Trygve Roberts
Pack Dog
- Joined
- May 20, 2014
- Messages
- 391
- Reaction score
- 1
- Bike
- BMW R1200GS Adventure
We've been away filming passes for the past two weeks, so we are posting the news updates belatedly.
At Mountain Passes South Africa we dig up some fascinating stories that entwine our history, both young and old. This week we head off to East London to drive the short and low altitude Potters Pass. What makes this pass unique is that it once formed part of the original Grand Prix circuit dating back to 1934. I happened to attend Selborne College in East London and one of my class mates was none other than Jody Scheckter - South Africa's only Formula 1 world champion.
We were about 15 years old at the time, and Jody took a few of us for a spin (obviously completely illegal) around the race track one Friday night. We had downed a few beers, but those not behind the wheel of his father's Alfa Giulietta, sobered up rather quickly as we spent most of the circuit on two wheels. We didn't spin out or crash and none of us had any concept of just how good a driver he was - even at the tender age of 15. No-one ever found out about the illegal trip!
We've got a video which includes one circuit of the track (in a Ford Ranger Double Cab bakkie in 2 min 34 secs) and lots of fascinating history of the early days of Grand Prix in East London, which happened to host the very first GP race in 1934.
Here's an opportunity to try your bike out on a proper race track!
https://bit.ly/2j3asWK
https://bit.ly/2js50fy
At Mountain Passes South Africa we dig up some fascinating stories that entwine our history, both young and old. This week we head off to East London to drive the short and low altitude Potters Pass. What makes this pass unique is that it once formed part of the original Grand Prix circuit dating back to 1934. I happened to attend Selborne College in East London and one of my class mates was none other than Jody Scheckter - South Africa's only Formula 1 world champion.
We were about 15 years old at the time, and Jody took a few of us for a spin (obviously completely illegal) around the race track one Friday night. We had downed a few beers, but those not behind the wheel of his father's Alfa Giulietta, sobered up rather quickly as we spent most of the circuit on two wheels. We didn't spin out or crash and none of us had any concept of just how good a driver he was - even at the tender age of 15. No-one ever found out about the illegal trip!
We've got a video which includes one circuit of the track (in a Ford Ranger Double Cab bakkie in 2 min 34 secs) and lots of fascinating history of the early days of Grand Prix in East London, which happened to host the very first GP race in 1934.
Here's an opportunity to try your bike out on a proper race track!
https://bit.ly/2j3asWK
https://bit.ly/2js50fy
