2018 Festival of Motoring

This year was my first year attending South Africa's biggest car event. Growing up with a huge passion for cars, I always dreamed of going to this event. Every year I begged my parents to take me, and they never succumbed. This time around, however, I could buy my own tickets, so I did.

But after years of anticipation, as I'm sure you'd imagine, my expectations for this event were huge. The question stands, were they lived up to?

Image found on https://mybroadband.co.za/news/motoring/153576-the-latest-massive-upgrades-to-kyalami-race-track.html

Well, Yes. I was amazed by the level of personal experiences, from the 4X4 course, to the laps around our very own Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, from skid pan experiences to being in the pit lane watching supercars and formula 1600 cars zoom past. It was most certainly a day to remember.

I was fortunate enough to have gotten VIP tickets managed by Mercedes-Benz, so I started the day with a complimentary drink and a few snacks before heading around the track to the 4X4 course, where Suzuki had their latest Jimny parked at the end of a pathway lined on both sides by all the previous generation Jimnys. VW had their V6 Amarok on display, ironically, right next to the new X250, where Merc was competitively handing out free ice cream. At the bottom of the hill there were a few modified wranglers, and at the top a very underrated Chinese SUV brand; HAVAL.

Haval H9 - Image courtesy of Haval South Africa

So many options to chose from! Well I decided to see how good the Chinese actually were. After filling out a few forms, I climbed into the front seat as the instructor took me around the course. Over an axle breaker, around a corner with a 35 degree camber, up a 40 degree slope and down again, through deep and loose sand and thick muddy water. I was thoroughly impressed!

However, the rest of the day had a high benchmark to beat, and it did. Off to the skid pan where a skilled driver in a Jaguar F-Type did some doughnuts and made some tyres squeal, bragging about how his "office" is better than mine. Admittedly he's right. Next was the test track, with a wide selection of newly released cars freely available to be taken around a tight handling track, actually designed for go-karts.

F-Type SVR making beautiful noises as it zooms down the pit straight.

Next on the itinerary was a lap in the fantastic C63s. After being ushered through a cooled tent and handed champagne and plates full of savouries, I climbed into the car sitting low and bolstered in. Off we went. The sheer power and acceleration of the car left me speechless, and the endless amounts of grip were unbelievable. Sadly, with the heat of the day, the brakes started to over heat after two laps, as did the tyres and it was time to go back to the tent where I was gracefully given more champagne and this time deserts.

I then took a walk through the endless stands, manufacturers exhibiting their latest vehicles and boasting their unique technologies. Eventually I found myself near the pits, surrounded by classic cars and super cars, some stock, some track spec'd. I saw the car of my dreams, a '54 300SL, and a Ford GT40. There was a DB5 somewhere in the mix along with a Bentley or two, and a couple of Corvettes.

It had been a long, and exciting day. There was no better way to end it than to sit in the pit lane, watching the cars go infinitely around the track, from classic racers to modern supercars. The harmony of their exhausts as they come flying by, their lights shining gently on the tar as the sun start to set. It was a day that will long be remembered.