31 Jan Feast your eyes on ancient machines when Vet Tour ‘23 hits the road
George, Garden Route (January 2023) – George Old Car Show (GOCS) is not only a huge annual drawcard for Southern Cape tourists and an endless source of entertainment for local engine lovers, but also deserves credit for creating the Vet Tour that has been preceding show weekend for nearly two decades.
Organising this memorable roadtrip for the 17th year is Philip Kuschke of the Southern Cape Old Car Club (SCOCC), who explains that the Vet Tour plays an important part in creating public awareness of the GOCS. This year’s Vet Tour is generously supported by SCRIBS Benzeum and Apprentice – the exciting new eatery attached to Francois Ferreira Academy on the R102 towards George Airport.
Philip remembers the start of it all: “Just before the 2005 George Old Car Show, several members of the Crankhandle Club in Cape Town got the idea to drive their old cars from Cape Town to George, attend the show and then drive back – a daring decision!
“It made sense to motivate Southern Cape members to meet the Cape contingent of drivers at Grootbrak River with their vintage cars on the Friday before the show,” he says, adding that excitement ran high when the SCOCC touring group and their Crankhandle colleagues drove into George with posters on their cars to promote the 2005 George Old Car Show.
“The idea was aired to organise a one-day tour every year before the show. The committee of the Southern Cape Old Car Club supported this initiative and saw the tour as part of their marketing drive.” But now the next challenge emerged: which vehicles would be targeted to participate in this tour?
It was clear that tours for veteran and Noah vehicles were rarely hosted in South Africa, and that these vehicles no longer featured often at vintage car shows. The solution? In a bid to get more of these ancient beauties to attend the George event, collectors were motivated to dust off their carefully-preserved cars to participate in the Vet Tour and then also attend the GOCS.
The target group was set at all vehicles manufactured by 31 December 1931 and, judging from entries for Vet Tour ’23, owners of cars falling in this category will attend en masse. Participants hail from all over the country, and one international entry coming all the way from Canada.
“This year, 22 cars and two motorcycles will join the tour with 10 of the entries being Model T Fords. The oldest vehicle is a 1908 Model S Ford driven by Alice van Jaarsveld – one of two female drivers. Rene Scribante, the second lady, will join us in her beautiful 1913 Benz.
“The oldest motorcycle is a 1928 Yap and other outstanding vehicles include a 1928 Hubmobile, 1912 Rover and 1921 Rolls Royce,” explains Philip. “We are very excited about the two participating motorcycles and would love welcoming many more members of the bike brigade next year. The antique vehicles and motorcycles come from all over the country, as far as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Middelburg and Harrismith.”
The informal George to Cape Town Round-trip kicks off on Friday February 3 and joins the Vet Tour in Klaarstroom on Thursday the 9th. The route will then take participants through Meiringspoort via Uniondale back to George. A closing lunch will take place after 2pm at Apprentice on Friday 10, when the public will be able to admire the fleet.
The full itinerary is as follows:
3 February George to Bredasdorp 315km
4 February Bredasdorp via coastal road to Cape Town 250km
5 February Kalk Bay Tour vir veteran vehicles (pre-31 Des 1918) 100km
6 February Relax in Cape Town, sleepover at Slanghoek Mountain Resort 180km
7 February Slanghoek and surrounds 180km
8 February Slanghoek to Barrydale 265km
9 February Barrydale to Klaarstroom 235km
10 February Klaarstroom to George 220km
Come share the passion for cars along with the Southern Cape Old Car Club when this year’s George Old Car Show driven by We Buy Car with a special focus on Italian cars convenes on February 11 and 12..
Check the GOCS Facebook page for details and email dyndev@mweb.co.za or call 084 583 3144 with queries. Please take note that parking will be available at Carpe Diem School at R20 per car.