Cape West Coast, Augrabies, Verneukpan, Colesberg, Rhodes, Durban
- Thread starter GStry
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SGB
Race Dog
WOW some amazing places you have been to there.... Thanks for sharing!
We leave the Agana tented camp outside Garies, refuel in Kamieskroon and ride east through Baileys Pass to Gamoep, then through Uitkyk and Bloemhoek (neither of which we saw) to Pofadder and Augrabies Falls.
The scenery is no different from the previous days riding, spectacular, and more flowers. Once through Baileys pass the landscape changes dramatically from rugged mountains with green boulder strewn valleys to flat dry desert scrub. In the distance to the north pink and orange mountians.
The scenery is no different from the previous days riding, spectacular, and more flowers. Once through Baileys pass the landscape changes dramatically from rugged mountains with green boulder strewn valleys to flat dry desert scrub. In the distance to the north pink and orange mountians.
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Augrabies Falls has been good to finally see but its time to leave, besides you can only stare at a waterfall for so long, no matter how spectacular. :mwink:
Shane and I are eager to head south to Verneukpan, something neither of us wanted to miss and strange in a way, considering there is nothing there, literally. Well, that's what our wives thought but we knew better.
After refueling we set off for Kenhardt and its great to be moving again, the countryside is flat, dry, dusty and bleak as we head south but the ride is fun. We stop a few times for a stretch, a drink and a chat then set off again.
Shane and I are eager to head south to Verneukpan, something neither of us wanted to miss and strange in a way, considering there is nothing there, literally. Well, that's what our wives thought but we knew better.
After refueling we set off for Kenhardt and its great to be moving again, the countryside is flat, dry, dusty and bleak as we head south but the ride is fun. We stop a few times for a stretch, a drink and a chat then set off again.
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It was the summer of 1929, February when captain Malcomb Campbell arrived in Cape Town on the Caernarvon Castle with his NapieR - Arrol- Astor Bluebird. In his first interview he said: Verneuk pan is the most interesting experiment I have ever made. It never came to his mind that he would experience the pan's name - to trick, mislead or swindle.
At first he lost his dispatch case with important papers in it, then survived when his plane crashed in a tree near Calvinia , while flying to Verneukpan, one week after his arrival in Cape Town.
A formidable task was facing the people preparing the track. Oom Willem Louw was in charge sweeping the pan. Pofadders and scorpions throve in a land where the temperature could rise to 42' C in the shade.
There was no shortage of excitement. Campbell's camp had been set up with tents, shelters, fires, water bags, stews canned fruit, tea and even a gramophone. Local traders from Kenhardt and Brandvlei anticipated a killing as spectators in their hundreds were expected to flock in.
News Paper stands were set up. Aunt Susanna Burger, then six years old, still remember the festival atmosphere. Also remembering Campbell, lifting his hat and said: 'O Gad what a ride' Campbell and every one else had underestimated the pan's artful dodginess. The track, starting from a ridge on the fringe and striking into the heart of the brown saucer, was to be 16 miles long. It was layed out directly west-east and looked straight into the rising sun. Dust devils hazard over the pan. Mirages, more entertaining than the cinema, created phantom trees and ghostly men on stilts. Razor-sharp stones, litter the area. When removed, holes were left. The day of the 'flash in the pan' was postponed repeatedly.
A tortoise on the track, was named 'Blue Bird II. During the delays, the targeted record of 207 mph was pushed to 231.36 mph.
The margin of survival was so fine. 'One slip of his hand or one swerve, and he would be whirled to all eternity" his wife said.
His mean speed for the measured mile was 218.45mph. He had beaten the speed he had come to South Africa for, but it was 6 weeks to late. He had been 'verneuked' Campbell however, made the last move. With only one set of tyres left, he took on the 5km record, 202mph. On Friday 25, at 5am, under the moon and the early light, Bluebird with her nickel-plated nose glinted like a silver eye as she started her last run along the white line that stretched beyond sight. He set two record that day: 211mph for the 5km and 212 mph for the 5 miles. He promised to come back in his 'Springbok ' He never did. In a new Bluebird designed by Reid Railton , campbell broke the land speed record four more times at Daytona. In 1935, at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah he became the first man to exceed 300 mph on land.
He described this clay 57km x 11km (over 600km²) pan, situated between Kenhardt, Van Wyksvlei and Brandlvei in Bushmanland in the Northern Cape, as the best race track in the world. The pan is ideal for high speed runs as it has a 5 cm elevation over a 50 km distance. It is furthermore one of the prime stargazing sites in the world.
