Biggest Cars in the Park yet

They start 'em young in KwaZulu-Natal's petrolhead heaven,
aka, Cars in the Park. 

THE biggest Cars in the Park yet last Sunday drew over 14 000 people to Ashburton to ogle some 1,600 rides put on display by the proud owners.

These rides ranged from Michael Loukides’ rusted but roaring Ford F100 (with a cow’s skull mounted on the bonnet and braai wood on the back), to Peter Hall’s venerably-polished Rolls Royce (with a statue of a flying lady on the front and straps for picnic baskets in the back).

Michael Loukides’ rusted but roaring Ford F100 with
Mary Peckham the bonnet roof babe.

Hall told Wheels the next big car event in KZN will be the Concours d’Elegance Durban, to be held mid August at the Durban Country Club.

Fellow convener John Aritho said cars made before 1960 will enter free, after which the fee is R500 per vehicle.

Peter Hall and John Aritho, conveners of the first
Concours d'Elegance Durban, to be held in mid August. 2018

Co-organiser of Cars in the Park, Karl Habermann said all vehicle there displayed for free, as SA’s oldest car show aims to give members of car clubs a chance to meet and mingle and raise funds for charity.

Look ma, no powersteering! Ron Drew does the
overhand-undercross grip all old Landy drivers have to use to turn. 

4x4er Gary Buitendach hands SPCSa's Ronnie
Yeoman a cheque for ZAR7377,20.

To these ends, the members of the Midlands 4Wheel Drive Club each year bring their muddy vehicles to do hair-raising things with diff-lock and fund-raising things for Msunduzi’s SPCA.

Chair of the club, Gary Buitendach, told Wheels the members are each year humbled by the public’s donations to help care for animals.

SPCA manager Ronnie Yeoman thanked the club for the money raised, which this year tallied R6377,20, and said the donation would help meet the society’s constant need for funds.

Habermann said while the annual Cars in the Park displayed cars for free, the event attracts tourists from across South Africa and caused a lot of spending at local workshops as owners raced to get their cars ready.

Next car events in KZN

• June 9, Vryheid Car Show at the Lucas Meyer rugby field.

• July 8, Scottburgh Classic Car Show at Scottburgh High School.

• August 12, Concours d’Elegance Durban at the Durban Country Club.

Jonathan Strashoon's "HiBeLex'',
for the Hilux chassis, Beetle cab and Lexus 4,3l V8 engine,
'along with bits of Nissan and Ford'.

The Big Red Lorrie forming a background for this Austin
has taken its young family all over southern Africa.

The loudspeaker-filled load bin of this half-ton Ford Bantam bakkie features,
(from left) a bol' of Jack, a bol' of NOS, cigars (Romeo yJulietta and Black Stone).
And playing cards. And a Ford Racing cap. On a skull. Yepp.