Visiting East London

Members can advertise their services here...
Post Reply
User avatar
vw59beetle
Donor
Donor
Posts: 628
Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2010 2:59 pm
What model do you have?: Enjoyable one
Location: Pretoria
Has thanked: 39 times
Been thanked: 40 times
Contact:

Visiting East London

Post by vw59beetle »

Hey guys
I'll be in East London tomorrow for the day. Is there anything air cooled I should see or forum members I should meet. I will be pressed for time and planning on seeing the racing circuit, but would hate to miss out on something.
Advice would be appreciated.

Wernher
082 825 4875


User avatar
VW-rules
Crankshaft
Posts: 738
Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:59 pm
What model do you have?: '61 & '70 Buses
Location: East London SA
Has thanked: 10 times
Been thanked: 8 times
Belgium

Re: Visiting East London

Post by VW-rules »

Not much for the petrol heads other the the circuit and Mercedes Benz.

Who are you seeing/what are you in town for?

Midge who built the green beetle woody station wagon and I normally go for sundowners at Buckaneers on a Friday. You welcome to join us.

Christian.
0829712612
If a married man speaks in the forest and his wife is not there to hear him, is he still wrong?
Image
User avatar
vw59beetle
Donor
Donor
Posts: 628
Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2010 2:59 pm
What model do you have?: Enjoyable one
Location: Pretoria
Has thanked: 39 times
Been thanked: 40 times
Contact:

Re: Visiting East London

Post by vw59beetle »

Christian
Thanks for the invitation. I'm actually at the airport right now after my quick visit.Time flies when you having fun. I did get to meet Midge and saw pictures of his beetle woody stationwagen. He unfortunately sold it, but apparently it's in Jo'burg now, so maybe I will get to see it in real life. I also got to see his new project for Africa Burn. He seems to be very passionate about his work.
We bought a 1972 Porsche 911 this week and I came down to enjoy it for the day. We will be back in a week or so to pick it up, so maybe we can hook up then.

Image

I had an absolutely crazy and unique experience this morning. I had just set foot off the plane and 5 minutes later I was doing my first lap on the oldest track in SA. Not only that, but other cars were sharing the track later in the day, driving in any direction that pleased them. Only in South Africa or should I say East London. At one point there was a dog laying next to the track watching me , just making sure that I took the correct lines. Simply a day to remember.

Image

Wernher
User avatar
VW-rules
Crankshaft
Posts: 738
Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:59 pm
What model do you have?: '61 & '70 Buses
Location: East London SA
Has thanked: 10 times
Been thanked: 8 times
Belgium

Re: Visiting East London

Post by VW-rules »

You lucky baa... you've manage to buy a piece of East London's motoring history. John Small lived (possibly still does) down the road from me and I always envied his Porsche when I saw it drive by. He's been involved with motor racing for ever and I'm blown away that he's actually sold his Porsche. I though it was in his will that he should be buried in it?

BTW the cars going in all directions at high speeds on the race track and the animals. We use that for conditioning drivers from out of town who are about the take the gauntlet and drive through the Transkei for the first time.
If a married man speaks in the forest and his wife is not there to hear him, is he still wrong?
Image
User avatar
Ron&Gill
Full-time Bug Nutter
Posts: 4054
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2008 4:16 am
What model do you have?: Type 1, 21b, 34, 316
Location: St Lucia KZN/Cameron LA
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 21 times
Netherlands

Re: Visiting East London

Post by Ron&Gill »

Ha, that's good. A training facility like that is needed on the other side too. I drove southwards through the Transkei a couple of years ago, getting to Umtata made me think I had arrived in Lagos. Idutiwa was worse... more like Port Harcourt...
1964 T34 - The Razor: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=10290
1956 T2 1b - Gill's bus: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=10948
1967 T316 - viewtopic.php?f=23&t=10931 & viewtopic.php?f=23&t=15977
2000 beach buggy - viewtopic.php?f=23&t=10915
User avatar
vw59beetle
Donor
Donor
Posts: 628
Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2010 2:59 pm
What model do you have?: Enjoyable one
Location: Pretoria
Has thanked: 39 times
Been thanked: 40 times
Contact:

Re: Visiting East London

Post by vw59beetle »

VW-rules wrote:
BTW the cars going in all directions at high speeds on the race track and the animals. We use that for conditioning drivers from out of town who are about the take the gauntlet and drive through the Transkei for the first time.
Lucky I stayed for 3 months in the Transkei before, so I was somewhat prepared for it. Traffic in Gauteng will prepare you for cars driving at high speeds in any direction and Transkei would prepare you for the animals crossing or sleeping in the road.

I was just amazed that you could go on the track without paying or signing an indemnity form. It is a pretty fast track to say the least and no I did not have the balls for potters. I had to lift off the pedal. :D
Terry Phillips
Fuel Injection
Posts: 2005
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 5:56 pm
What model do you have?: T3,1beetle
Location: Kempton Park
Has thanked: 193 times
Been thanked: 121 times
Zambia

Re: Visiting East London

Post by Terry Phillips »

I was just speaking to the new owner of the Green Woody not knowing it was the one in question and made by hand and not a kit car,as I am sure most of you know my knowledge on vw's is very limited, but hay we live and learn.
Post Reply