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BUICK CADILLAC HERITAGE WEEKEND MEET AT THE VETERAN AND VINTAGE CLUB
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JOHANNESBURG ON SUNDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2011
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| This annual event is without a doubt becoming our Club’s Premier Gauteng event. The venue on the well treed and grassed lawns adjoining the VVC Clubhouse is idyllic, as are the Club’s wonderful facilities and buildings. The mid-morning tea, coffee and scrumptious scones, has become a tradition with all who attend the Club’s monthly meets. Also delectable were the wonderful classic Buicks and Cadillacs that attended. It was a wonderful sight to see them arriving from 7h30 onwards. The unmistakeable and very rare Buicks and sleek, shiny and so opulent Cadillac’s from a bygone era. |
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| As the cars entered, drivers were handed judging forms (a novel first for the Club) and the cars stopped for photographs. Thereafter they were allocated to designated parking spots on the lovely peaceful and shaded park lawns. Coffee, muffins, rusks and cold drinks were available to settle attendees and their families in after their journey and as is customary picnic chairs and tables were set out in readiness for socialising and a good old traditional South African “Kuier”. |
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| There were 26 cars on show ranging from 1913 to 1980 Buicks and 1966 to 1981 Cadillacs, a wonderful effort considering all the competing motoring events over the week-end. More about the cars, their owners and drivers later. |
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| First and foremost- a big thank you to all who did attend. Some like Kobus Mostert, Daan Marais and Jan Pansegrouw arranged to bring two cars. A special thank you goes to you. The effort to get your car (s) prepared for the meet, cleaned, and fuelled up for the journey and then driving to the venue must not be underestimated. It takes dedication, commitment and a financial cost to attend and support a meet such as this. It also demonstrates your willingness to reach out and share these wonderful veteran, vintage and classic cars with a wider public. It does encourage all to be mindful and respectful of our heritage and good fortune in owning these cars and “bits of history”. Thank you for sharing them with us. As one of our members with wonderful cars often remarks “a pleasure given is a pleasure doubled and multiplied” So true. |
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| Thank you to the committee and members of the VVC for allowing us the use of all your facilities. You have a wonderful club and clubhouse and we look forward to being invited once more to share our Buicks and Cadillac’s with you and the enthusiastic members of the public who come out every month to view wonderfully preserved, historic cars from a less frenetic era. |
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| Last but by no means least, thank you to George and his team who attended to getting the venue spic and span before the event and Andre Janse van Rensburg, Andre Scholtz and Johan, Rudolph and Matthew for being on site bright and early to assist with setting up. Our site really looked festive, with attractive banners, our Pagoda’s, flags and bunting. |
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| The cars on show, all driven there, all magnificent and many “one of kind” models in South Africa were – |
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| Buicks |
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| Brian Noik’s 1913, Brian Hart’s 1928, Alex Duffey’s 1930 dual cowl Phaeton, Peter Swan’s 1931 sedan, Eric McQuillian’s 1935 sedan, Daan Marais’s 1938 Roadmaster, Jayson Fox’s 1957 Roadmaster convertible, Peter Manelis's 1958 Super coupe, Massimo Lupini and Dennis Aschmann in their 1958 Specials, Gustav Pansegrouw in an original unrestored 1959 Le Sabre, the long sleek Riviera models owned by Kobus Mostert 1965 model, George Shipway and Dawid Gous with their 1966’s, Andre Scholtz driving Theo Janse van Rensburg’s 1968, Chris Palk’s 1970 and Daan Marais’s 1971 Boattail Riviera. Last but not least, Andre van Rensburg in the wonderful 1980 Le Sabre Coupe . |
| Special mention must be made of committee member Jan Burger who had driven all the way from Pretoria in his 1929 Chevrolet and Cecil White, a Buick fan, who joined us in his perfectly restored 1958 Chev Impala Sport Coupe. |
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| Cadillac’s |
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| The majority of Cadillac’s this year represented the 1960’s. The oldest Cadillac at the show as opposed to last year’s 1904 model was a striking 1966 Sedan De Ville belonging to Don McArthur. Kobus Mostert’s recently acquired pristine 1969 Coupe De Ville showed particularly well in its period correct colour of Colonial Yellow. |
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| Rudolph Nicholson’s 1969 Fleetwood Brougham Sedan, together with Matthew Greeff’s (ex Sam Cohen of OK Bazaars heritage) 1969 Fleetwood Brougham Sedan represented the formal cars of the late 60’s. These big executive cars were seen in many a Hollywood movie over the years where the back seats were usually occupied by a large cigar chewing Mafia Don. |
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| Christo Zaayman’s impressive 1970 Eldorado Coupe, Francois Murphy’s beautiful 1973 Coupe de Ville and Jan Pansegrouw’s 1976 Seville represented the 1970’s. Scott Eaton’s 1981 Eldorado was the lone representative of the 1980’s. |
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As a novel fun exercise, awards based on votes by attendees were presented to:
- Jayson Fox – Best Buick on show
- Peter Manelis – runner up Best Buick
- Rudolph Nicholson – Best Cadillac on show
- Kobus Mostert – runner up Best Cadillac
- Gustav Pansegrouw – longest distance in a classic
- Rudolph Nicholson – Best Car on Show
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| Following the AGM, many stayed for the “bring and braai” and socialising and at 14h30, most had left on their homeward bound journey’s, often a hazardous exercise on freeways. |
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| Many thanks to all of you for the effort you made to attend and support this wonderful event. We all felt very sorry for Dean Simon, who was all set to show his magnificent 1949 Roadmaster Convertible, but most unfortunately lost transmission fluid on the way to the meet and had to turn back after emergency repairs. Cars being mechanical inventions, are often unpredictable and these things do happen. See you next time Dean and thank you for your effort. |
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| Until next time, and with our appreciation to all of you and all who assisted in making this a wonderful event, Totsiens! |
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| The Committee of the Buick and Cadillac Club of South Africa. |
| Chris Palk – Vice Chairman |
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