Page 132 - Bulletin 9 2005

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mutual agreement of the motor trade, these popular displays were discontinued by 1939.

Advertisements for new cars, car dealers and garages, and motoring innovations, occupied
increasing amounts of space in the daily newspapers. (Figs 3.26 – 3.28.) Numerous local

garages were geared to the visitor market and ran flourishing businesses. (Fig. 3.29)

Provision of parking areas became essential and spaces formerly occupied by buildings
were often cleared for this purpose, as at Kalk Bay station. (Fig. 3.30) The Cape’s popu-

larity as a tourist destination grew apace and a new marine drive, Clarence Drive, was
constructed durng 1933 – 35 down the eastern side of False Bay from Gordon’s Bay to

Pringle Bay. And the Cape Peninsula Publicity Association, now in collaboration with the
South African Railways, continued to promote the attractions of the Cape. (Figs 3.31 &

3.32)

Motoring as sport

By the early 1930s amateur motor car and motorcycle racing had started throughout the
country. Young men were able to buy small second hand cars at bargain prices and strip

and tune them for informal racing. License fees were a couple of pounds and roadworthy
tests were minimal. What was needed were suitable venues where the loosely-applied laws

of the road did not apply, such as crude tracks scraped out of the open veld, beaches, salt
pans, or private roads. These primitive locations were often named “Brooklands” after the

famous British race track. Cape enthusiasts raced on the beaches at Blouberg, Muizenberg

and Strand, and on dried-up vleis at Rietvlei and Noordhoek, while hill-climbs on Geneva
Drive, Camps Bay, Boyes Drive, Muizenberg, and Red Hill, Simon’s Town, were popular

tests of drivers’ skills and machines.

These events were organised by the Cape Peninsula Motor Cycle Club (later renamed the
Cape Peninsula Motor-Cycle and Car Club), and a typical meet featured both motor cycle

and car races – many participants competing in both types of race. For long distance motor