November 16, 2006

King of the Mountain - Ceres

Car fans are set for an extremely exciting mountain pass race this weekend in Ceres (about 1.5 hours from Cape Town). Cars ranging from souped up turbo cars, full spec rally and track racing cars as well as a whole array of supercars will take on the Guido mountain pass in a spectacular show of guts. Facing a rock wall on the one side and gaping drops down the mountainside on the other, these drivers will face the hardest possible conditions for a time trial. They race upwards, from a starting point below the pass, through various turns and twisties to the flag at the top. I’ve been there twice and it’s a great event.

TIP: Make sure you bring enough to drink (it’s hot up there). Also bring something to eat as well as loads of suncream and insect repellent! The muggie’s chowed us to death there the last time. Also remember that spectators enter at own risk. Choose a safe spot that’s not on the outside of a bend, because these cars tend to come through there at absolutely unbelievable speeds all sideways and roaring with echoes through the pass.

Tickets can be bought at selected Speedy Exhaust Centres at R100 per day or on the website. The event starts off with some trial runs at Killarney circuit on Friday (I think entrance ‘may’ be free if you bought a ticket for saturday or sunday), then the sub 2.5 liter cars on Saturday and the big daddy 2.5 litre and up cars (including the supercars like ferraris, subarus, lamborghinis, nobles and more) battling it out. For more info, visit www.kotm.co.za.