Gallery: South African Historic Grand Prix Festival Closes with Val de Vie Display
The South African Historic Grand Prix Festival featured 10 days of pre-war immersion at Val de Vie Luxury Estate on the weekend to conclude an epic experience for owners and spectators alike.
Over 150 of the country's most special collector cars went on display on Val de Vie's polo field, the Grand Prix Party the culmination of a spectacular Festival the likes of which will probably never be seen in South Africa again.
The owners of 24 pre-war Grand Prix and sports cars were thrilled by their experience at the East London Grand Prix circuit and parade laps of the original Prince George circuit where their cars competed some 80 years ago. Testament to the quality of these vintage machines, all the cars made it through 1,000km of amazing South African scenery on the tour between the race meeting and the finishing point near Franschhoek, delighting their owners and surprised spectators along the route.
An engaging experience for many at the Grand Prix Garden Party, the chance to get up close and personal to these incredible cars is something seldom repeated at any of the big prestigious events around the world - and the cars were certainly world-class. To have not one, but two ERAs back in South Africa is special enough, let alone the 1934-South African Grand Prix winning Maserati 8CM and a Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo P3.
The mix of Rileys, MGs, elegant Aston Martins, Bugattis and local specials really completed an incredible celebration of South African motorsport. While the likelihood of pre-war machinery of this calibre ever returning to South Africa is slim, the success of the event is a good recipe for future endeavours to celebrate other eras of South African motorsport.
