Page 145 - Bulletin 9 2005

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tors. At one event in 1936 fifty drivers competed, twenty late entries having to be turned
away. Cars left the starting point every three minutes for a period of two-and-a-half hours.

(Fig. 3.39)

The Muizenberg end of Boyes Drive was also used occasionally for hill climbs, but being

much shorter was less spectacular and less strenuous than Geneva Drive. (Fig. 3.40) Red
Hill was more popular than Boyes Drive and was regarded as the most testing course

because of the tightness of its hairpin bends. Farm roads in the Tygerberg Hills also
provided testing and scenic courses. (Fig. 3.41)

During these years the road along Green Point Common was still in use for motoring

events, but only for the short quarter-mile standing start acceleration tests. (Figs 3.42 &

3.43.)

At events such as these numerous young Capetonians “cut their teeth” in amateur motor

racing. Names that appeared frequently in the racing results were: Neville Clayton, Alf
Bertenshaw, Vic Proctor, George Anderson, H. A. Pheiffer, Ralph Rohr, Stanley Rose,

Francis Chiappini, and Doug van Riet. Both Chiappini and van Riet went on to race in
numerous Grands Prix, and also earned their “wings” in the fledgling world of air flight.

Among this list Doug van Riet, who spent his youth in Kalk Bay, was the most consistent

winner and was undoubtedly the Cape’s crack racing driver during the 1930s. He and a

group of friends managed to make their Baby Austins go much faster than the makers
envisaged. Through this they attracted limited sponsorship from Robb Motors who were

energetically promoting the Baby Austin. Other popular makes were Singer, MG, and
Riley. Prices could range between £15 and £100.

A name that does not appear much in the lists is that of Kalk Bay resident Tromp van

Diggelen. He may well have been South Africa’s first racing driver, having been signed to