morning when we joined the East London Mercedes Benz club convoy to George. Our first stop was a detour to Cannon Rocks to enjoy a birthday breakfast for one of our members. After a glass of champagne, bacon and eggs and cake, the 6 cars convoy was back on the road. The weather couldn?t have been better. Next pit stop was at Plett, where another member joined us, for refuel, a snack and back on the road. After another stop at Knysna for tea we finally reached George safely without any problems where we booked in at our respective accommodations, had a quick shower and joined about 20 other members at the King George Protea Hotel where a buffet was organised.

Early Saturday morning the 280SL proceeded to the George Car Show where she was parked at her reserved spot within the Mercedes Benz Club area. The weather was fortunately on our side for that day, a little bit of early morning drizzle, there after sun shine all day. After wiping the car dry we enjoyed the day at the show. The quality of the cars on show was once again of a high standard. The cut off date for the participating cars was 1976 and the special invites was for Chevrolet. Paulette and I enjoyed the day walking amongst the 900 beauties and meeting and chatting to old friends from the Pretoria Old Motor Club. I met briefly with Dave and Dalene who made the trip by bike.

The Saturday evening the M-B Club members were invited to Waldo Scribante?s house, where he houses his own museum (SCRIBS BENZEUM), for a sheep braai. About 80 members attended the function and spent their time looking at the 40 odd stunning classic Mercedeses, workshop and amazing collection of over 1000 model cars and regalia.

Sunday we cruised back to Port Alfred with a Pit Stop at Sedgfield for coffee at friends and another at Jeffries for a Valentine?s lunch. Back home safe in the late afternoon.

This month?s bring and braai was well attended and we were once again spoiled with chocolate brownies made by Maggie.

The Fun Run and picnic attracted 9 entries and ended with a pleasant picnic by the sea.

DO NOT FORGET to enter the O.D. Inggs!

Joe

Through The Windscreen

This is what lies ahead

Birthday Congratulations - March

Congratulations

Many Thanks

From Sylvia Jukes

Thought For The Day

If GH can stand for P as in Hiccough
If OUGH stands for O as in Dough
If PHTH stands for T as in Phthisis
If EIGH stands for A as in Neighbour
If TTE stands for T as Gazette
If EAU stands for O as in Plateau
Then the right way to spell potato should be:
GHOUGHPHTHEIGHTTEEAU


Sent in by Shirley Martin:
I've learned....?That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

Fun Run To Boknes

by Ron Gush

We met at the Museum under a grey sky. It was very good to see Des and Joy there, as well as Mike Legg and Carel Buchner who had other committments for the day and did not go to Boknes.

Dave briefed drivers and navigators. We were to do an informal run of a past OD Inggs from Rosehill Mall to Bokness. No official clock nor marshalls and only oveall time was taken. Well, most of us found out how rusty we had become since the last rally! Pam and I were glad we had decided to do this run in the Triumph, as the Austin would not have coped with the catching up that we had to do!

Seven old cars and 22 members and friends pitched at the Boknes car park. Chairs were set up on the grass, in a spot sheltered from the wind, and a good picnic was enjoyed.

Dave announced the results:
Charles and George were 3 seconds early. A remarkably good performance! (Mini)
Neville and Sue were 23 seconds early. (Alfa Romeo)
Dave and Dalene were 26 seconds late. (MGA)
And the rest of us also ran but came in even later!
Ron and Pam. (Triumph)
Dave and Daphne. (TR3)
Roger and Sue. (Jaguar)
Mike and Dagmar Dodds - visiting friends of the McNeills. (Modern car)
Joe and Paulette. (Modern car)
Keith and Barbara. (Datsun)

It was a very pleasant outing and many thanks go to Dave and Dalene Hawkins for organising the run. Thanks also to Shirley Martin who edited an old OD Inggs Sunday run.

Regret no pictures of cars - they were scattered all over the car park!

VIN Numbers

Committee

Other portfolio holders:
SAVVA rep and Vehicle Dating: Des Hill 083 228 6774
assisted by:                                Dave Hawkins 046 624 2215 or 082 453 2618
Webmaster:                               John Austin Williams

Car Wanted

Engine Wanted

Byron Cloete is looking for a 2.5 litre straight six engine for his 1950 Opel Kapitan.
A Chev straight 6 engine will fit, as the next best option.
Please contact Byron on 082 669 6416 or email byroncloete86@gmail.com                  1/3

Tailpipe - 4 Days to Joburg

by Ron Gush

Our first stop was lunch with my sister and her husband in East London.

We slept in Stutterheim and took a turn past the Engine Museum the next morning. You need to make an appointment if you want to get in. On our way to Queenstown we passed Thomas River - we need to do an old car tour up there some time.

Morning tea with Pam's elderly aunt, friend and cousin (the flat Merc cousin) in Queenstown. Then on to sleep in Matatiele. A pretty road that is not to be rushed. Towns full of pedestrians, open roads with stray goats and some drivers unconcerned about trivialities like blind rises.

Lunch at Sani Top. Probably still the highest pub in Africa at 2874metres. It was a clear day and you could see forever. A wonderful day for a wonderful drive. The road from Sani Top to Mokhotlong has been tarred recently by a Chinese company. There are still some gradients marked at 1:6 and hairpin bends that slow you to under 30km/h. Take care!

We slept in Mokhotlong at a quaint little hotel. There was no water in the taps. A 20 litre drum stood next to the toilet. Reception said there was no water in town, every day, maybe it would come on later. It did, at about 8.30pm. Just out of town a farmer was ploughing the terraced mountainside with a pair of oxen. School ended at 5pm. Some children called out Hello to us as we sat on our balcony. Not asking for anything, just practising their English, and being friendly. As the sun set, I was struck by the happy sounds of children playing in the streets and pathways below us. One does not often hear that in (the white parts of?) SA. The Sotho Bible in our room, placed there by the Gideons, was well thumbed - I found that interesting as the Bibles found in SA hotels are almost invariably pristine. The water must have been off during the night as we heard it gurgling in the pipes at 6am. At about 06h15 there was a knock on our door and a lady smiled and said "Hot water." I offered her the kettle but she pointed at the bath room. The only thing that was clear was that we had a language problem. She went into the bathroom and checked that there was hot water in the tap! We have stayed at this hotel twice before and it is not a fancy establishment. But the staff could not be more friendly and helpful. We love it.

Off to Joburg in the morning. The road to Caledonpoort border post was tarred years ago. Hairpin bends, very steep gradients, cattle, soil washed over the road by floods, construction and repair work all contribute to make slow progress. But it is beautiful. Immense mountains and vast valleys. People are dressed in anything from rags (a few) to traditional blankets (most) to very pretty colourful dresses. Much of the road runs at over 3000 metres and the bakkie was short of breath at any revolutions below the turbocharger. The Moteng pass, down the mountain towards the Free State border, is beautiful and awesome and long. We descended in 2nd gear, also using the brakes to keep control. Loss of brakes would be fatal.

A Police roadblock wanted to know, in the friendliest of terms, why we had visited Lesotho. We could be completely honest in saying that we love his beautiful country. We were not even asked for a drivers licence.

One more friendly border crossing and then out onto the long straight road to Joburg.