In a new Bluebird designed by Reid Railton, Campbell broke the land speed record four more times at Daytona. In 1935, at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah USA he became the first man to exceed 300 mph (500 Km/h) on land.
Andy Green, the current world land speed record holder, has identified Verneukpan as a possible venue for his planned 1600km/h record attempt with the new Bloodhound. He is scheduled to visit Verneukpan for his second reconnaissance visit during May 2009.
The pan is approx 850 meters above sea level and also has an airstrip suitable for light aircraft. The pan's surface is dry alkali mud, which is very constant and firm. It provides good traction with very little dust present.
Fortunately in the last 80 years Verneukpan has remained virtually untouched, whilst the infrastructure around it has developed such, that today it can once more be considered a prime site for setting of World Land Speed Records.
Now, 80 years later, we are commemorating this historical event by hosting the 1st annual Verneukpan SpeedWeek event on the original Campbell track.
At first he lost his dispatch case with important papers in it, then survived when his plane crashed in a tree near Calvinia , while flying to Verneukpan, one week after his arrival in Cape Town.
A formidable task was facing the people preparing the track. Oom Willem Louw was in charge sweeping the pan. Pofadders and scorpions throve in a land where the temperature could rise to 42' C in the shade.
There was no shortage of excitement. Campbell's camp had been set up with tents, shelters, fires, water bags, stews canned fruit, tea and even a gramophone. Local traders from Kenhardt and Brandvlei anticipated a killing as spectators in their hundreds were expected to flock in.
News Paper stands were set up. Aunt Susanna Burger, then six years old, still remember the festival atmosphere. Also remembering Campbell, lifting his hat and said: 'O Gad what a ride' Campbell and every one else had underestimated the pan's artful dodginess. The track, starting from a ridge on the fringe and striking into the heart of the brown saucer, was to be 16 miles long. It was layed out directly west-east and looked straight into the rising sun. Dust devils hazard over the pan. Mirages, more entertaining than the cinema, created phantom trees and ghostly men on stilts. Razor-sharp stones, litter the area. When removed, holes were left. The day of the 'flash in the pan' was postponed repeatedly.
A tortoise on the track, was named 'Blue Bird II. During the delays, the targeted record of 207 mph was pushed to 231.36 mph.
The margin of survival was so fine. 'One slip of his hand or one swerve, and he would be whirled to all eternity" his wife said.
His mean speed for the measured mile was 218.45mph. He had beaten the speed he had come to South Africa for, but it was 6 weeks to late. He had been 'verneuked' Campbell however, made the last move. With only one set of tyres left, he took on the 5km record, 202mph. On Friday 25, at 5am, under the moon and the early light, Bluebird with her nickel-plated nose glinted like a silver eye as she started her last run along the white line that stretched beyond sight. He set two record that day: 211mph for the 5km and 212 mph for the 5 miles. He promised to come back in his 'Springbok ' He never did. In a new Bluebird designed by Reid Railton , campbell broke the land speed record four more times at Daytona. In 1935, at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah he became the first man to exceed 300 mph on land.
He described this clay 57km x 11km (over 600km²) pan, situated between Kenhardt, Van Wyksvlei and Brandlvei in Bushmanland in the Northern Cape, as the best race track in the world. The pan is ideal for high speed runs as it has a 5 cm elevation over a 50 km distance. It is furthermore one of the prime stargazing sites in the world.
In a new Bluebird designed by Reid Railton, Campbell broke the land speed record four more times at Daytona. In 1935, at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah USA he became the first man to exceed 300 mph (500 Km/h) on land.
Andy Green, the current world land speed record holder, has identified Verneukpan as a possible venue for his planned 1600km/h record attempt with the new Bloodhound. He is scheduled to visit Verneukpan for his second reconnaissance visit during May 2009.
The pan is approx 850 meters above sea level and also has an airstrip suitable for light aircraft. The pan's surface is dry alkali mud, which is very constant and firm. It provides good traction with very little dust present.
Fortunately in the last 80 years Verneukpan has remained virtually untouched, whilst the infrastructure around it has developed such, that today it can once more be considered a prime site for setting of World Land Speed Records.
Now, 80 years later, we are commemorating this historical event by hosting the 1st annual Verneukpan SpeedWeek event on the original Campbell track.
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OrangeEnergy
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Very nice pics
Damn .. we missed each other by a week!
We were there the week before
We were there the week before
Bakkie
Race Dog
great RR. Thanks for sharing.
if you had to choose between Augrabies and verneukpan which one would you choose?
if you had to choose between Augrabies and verneukpan which one would you choose?
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